Bed in a box: i.e., "Normal Adventures of Everyday Living"

[Cudedog]

It is wonderful to hear from folks and if you can't tell by reading the posts, most of us don't have exciting adventures that are being reported on daily. Just the normal adventures of everyday living.

I think Tina said it best - as she usually does. Thanks, Tina!

Anyway, I am embarking on a "Normal Adventure of Everyday Living" of looking for a new bed. My kids were here for Christmas (it was glorious!) and my son and his fiance slept in my bed (my kids stayed overnight one night). When my son got up in the morning, he was looking a bit haggard, and said that my bed was so uncomfortable that he ended up sleeping on the floor (I slept on the couch which wasn't great, but I didn't end up on the floor).

I have known for a while that my bed was getting lumpy - with a definite and pronounced slump in the center (well, ok, a crater. . .). But you all know how it is - we kind of get used to something and don't really notice things going south until it bites us in the rear end.

I got to thinking. . . the bed is at least 12 years old, maybe 14. And it was a cheapo crap "pillow-top" bed in the first place, bought in haste ("buy in haste, repent at leisure") on one of those television shopping channels. Shoulda known better. At the time, it was expensive (for me) and I didn't have the option of returning it, and I didn't have the bucks to immediately replace it. So I just kind of learned to live with it (by adding a memory foam mattress topper, which helped a little. . . for a while).

I guess, after 14 years or so, one should just buy a new bed whether they need it or not. . .

Anyway, it seems that the latest and greatest way to buy a new bed these days is online. One tends to get the same quality (when lucky) buying a bed online as one does when buying a bed in a store. Only the online purchase can be hundreds less than a store purchase, because of the direct-to-consumer thing of reduced $overhead$. Both my kids' beds were purchased (by them) online, and they tell me that I can order a bed, sleep on it for 100 nights or so, and then return it if it doesn't work out. Both also said that they went through a bed or two before they found the "right" one, and that the returns of the rejects were a snap.

Looking a bit online, it seems that all beds are advertised as "the VERY best bed EVER made in the ENTIRE history of the planet" or some such.

I'm going to start with purchasing a month's subscription ($10.00) to Consumer Reports (they publish unbiased bed reviews) and start from there.

If any of you have recently purchased a bed, and either love it or hate it, I would appreciate knowing this too.

Thanks, everyone!

Anne

[gypsyrose1126]

I bought my last bed online thru Amazon. I have had it for 2 years now and love it. I wasn't sure at first, but my brother had purchased the same one a couple years before and he liked it. I will have to replace the one downstairs, is my son ever moves out and I will buy the same one thru Amazon.

[snowball]

the bed in the 5th wheel needs to be replaced when we got the 5th wheel we got a topper for it and was ok till a couple three years after Larry passed away and realized that it was in really bad shape.... so some friends gave me their mattress one of those that you control each side... I could never ever get both sides the same as it had no numbers so I could do that... and it also was too wide for the platform (mine in a king size) I hate that bed it needs to go I've just never got around too it .... now I am here at mom's and the mattress is the worse.. when she needs new mattress she would get old mattresses from hotels that were upgrading... who knows how old this one is it's also a mattress with a box springs... one of those enclosed but no longer is... I really want to replace the whole things but it's really hard to do when you are a 100 miles from a larger city to use to most of you it's probably a small city... I keep thinking I'll get over there and find one and have my grandson pick it up in his truck but it's also not happened... hopefully one day it will
sheila

[Cudedog]

... I really want to replace the whole things but it's really hard to do when you are a 100 miles from a larger city to use to most of you it's probably a small city... I keep thinking I'll get over there and find one and have my grandson pick it up in his truck but it's also not happened... hopefully one day it will
sheila

Sheila, it is very easy these days to buy a bed online and have it shipped directly to your house. That is what I am planning to do. "Bed in a box" just means that the bed is shipped directly to you, usually it is very compressed in a large box. Many are foam beds, the ones I am considering are inner spring with a foam top.

Most of the online bed companies offer free shipping to you, a hundred nights free sleep (on the bed), and a 100% return guarantee (with them paying the return shipping) if one decides they don't like the bed.

That's why I paid my $10.00 this morning to sign up for a month with Consumer Reports, well worth the price for doing research. They offer unbiased reviews, and do not accept advertising. I plan to choose my new bed from among the Consumer Reports listings.

**********

Happy new year, everyone. I am struggling with a really bad case of "the blues" this evening; even though it is raining outside the ##$%%@@!!! fireworks started going off at 9:00 freaking p.m. If last year is any indication, they probably won't stop until sometime after 1:00 a.m.

Inflation? Recession?? Their sure isn't anything like that around here when these "glass bowls" (the word I am thinking of rhymes with glass bowls) can shoot off their ultra-boom fireworks for four hours.

My Joe is so upset by the noise I am afraid he is going to injure himself.

Sorry for the rant. I guess I'm "in a mood".

Anne

[Bethers]

Hugs, Anne. I'm lucky that Ty handles them pretty good, but he is a Velcro dog right now.

[Cudedog]

Hugs, Anne. I'm lucky that Ty handles them pretty good, but he is a Velcro dog right now.

Thanks, Beth. I love hugs.

I have never been able to figure out why Joe reacts so poorly to loud noises. Something in his past, probably. My sweet boy came home to me as an adult dog.

Anne

[BarbaraRose]

My current bed is one I ordered from Amazon 3 1/2 years ago when I moved here. It is OK but I have to turn it once in awhile because it gets a sag where I sleep on it. My next bed will be an airbed. They make them much better than the old "air mattresses". They can be adjusted to however firm or soft you want them. I like it firm but I usually put on a memory foam topper on them for a little cushiness. I plan to get one for the RV. Will save on some weight and will be easier to put sheets on it. I plan to replace the queen mattress and get a twin mattress like I did in my TT, so I can use the extra space along the side for books, etc.

Good luck on finding your perfect for you bed!

[MandysMom]

Anne, Mel was a member of Consumer Reports before we were married. After he died, I let it lapse, because I no longer felt I could rely on them . At least 3 major appliances we chose, based on them being a top pick by CR, we're duds. Including the Samsung Fridge which did ver $40,000 damage to my house. I no longer trust CR.
Velda

[Colliemom]

I may eventually have to replace my bed too. But if you order online how do you get rid of the old one? I guess maybe I get home I am out to the Waze company place. I have to check with them to see if they take them I think they do. For a price of course. I do have a nice queen bed in my guestroom that is just sitting there doing nothing. I have often thought about moving that one to my room and then maybe just put in a twin bed in the guestroom and I can use that one if I have company about them use my bedroom.

[Pooker]

I bought a memory foam bed in a box mattress from Walmart, thinking at my age I don't need something that is good for 10 or 20 years. I've bought many things from Walmart.com and have always been happy with them. There is a much greater selection on their site than in the stores and delivery was very speedy. I'm actually happy with my mattress - it's firm, but probably good for my back. Yeah, what to do with the old one is a bit of a problem, but many stores won't take the old mattress either.

Evie

[Cudedog]

Anne, Mel was a member of Consumer Reports before we were married. After he died, I let it lapse, because I no longer felt I could rely on them . At least 3 major appliances we chose, based on them being a top pick by CR, we're duds. Including the Samsung Fridge which did ver $40,000 damage to my house. I no longer trust CR.
Velda

Dang. Velda. Sorry to hear that about CR. So many things are just crap these days. I remember you writing about your Samsung issues a while back, I may be forgetting - did you ever get your fridge issues resolved? I almost bought a Samsung washer a few years ago, glad I didn't because later reviews revealed it to be junk.

With CR, I had the option of $39.00/year or $10.00/month (with cancel anytime) so I went with $10.00/mo. I'll cancel in a day or so to be sure they don't bill me again.

I am enjoying reading the reviews on CR, but the way things are organized there are very confusing to me. Or maybe I am just getting old. There are about 100 beds reviewed there on CR, I finally figured out how to isolate the top ten, so are just looking at those - and they are very pricy, pretty much out of my ballpark. So I'm still looking.

Thanks to Barbie and Pooker (and others I may be forgetting), for some reason I didn't think about looking on Walmart and Amazon. I'll try there later. I bought my most recent computer from Walmart - a Lenovo - and it was hundreds less from Walmart than from many other places (same model name and model number - same included RAM and ROM). I have been mostly happy with stuff I bought on Walmart - I'll need to check their return policies. I think I'll also look on Best Buy, maybe Sam's Club, and maybe Big Lots.

Thanks for your posts, Velda, Barbie and Pooker. All very helpful in assisting my hunt for a new bed.

As for what to do with my old mattress. . . the thing still looks good, it is clean with not much visible wear (I have always kept it covered in a waterproof mattress cover, and sheets of course). I may wait for a sunny day, take a few photos, and post it for free, "you pick up", on Craig's List. I live in a semi-economically depressed area, and there is a good chance someone will come to get it (I will describe it accurately).

If not, I think I can pay my local trash pick up service to haul it away.

Anne

[MandysMom]

Samsung fridge, minus it's water connection still runs. I hope to find one in next few months which will fit through the door and have ice. It won't be a Samsuck! Read recently of a few fires caused by washers and Samsung was brand mentioned. I'm unhappy Sears went away because I bought a lot of good appliances there, through the years. As to mattress, I believe it's illegal to sell used here, and I think I read disposal is free to keep them recycled vs landfill. There might be a source online for mattress pickup, there used to be.
Velda

[Cudedog]

Samsung fridge, minus it's water connection still runs. I hope to find one in next few months which will fit through the door and have ice. It won't be a Samsuck! Read recently of a few fires caused by washers and Samsung was brand mentioned. I'm unhappy Sears went away because I bought a lot of good appliances there, through the years. As to mattress, I believe it's illegal to sell used here, and I think I read disposal is free to keep them recycled vs landfill. There might be a source online for mattress pickup, there used to be.
Velda

Thanks, Velda. I wouldn't try to sell the mattress set used, but I would just give it away if someone wanted it.

"Samsuck" made me laugh!

Anne

[JudyJB]

Many cities let you put a mattress out with the trash, although they might have to do a special collection trip. Call your township or county and ask.

I bought a custom-made bed in a box, and was happy with it, though it was a bit firm. I added a 2" memory foam topper and it is fine now. Mine had to be custom-made because it was a "short" queen and also had a corner cut off it so the slide would close.

Warning: The bed in a box can be really, really heavy. I picked mine up at a Walmart's that had a UPS service desk, and the young man loaded it into a shopping cart for me. Then, when I got to my motorhome, I was able to tip it into the doorway. Just don't assume you can carry or even drag this thing around easily, so make sure you get porch delivery or have someone to help you haul it in. Ditto for the old mattress--you most likely cannot, on your own, lift it up and put it in a dumpster.

Because I was on the road, I had to dump it off at a registered dump and that cost me about $30, I think. I dragged it to my doorway on the side, and another younger man pulled it out for me. Whew!

[Redetotry]

Because I have chemical sensitivities I need to be very careful of what I bring into our home. Unfortunately mattresses have a lot of toxins like VOC and flame retardants. I attached part of an article on how to buy a safe mattress. Unfortunately they are more expensive. Here is a link to the best 10 organic mattresses but I'm sure there are others. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/n ... mattresses

This is where I bought mine and I've had it for over 15 years and it is still in very good condition. https://lifekind.com/

"When looking for a nontoxic mattress, consider each part of the mattress—including the casing and the inner support layers of the mattress.

Look for a casing that’s comprised of certified organic cotton and certified organic wool.
The core of the mattress should be comprised of natural latex instead of memory foam, polyurethane foam, or any number of blended foams.
Avoid petroleum-based materials, like synthetic latex, vinyl, and polyurethane foam.
Avoid chemical flame retardants.
Inquire about adhesives used and any other chemical treatments.

2. Check certifications

Unfortunately, there are “natural” mattresses out there that are not as natural as you would assume. "Natural" mattresses can be blended with petroleum-based latex, as well as other toxic materials.

Look for a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) logo when shopping for a non-toxic mattress.
For added protection, you can check if your chosen mattress is Greenguard GOLD certified. Greengard GOLD certification means that the mattress meets very strict standards for low chemical emissions.
Check for a Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certification to ensure that the latex inside your mattress is composed of more than 95% organic raw material.
Look for California's Prop 65 label, which can alert you to toxic chemicals that the mattress may contain."