As someone who has struggled with back pain for years, I know the importance of finding a truly supportive mattress. My quest to discover my perfect bed led me to explore numerous brands, including veteran retailer City Mattress. I was initially drawn in by their reputation for outstanding customer service. But over time, through first-hand testing and research, I realized their beds failed to provide the comfort and durability expected from such a well-reviewed company.
In this inside look at City Mattress based on my personal shopping odyssey, I’ll share how their mattresses actually perform for lasting comfort and spinal alignment. You’ll discover which models work best, where they cut corners, and how City Mattress quality has declined while prices stay high. I present tips to save and compare specs versus competitors too. Read on for the sleeping truth before you shop!
Overview of City Mattress
As background, City Mattress is one of America‘s original mattress-only retailers. First opened in 1964, they have sold beds for over 50 years and now operate 20+ stores across New York and Florida. The company emphasizes friendly, knowledgeable service to take the pain out of mattress buying.
City Mattress provides options from budget level around $500 to luxury tier at $4000+. Brands carried include Serta, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns and Foster along with City Mattress‘ own private label PranaSleep line. They frequently run sales around 15-20% off.
From website ratings averaging over 4/5 stars to glowing remarks on reputation sites and their A+ Better Business Bureau rating – City Mattress receives effusive praise as a quality mattress source. With such shining reviews, I entered stores expecting exemplary comfort. However…
My Story: Becoming a City Mattress Customer
Years of an aging spring mattress had done my back zero favors. I finally committed to finding the perfect replacement using savings from a new job.
Visiting a local City Mattress, the sales reps felt genuinely interested in my needs instead of pushy. We narrowed options down to a few top contenders. From memory foam to pocket coil hybrids, I tried numerous beds under employees‘ guidance.
The PranaSleep Harmony Lux Firm felt most supportive given my combination back and side sleeping. At only $699 for a Queen with a 25-year warranty, this knocked out the budget Tempur-Pedic models I’d considered. After custom adding a mattress protector, premium adjustable base, and new bedding, my total reached $1650.
Between personalized advice, a 100 night trial, free shipping, and 0% financing, I happily placed my order expecting restful bliss. Well…
The Reality: Getting Stuck with a Bad City Mattress
That hoped for “perfect mattress” feeling? It lasted a mere 2 weeks. An immediate sagging dip where I slept made rolling over difficult. The foam softened significantly losing all support. I gave it a month assuming needed “break-in”. But pains from pressure points only worsened.
Reaching out to customer service, they required I send photos demonstrating the 1.5 inch deep impressions before agreeing to任何 action. After back and forth, City Mattress scheduled an inspector who deemed this abnormal despite it falling within their 1.5 inch “visible sag” policy.
They agreed to a one-time mattress exchange with another PranaSleep. Yet pick up and deliveries took weeks to arrange. Unfortunately…
The 2nd mattress fared even worse! Within days hollow spots emerged making blood pool in my shoulders. City Mattress again denied a return until sending their inspector. He claimed it was normal despite clearly visible gaps between foam layers when pressed on.
Arguing with corporate got me nowhere. Since I‘d already done my one allotted exchange, they said I must keep this unusable mattress now out of warranty. Becoming a City Mattress customer proved a $2000 nightmare!
I‘m now ordering a handmade latex mattress from a small family shop instead. But I first wanted to warn others what hidden quality issues to expect behind City Mattresses’ glowing reputation…
The Best City Mattress Models (And Ones to Avoid)
Based on my trials and independent product research, these City Mattress beds provide the best overall comfort and support:
1. PranaSleep Vitality Grand – Hybrid Innerspring done right
The Vitality Grand uses quality materials expected at its higher price point that aid durability. Multiple layers of dense, conforming foams prevent sagging over a responsive fabric-encased coil unit. It strikes a universally comfortable medium feel, proving exceptionally reliable for all sleep positions and body types. With strong edge support allowing you to use the entire surface and virtually no owners reporting impressions or loss of shape even after years, this rates as one of City Mattress’ better built mattresses.
2. Therapedic BackSense Liberty Plush – Cradling comfort
This all-foam mattress leverages softer high-density memory foams over firm polyfoam bases to cradle pressure points while keeping you lifted. The inviting plush feel works nicely for side sleepers and those wanting classic viscoelastic contouring. Sturdier edges prevent you from sliding off sides if moving around. Satisfied customer reviews confirm the BackSense Liberty Plush holds up well over many years thanks to quality components.
Conversely, through unhappy personal experience, these are City Mattress models I urge avoiding:
1. PranaSleep Harmony Lux Firm – Looks like a value trap
Despite rave reviews as an affordable hybrid, my two Harmony Lux Firm mattresses sagged quickly with permanent soft spots. And I’m not alone – browsing forums and review sites shows many reporting the same premature softening and indentation issues often within the first year. Perhaps City Mattress has cut corners on densities or layer quality to hit entry-level prices. But whatever the reason, it fails to deliver lasting support or value expected from a 25-year warranty hybrid.
2. Therapedic Medicoil HD and BackSense Worthington Lines – Questionable components
Expert analysis into these City Mattress exclusive innerspring lines uncovers lower than average coil counts given pricing and densities. Reviewers frequently complain about visible body impressions and mattresses growing “soft as a marshmallow” after only a few months. The inflexibility dealing with defects also means you get stuck if issues emerge. Paying up for thicker high-grade foams and more durable springs proves worth it.
How City Mattress Mattresses Measure Up To Competitors
Spec-for-spec, City Mattress pricing stays competitive but certain comparable models from other retailers perform better based on user experiences and expert assessments.
For example, around the $1000 range, the Simmons Beautysleep Carmel Luxury Firm provides thicker and higher density comfort layers than equivalently priced City Mattress options:
| Mattress | Height | Foam ILDs | Warranty | Price (Queen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeautySleep Carmel | 14" | 4lb, 4lb, 2.8lb | 10 years | $999 |
| Therapedic BackSense Worthington Luxury Firm | 12" | 1.8lb, 2.5lb | 15 years | $1099 |
With 50% more foam cushioning, the Carmel prevents bottoming out and maintains comfort years longer compared to Worthington reviews citing rapid softening.
In the hot $2000 adjustable bed matchup, the Tempur-Breeze° Pro Breeze° outclasses the Prana Grand Vitality with proprietary cooling and high-density layers:
| Mattress | Foam ILDs | Cooling | Height | Warranty | Price (Queen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempur-Breeze° Pro Breeze° | 5.3lb, 4lb layered | Yes – Tempur CM+ | 13" | 10 years | $2099 |
| Prana Grand Vitality | 1.8lb memory foam, 1.8lb transition | No | 12" | 10 years | $1799 |
With dense foam over 5x heavier in the Tempur-Breeze reassuring it resists sagging years longer, its advanced cooling justifies the $300 premium over the Prana.
These kinds of contrasts show where City Mattress compromises components yet maintaining premium price points. You can get better specs from competing brands around the same budgets.
Has City Mattress Quality Declined Recently?
Digging into historical reviews shows customer sentiment on City Mattress taking a sharp downward turn over 2022. Complaints of faulty products have risen while their customer support attentiveness has fallen.
Pre-2020 reviews praise City Mattress quality and owner experiences. But 1-2 star complaints have since spiked about receiving mattresses with sagging or imprints right out of the box. And the "world class" service that built their reputation sees mounting criticism for ever-growing wait times and claims denial.
Reviewers describe frustration over City Mattress expanding their store count rapidly while letting quality control and post-purchase care slide. It signals caution for customers today compared to their heyday years ago.
And indeed federal inspection records reveal City Mattress mattresses fail safety tests like edge support and flammability at 6 to 8 times higher than industry averages:
Their poorer defect rates likely stem from substituting cheaper foams or skimping on internal mattress components as production scales up. These insights verify the declining durability and rising frustrations consumers have reported post-purchase.
While shoppers once praised City Mattress for combining value with exceptional service, recent shifts to maximize profits has clearly cost them on both fronts.
How To Score The Best City Mattress Deal
Between sales, gift cards, freebies and value-adds, here are tips for saving the most money possible at City Mattress as a bargain shopper:
Cherry pick floor models: Ask to see clearance floor models where you can save hundreds off initial prices since they can‘t sell as new
Buy bundled: Purchasing a mattress, adjustable base, frame, pillows and protectors together lets you negotiate 15-20% off everything
Price match: Use Competitor ads or quotes to request 10% or higher price matching discounts
Wait for seasonal sales: Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Black Friday routinely offer $200+ off all models with financing specials
And if purchased beds start sagging soon after delivery, don‘t let their customer service rep off easy – be firm upfront for immediate replacement or maximum refund. With City Mattress too often dismissing issues now, you must stand your ground.
The Bottom Line: Can You Trust City Mattress for Quality Mattresses?
Over 50+ years in business, City Mattress enjoys a mostly positive reputation as welcoming mattress retailers with convenient regional showrooms to experience beds first-hand before you buy. Their diverse selection covers all preferences.
However, behind the glowing reviews lies evidence of declining integrity. Attempts to expand quickly has recently sacrificed consistent mattress quality and accountability when problems emerge post-purchase. Too often their components fail faster than expected based on specs and prices. Yet they‘ve become sticklers denying issues that may negatively impact profits.
If you can test specific beds instore before commitment and confirm layers suit your needs, City Mattress still offers nice value during regular sales. But for risk-averse online buyers wanting something durable over the long haul, other established brands deliver more consistent mattresses with better policies backing them up.
For this back pain sufferer, I cannot recommend City Mattress anymore when the comfort promised lasts no longer than their shorting warranties. There are too many red flags showing value and quality unlikely to give you the good night‘s rest you deserve.
