I worked as a mattress warranty inspector for about one year. In that one year Simmons beautyrest had a mimum of 10 complaints to every one of all other manufactuers combined. A short time after i was hired I was told by the owner of Mattress Marshalls, the company i worked for to try and cheat more on measurements and not to allow as many warranty claim approvals. Serta and S&F had the least amount of warrant claims.
Hi njs219,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround and becoming affectionately known as a MUGster!
Thank you for sharing your experiences as a mattress warranty inspector! Your insights into the complaint ratios among different brands, especially the high volume of complaints for Simmons BeautyRest compared to others, are incredibly valuable to our community.
If you’re open to it, could you elaborate on the types of claims you frequently encountered? Understanding the specific issues—like durability, sagging, or manufacturing defects—would help clarify the disparity among brands. Additionally, the community would be interested to hear your thoughts on what you think might be contributing to these issues and the initiation of claims. Such as, do they know when manufacturing the units, they are likely to have issues, is it a specific foam issue, overall construction, or single component etc.
Any context on how the inspection process worked and how the pressures you faced might have influenced approval rates would also be fascinating to learn about.
Thanks again for contributing to our discussion!
Maverick
How to prepare for a mattress Inspection. As a former inspector for MATTRESS MARSHALLS (deceitful and not to be trusted). The first thing i would look for is any rip tear stain or burn. Stains as big as a pin head will nullify your warranty. If possible a small carpet cleaner in most cases will fix the problem. Let the inspector recognize you use a mattress protector at all times. The second biggest mistake by customers is improper support. No center support from head to toe for Q and K. Will be written as Improper support warranty void. And last but not least inspectors dont care if the bed sinks when you lay on it. It is a non factor during the inspection. They care about the depth of the sag with no weight on it. If its not over 2 inches your claim will not go through.
Most mattress salespeople are trained to keep you away from there sale items because commissions are much lower. They will also in most cases lead you to simmons beautyrest. Not because they r the best mattress, but because they pay higher commissions. As an inspector simmons beautyrest had the most warranty claims 10x s more than all other manufacturers. Both serta and stearns and foster had the least inspections.
I believe there individually pocketed coil, not being held togethor with a typical hellical wire causes there coils to sink down further with weight on it, but bounce back when u get up. Do not try to bribe an inspector they have no control over your claim. One more note the imported foam mattresses always seem to come with a petroleum smell. And it is impossible to get a warranty claim improved with all foam mattresses. Remember its the mattress you want not the one someone is trying to sell you. If your sales person is the least bit good at what they do they will not only know the coil count but the gauge of steel used. The lower the number the better. If you hear that doesnt matter walkout. Because your salesperson is clueless and knows nothing about mattresses.
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What is your overall impression of the quality of these mattresses that they are putting out.
And do you find that the more that you pay, the better quality S brand mattress gets produced?
Quality is different in many ways. Gauge of steel, coil count, types of foam, ticking material used, and types of foam encasement. Price should not weigh into a purchase its about your comfort. And No the more you pay doesnt mean its a better mattress. If your combfortable on a $1000 mattress no need to spend any more. Remember the only thing that matters is your comfort. Also remember big chains like Mattress firm and independent dealers can usually take 30 to 40% off the listed price. Dont buy there dog and pony show to cut the price. Be sure you as the customer stay in charge of the process.
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Most of these S brand types, do what I dubbed, “the foam up” piling layers of foam to try and appeal to prospective buyers. I agree with you, a consumer needs to make a purchase based on comfort, but it often becomes a smoke and mirror proposition.
Some of these foamed up mattresses seeming feel good initially, but those “average at best quality foams” start to fade fast, and mattress failure begins.
This is what i wanted you to comment on regarding price. People think they are getting better quality by paying more. Often that is the sales pitch. “Here lay on this 16” foamed up mattress an you will be more comfortable and the mattress will last longer." Insinuating it is all that extra foam and expense is the reason.
We all know or should know that simply paying more, or using higher quality components doesn’t always create a more comfortable mattress. That is always subjective.
But if choosing between two 5k mattresses, both feeling “comfortable” one with high quality components and the other with average at best components, the likelihood of the lower quality component version is going to fail sooner verses the mattress made from quality components, lasting longer for the same money, would be the better choice and value, all other subjective characteristics being equal.
Also on a personal level id never buy a pillow top. The same combfort level is available in a less expensive plush/ or cushion firm…
And not to offend anyone but if you have a larger than normal mid section foam or pillowtop is absolutely wrong.
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