All my friends know that I’m nuts about research. If they catch me in the right mood, I usually agree to help them out in researching a purchase. When Susan said she wanted help buying a new mattress, my eyes lit up. “Memory Foam!” I said. “Now about that dinner you said you’d cook…..”
“Jonathan” she said rolling her eyes. “You know I can’t take the smell. And don’t even start with the airing out thing. No memory foam.”

So I found myself looking at other kinds of mattresses. Susan’s an elder care nurse so I know that she wants a good solid mattress with lots of back support. She comes home beat after a day of work. I looked at all the big names and then I remembered something my mom had said about Sterns and Foster. They are a smaller mattress company but they’ve been around since like the Civil War. One of her bridge club ladies got a new mattress and just loves the feel of the Sterns and Foster.

As is my usual MO, I read reviews. The Sterns and Foster reviews were mixed but ultimately people were pleased with the quality. It sounds like one particular product had some problems. That happens, no matter how great the company and product line, there is always a dud. The key is avoiding the dud!

So I called Susan. “What’s your price range? Would you scream if I said I’d found the perfect mattress but it’s $1,500?”  She didn’t scream but she did say she’d have to check with Harry.
She called me later. “Tell me more.”

Here’s the thing about Sterns and Foster — they are into luxury. They use silk in their materials. Silk! The research I did on the foam mattress said that the foam holds up really well. They use three kinds of foam and all of it is anti-microbial and hypo-allergenic. So I knew that we were right path for my friend. The mattress looks top-line. The fabrics and materials are the best available.

“I can’t think of a better night’s sleep if you’re not going with memory foam.” I told Susan. “This is your mattress. Now about that dinner you promised….”