Drive through any town and you’re going to come across at least two best mattresses stores in a strip mall. They’re everywhere, regardless of the size of the town. How on earth do these places stay in business? That’s long been our question too. It tends to make you wonder just how long your mattress should last. If mattress stores are on every street corner, maybe your mattress should have been replaced a long time ago? This could be true, if your mattress is over ten years old. If it’s under ten years, even with the signs of wear and tear, chances are it still has some life left in it. So the question about those eye-sore mattress stores remains; why are they there and how do they survive?
At CordaRoy’s, we wanted answers. So we decided to get to the bottom of the new mattress store mystery, and also find out the general life expectancy of a good quality mattress. What we found out was pretty shocking, and we’re proud we offer a way out of the mattress-buying loop.
Signs of an Aging Mattress
Believe it or not, there are tell-tale signs that it's time to retire your old mattress regardless of the mattress type. Even when the box spring is still holding up, keep these signs in mind.
- Dust mites
- Sagging
- Back pain
- Allergens
- Noisy
- Mildew
- The mattress protector isn't helping
- Indentations
Simply asking yourself how long does a mattress last, can be a sign it's time to start looking for a new one.
The Real Scoop on Mattress Stores (and Mattresses)
The mattress store mystery all starts with what has basically become an oligopoly on mattress sales. For the amount of people who need mattresses (basically everyone), there are precious few brands from which to choose. As such, it’s easy for mattress stores to find other ways to compete with one another for your business, other than reducing their prices. While one mattress store may offer a “Super Deluxe Ultra Orthopedic Cool Sleep Air Flow Pillow Top Memory Foam” mattress for $3,000.00, another store may offer the exact same mattress under a different (falsely technical) name for the same amount. As such, you as the consumer get pigeonholed into purchasing the mattress, which likely cost about $300.00 to manufacture. Considering that a mattress store has an extremely low overhead (most employees work on commission and the unappealing exterior signage markets for the store), this is practically straight profit for the company.
Still, the question remains, if mattresses last an average of ten years, why are we buying so many mattresses? The answer could be the sheer volume of mattresses needed to outfit all of us with a good night’s sleep. Alternatively, it could be that mattress companies want to turn a profit, and have convinced us that we need a mattress sooner than we actually do. At CordaRoy’s, we tend to believe the latter is most accurate. So what can you, as a consumer, do to get out of the mattress store rat race? We’ve got some options for your consideration.
What Mattresses Last the Longest?
The types of mattresses are endless. There's memory foam, synthetic latex mattresses, waterbeds, and even an air mattress option. If a good quality mattress lasts approximately ten years, which ones last longer, and are there any mattresses options available? Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from different styles of mattresses.
- Memory foam mattresses. A memory foam mattress is a mattress made with no springs. A traditional mattress will contain springs and padding, but a memory foam mattress has no springs and is made of only foam. The type of foam contained in a memory foam mattress differs between brands. A memory foam mattress will last between eight to ten years provided it is properly cared for and used only as directed.
- Traditional, innerspring mattresses. The old standby, and likely the type of mattress you grew up with, the innerspring mattress layered like a parfait. Beginning with a layer of wood or a pressboard, a thin layer of foam is applied over top of the wood. Next, a series of innerspring coils are screwed into the bottom of the wood to give the mattress its classic spring and resistance. On top of the springs, additional layers of foam, filling, padding, and other materials are added to protect the sleepers from feeling the innerspring coils. Traditional, innerspring mattresses will last between five and ten years, depending on quality and use.
- Hybrid mattresses. If a traditional innerspring mattress and a memory foam mattress had a baby, a hybrid mattress is what would be born. A hybrid mattress combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of an innerspring mattress. Comfort layers meet the high-density, firm mattress. Designed to provide both comfort and support, hybrid mattresses were designed to convince mattress buyers they could have the best of both worlds; the sturdy, solid support of an innerspring, along with the soft, plush comfort of memory foam. These mattresses last between eight to ten years.
- Convertible mattresses. The newest kid on the block is convertible mattresses. A convertible mattress is a mattress that converts from one form to another. The most popular style is a bean bag chair that converts to a mattress. We may be slightly partial to these designs, but it’s for a good reason. A convertible mattress gives the user the benefit of having additional seating by day, and a plush, comfortable mattress by night.
A convertible mattress like the ones available from CordaRoy’s is filled with a proprietary blend of furniture grade polyurethane foam cut into randomized sizes to ensure an all-over, supportive, and luxurious sleep.
Possibly the best feature of a CordaRoy’s convertible mattress is that there’ quite literally no expiration date. Not only do we guaranty all of our convertible mattresses for life (and we mean a real, 100% lifetime guaranty), we are still in contact with some of the owners of mattresses we sold more than twenty years ago; and those mattresses are still providing comfortable sleep whenever needed.
While the average life expectancy of a mattress lifespan is generally in the range of five to ten years, you don’t have to be a slave to the corner mattress store any longer. You can switch to a CordaRoy’s convertible mattress and get not only a mattress that is comfortable but also durable enough to last longer than an overpriced mattress store mattress. Our team is ready to help you pick a convertible mattress that will fit your needs and make you happy with your new bed. Once you own a CordaRoy’s, you’re part of the family. Our customer service and relationship extends through the life of your mattress, for as long as you own it. We’re proud to offer one of the mattress industry’s only lifelong mattresses.
