Shopping for Futon Mattresses Online
If you found this blog post you’re probably contemplating buying a futon mattress online. Or, you’ve recently purchased a futon mattress and might not be as impressed with your new futon as you hoped to be. So, what do you really need to look at / for before purchasing a new futon mattress online?
- Check the return policy!
Most online futon retailers don’t accept returns on futon mattresses. In most states it’s against state law to resell a mattress as new once it’s been in someones home. But, people have pets, and who knows what else in their homes. I personally would be a little nervous buying from a company that took mattresses back for fear of getting a used mattress! - Mattress Warranties:
Make sure the mattress you’re buying has a warranty! Warranties only (usually) cover materials and construction. That refers to the seams, casing, and fill, not whether or not you like the mattress. No retailer has a guarantee that you’ll be personally satisfied, but everyone is different and it’s a hard thing to accommodate everyone. - Check the shipping policy:
Online Retailers who do take merchandise back normally don’t refund shipping charges to or from the customers location. Think about it, you might live half way across the country from your retailer of choice. It’s not like driving down to your local furniture store, so make 100% sure before you purchase, it can save you hundreds in the end.
Peter Farrow said
am June 30 2009 @ 4:26 am
Reading this blog, I thought people might be interested in a posting from my blog, here in the UK. You can find it through our site at http://www.futons247.co.uk.
One of the most common questions I get asked is; “Can I use a futon as a bed everyday?”. Well, I guess the answer needs some explaining……..
As is so often the case this depends on the type of futon that you are intending to purchase, in particular what combination of base and futon mattress you are looking at.
Firstly….the futon mattress. If you are intending to use your futon as a bed and a sofa then you need to get a combination of comfort for sitting / sleeping, flexibility for folding into a seat and rigidity to ensure the futon mattress holds itself up when in a seat position. With this in mind I would always look for a futon mattress with a good quality ‘core’, such as foam or rebound polyester. The core should then be surrounded by layers of woolfelt and cotton. Generally an 8-layer futon mattress, weighing upwards of 20kg would make a good purchase whilst providing a firm, but supportive, sleep. These types of futon mattresses are available from all the independant shops who are Futon Blog members, as well as other outlets on the web.
If you don’t need to fold your futon mattress, as it will remain flat on a bed frame, then you could also look at traditional 8-layer cotton / felt futons and the new ‘FutoLatex’ which contains a mix of cotton and ‘cotton-rich’ felt around a core of Natural Latex. These type of futon mattresses provide a slightly softer and supportive sleep, making perfect futon mattresses for an everyday bed. Generally these type of futons are only available from specialist stores.
Secondly…consider the type of base you require. In my experience the best bases for a permenant bed, if you are intending to leave your futon in a ‘bed’ position, are good quality pine bases, such as the Auckland or Osumi. They are simple, robust and will stand the test of time very well, we frequently replace futon mattresses for people who have had their bases for upwards of 10 years! If you want to move your futon from a bed to a sofa then go for a 3-seater style base, they are easy to convert. One or two retailers even stock 3 seater bases that use a ’sprung’ beech-slat system for the seating / sleeping platform, providing extra comfort for regular use.
Anyway I could go on forever……..so post any questions you may have. Bye for now…..