Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Jun 13, 2009 10:54 PM
Joined: Jan 12, 2009
Points: 30
It has been a while since I've posted.  I am happy with the bed I have now.  Here is a summary of the entire saga:

Flobed:  I purchased a Flobed in early January.  I got the setup that was indicated to be firm. It was too soft for me. I did several core exchanges to get super firm cores but still too much of a sag for my back.  I returned it in April.

Stearns & Foster:  I bought a firm bed from Sears.  If you don't like the bed, you can return it within 30 days, no questions asked.  It definitely did not sag which was a big improvement but it was quite hard.  I woke up with backaches because it didn't provide any arch support to my back.  I had seen reviews of latex mattress toppers on this site and decided to order a 2" topper from foambymail.com.  They definitely seem to have the best prices.  They offered choices of a soft topper or a more firm one.  I decided to order the firmer one.  I've had it for about 2 weeks now and the bed is fantastic.  No more backaches or other pain, still have great support and no sags.  I may have been able to go with the softer topper as this one feels quite firm but I am very pleased and look forward to many years of comfortable sleep.

And now a couple more comments about Flobeds.  They were very pleasant to speak with.  They gave me no hassles when I asked to return the bed.  The only issues I had were related to getting reimbursed for core exchanges.  It takes up to 3 weeks to get your money back but they often exceeded the3 weeks and I had to remind them several times that they owed me money.  They returned the money for my original purchase but I had upgraded to 4 super firm cores during the test period.  On top of the other refund requests I made,  I had to request an additonal refund for $80 several times before I was reimbursed.
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #16 Nov 16, 2009 1:29 AM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Philip wrote:
Jim,

Just curious, how can you vouch for Eagle? Are you guys off the site friends, or, are you affiliated with flobeds?

Hi Philip. I can vouch for Eagle2 because I've been on here ever since he's been on here and he did not start out being a flobeds guy, not at all. He considered other companies and did a lot of research and thinking on it for a long time before finally deciding to buy a flobed. He's just very enthusiastic about them because after researching S company type spring mattresses he encountered nothing but a lack of "user friendliness" and a lack of disclosure about what materials are used in them. And after a long time he bought a Flobed and I think the fact that they have an opposite type of approach - full disclosure about the materials used and excellent pre-sale and post-sale customer service -  has caused him to become a big fan. And why not?

I also exchanged some emails with Eagle2 awhile back and I know enough about him to be sure that he did not come on this forum to first "fool" everyone into thinking he was considering many different mattresses for months, just so he could then become flobed's "shill"! He just happens to really like the company. If you go back and read ALL of his posts, from the time he started on this board, you surely will not believe he is a shill or otherwise affiliated with flobeds.

Please don't make derogatory statements about the regular contributors on this forum. I think you will find that almost all if not all of the people here are very helpful and friendly.
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #17 Nov 16, 2009 10:05 AM
Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Points: 64
Hi Jim, <BR><BR>Thanks for the prompt response.
This message was modified Nov 16, 2009 by Philip
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #18 Nov 17, 2009 5:24 PM
Joined: Oct 8, 2009
Points: 192
I too noticed the plethora of pro Flobed postings here...but at some point I asked one too many questions and someone here was kind enough to tell me I should just go to a store or something...

kinda funny, because my interaction with the internet and message boards in particular, is rather immense, too much probably...and when someone informs you that you are asking too many questions or arent too serious about the subject, or whatever I was told, you are surprised....and obviously a little annoyed...

so as a result i havent posted in a while, not worth the stress of reading negative comments -

Whether or not Flobeds itself is influencing this website, I dont have a clue.
This message was modified Nov 17, 2009 by randys
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #19 Nov 17, 2009 6:11 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
randys wrote:
I too noticed the plethora of pro Flobed postings here...but at some point I asked one too many questions and someone here was kind enough to tell me I should just go to a store or something...

kinda funny, because my interaction with the internet and message boards in particular, is rather immense, too much probably...and when someone informs you that you are asking too many questions or arent too serious about the subject, or whatever I was told, you are surprised....and obviously a little annoyed...

so as a result i havent posted in a while, not worth the stress of reading negative comments -

Whether or not Flobeds itself is influencing this website, I dont have a clue.

Randys, I'm sorry you were told you were asking too many questions. I don't remember your post.
SOMEtimes someone comes here and asks questions without doing any "homework" at all, and though I usually try to lead those people in the right direction, some people do get annoyed that they want their answers spoon fed to them without being willing to do any work for themselves. 
Other than that, people here are almost always helpful and friendly.

As to wondering if flobeds influences the site, I can tell you that I have been coming here for about 8 years off and on (my profile icon states otherwise but that is because there was a re-organizing of the forum and I lost my tenure so to speak at that time), and I can assure you that flobeds has no influence here. Their influence is that they offer a great bed for many people and a great return policy and great customer service. I am one who bought a mattress from them and then returned it because I did not like the feel of their latex mattress. I had ZERO problems with the return nor with getting my money and that is what almost everyone reports who does a return.

IF someone here were a flobeds shill, they would have to be nothing short of a CIA-trained intelligence operative, to pull it off. Basically one would have to come here, pretend to be looking for a good bed, gradually "decide" to buy a flobeds, then steer people towards flobeds. But if they were too obvious they'd get caught, and the bottom line is that someone like that is not needed because there are enough satisfied flobeds customers here to point out their positive qualities.

I give props to flobeds not because I am paid by them, nor because I like their beds (I don't really like them) but rather because they provide a good product with excellent customer service. I've been coming here about 8 years as I said, and I don't think I've ever seen ONE person who had a real issue with flobeds as a company.

Welcome back to the forum. DId you buy a mattress yet? Please share, and if you have any questions I can answer, I'll try to help.
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #20 Nov 17, 2009 7:47 PM
Joined: Oct 8, 2009
Points: 192
I am getting the rhapsody as soon as the new carpet in my house is installed.....didnt want the carpet guys manhandling my brand new tempurpedic, especially since I may end up returning it within the 90 day window...

Flobeds is actually close to me and I would like nothing more than for them to be successful...they are about a 2 1/2 hour drive away...

I will report back after a short time with my new bed, which will be soon.

Thanks
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #21 Nov 17, 2009 11:28 PM
Joined: Aug 17, 2009
Points: 542
randys: I have to agree with everything that Jim has said.

Sorry you were treated unfairly regarding receiving advice. Even though some folks don't seem to understand how this forum works,( share and share alike) rather they want to ask some questions, usually without giving many details, get their answers and leave. Many of them never returning after making two or three posts.

I have always felt like that when you utilize a resource such as this forum, you should be willing to do some "give back". Which is not hard really, all that is necessary is to simply report your experience with your new mattress. It's not necessary to go into the elaborate detail that Jim and I seem to have a proclivity for.

As far as anyone being a "shill" as Jim has appropriately called it, I have not been aware of it either. We did have one individual who came on here quite obviously supportive of the big S. brands. He did not try to hide it, in fact he almost brag about it as he had been a dealer for them for some time. He just simply believe quite strongly in their products and was supportive of them.

Jim and I had no problem with that, what we did have a problem with was his inability to be able to acknowledge the fact that the big S. brands were not forthcoming about the materials that went into their mattresses. Also the fact that they love their "naming conventions" so that customers cannot price shop them, or compare mattress to mattress if they could even find out what was actually in them.

So please ask all the questions you want, just do us the benefit of your experiences once you get your mattress and have slept on it for several weeks. And you don't have to wait several weeks to begin informing us of your experience. I think most people like to know, at least through the first two or three weeks, what your day to day experience is.

Good luck with your new Tempurpedic. I understand they're the best of the memory foam mattresses.
This message was modified Nov 17, 2009 by eagle2
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #22 Nov 18, 2009 1:40 AM
Joined: Aug 21, 2009
Points: 486
I think I was the one that griped at him for not doing his homework

I'll be interested to hear how you like your Rhapsody, as that was a bed I was seriously considering too.
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #23 Nov 19, 2009 6:02 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
randys wrote:
I am getting the rhapsody as soon as the new carpet in my house is installed.....didnt want the carpet guys manhandling my brand new tempurpedic, especially since I may end up returning it within the 90 day window...

Flobeds is actually close to me and I would like nothing more than for them to be successful...they are about a 2 1/2 hour drive away...

I will report back after a short time with my new bed, which will be soon.

Thanks

Good luck with your mattress! Please do give us at least one report on it when you feel like you know something... and maybe one more if you have a change of opinion after some time.

The good thing is that they do have a sleep guarantee so you are not out a lot of money if it does not work (as long as you are careful with the mattress; I assume they would not return it if it were stained or damaged.)

I returned one once, it was just the basic model. My wife and I both felt it was too soft. It was funny - I LOVED it the first night or two. IT was very firm then and I sunk into it just enough to feel great. But after a few nights to a week it began to be too soft and after a few weeks I couldn't wait to get rid of it! I hope your experience is better. I know some people love their Tempurpedics and I hope you will be one of them! Good luck!
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #24 Nov 26, 2009 11:51 PM
Joined: Nov 25, 2009
Points: 93
BobJ wrote:
It has been a while since I've posted.  I am happy with the bed I have now.  Here is a summary of the entire saga:

Flobed:  I purchased a Flobed in early January.  I got the setup that was indicated to be firm. It was too soft for me. I did several core exchanges to get super firm cores but still too much of a sag for my back.  I returned it in April.

Stearns & Foster:  I bought a firm bed from Sears.  If you don't like the bed, you can return it within 30 days, no questions asked.  It definitely did not sag which was a big improvement but it was quite hard.  I woke up with backaches because it didn't provide any arch support to my back.  I had seen reviews of latex mattress toppers on this site and decided to order a 2" topper from foambymail.com.  They definitely seem to have the best prices.  They offered choices of a soft topper or a more firm one.  I decided to order the firmer one.  I've had it for about 2 weeks now and the bed is fantastic.  No more backaches or other pain, still have great support and no sags.  I may have been able to go with the softer topper as this one feels quite firm but I am very pleased and look forward to many years of comfortable sleep.

And now a couple more comments about Flobeds.  They were very pleasant to speak with.  They gave me no hassles when I asked to return the bed.  The only issues I had were related to getting reimbursed for core exchanges.  It takes up to 3 weeks to get your money back but they often exceeded the3 weeks and I had to remind them several times that they owed me money.  They returned the money for my original purchase but I had upgraded to 4 super firm cores during the test period.  On top of the other refund requests I made,  I had to request an additonal refund for $80 several times before I was reimbursed.



O.K. finally someone who went for the super firm/

So at one point you had all (3... 4?!) layers SUPER firm, & that still did not match the firmness of S&F's firm?  because that's the level of firmness i am trying to find as well.  By the way, which I.L.D. topper were you using over the super firm layers, & before you returned it did you ever try sleeping directly on the super firm latex, without the topper?  I will be giving flobeds a call next week & talk to them about the firmest setup they offer as well as some other concerns.  Either way, I'm glad to read some 1st hand experience with their super frm setup. 

your topper on an ultra firm conventional mattress sounds like a good idea, so I might think about that option too.  either way I would like to hear back about how your current setup is working out, 6mo. later now.  if you're still checking in here.

This message was modified Nov 26, 2009 by JasonRatky
Re: Update - Returned Flobed & bought Stearns & Foster
Reply #25 Dec 16, 2009 9:32 PM
Joined: Oct 24, 2007
Points: 3
Which S&F or sealy did you buy at sears?  we are looking.