If you go on Google or Bing and search for what are the top five mattresses in the USA you will likely see some ads for www.top5-mattresses and www.mattressverdict.com, along with possibly one for Nectar Sleep. Clicking on any of those ads requires the site owner to pay Google or Bing for the click. As a result, those websites must make money to cover the cost of the ad click. This also implies that the rankings of the mattresses listed on those sites are paid rankings, not genuinely rated or ranked mattresses and companies.
When I recently checked out the rankings, each site ranked different mattresses at different levels. However, the next day when I did the same search again, I noticed that the top two rankings on www.top5-mattresses.com had switched positions. This raises the question of which brand was actually ranked the highest. Therefore, it is not hard to figure out that these ranking sites are nothing more than paid advertising sites.
However, if you scroll down to some of the organic listings (non-paid advertisements), you will see that www.goodhousekeeping.com appears as the first one. It is important to note that just because this site appears in the organic section does not mean it is not paid for. Most of these sites are paid by the mattress companies they rank, but instead of paying for ads, they invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to achieve a higher rank in the organic search results. In other words, they must make money to be able to pay for SEO.
The most interesting part that proves these positions are paid-for in both pay-per-click ads and SEO listings is that the highest-ranked mattresses are junk/fake mattresses, made mostly of plastic foam, and their warranties exclude coverage for the very issues that will arise with their mattresses.
I want to take a closer look at the makeup of each mattress and the details of their warranties, assuming that www.goodhousekeeping.com is less biased since it appeared at the top of the organic listings.
The website www.goodhousekeeping.com ranks Saatva Classic in first place, which is a traditional coil spring mattress with a “hybrid coil” spring unit on top and a top layer of memory foam made of polyurethane foam, a type of plastic foam. The warranty excludes two things: body impressions greater than 1.5″ and certain body impressions and adaptations that are considered normal. If a mattress gets a body impression half that deep, it is likely that most consumers will not be comfortable. The warranty does not cover this issue, and it is expected that the foam will get softer over time, which will become more evident as you read the warranties of the four following top-ranked mattresses.
The Allswell Lux Hybrid, ranked second on the list on www.goodhousekeeping.com, is a “hybrid” coil mattress topped with cheap plastic foam. Its 10-year warranty states that it does not cover any foam deterioration with an indentation of less than 1.5 inches, which is identical to the first place mattress with a “Lifetime Warranty.” The warranty also states that the foam softness can increase during the break-in period or in the case of Visco-elastic memory foam, and such a lessening, if it occurs, does not reduce the pressure-reducing and pressure relief properties of the mattress. This means that the softening of the foam happens quickly with use, and it seriously reduces the support properties of the foam, although it doesn’t reduce its pressure-relieving properties.
Goodhousekeeping.com’s third place top-rated mattress is the Helix Dusk Luxe, which is a hybrid mattress that combines pocket coils with plastic polyurethane foam. According to the 15-year warranty, the mattress will only be covered if there is a visible indentation greater than one (1) inch. However, even if the dip is under the warranty, consumers may not like the feel of a body impression because the foam will be very soft at the impression, making it feel like a 2-inch dip. The warranty also acknowledges that the foam softens over time: “This limited warranty does not cover the following: A normal increase in softness of the foam pressure-relieving material which does not affect the pressure-relieving qualities of the mattress.” This statement is misleading, as it does not address the impact of the foam softening on the mattress’s support qualities. Consumers may choose to purchase these mattresses based on their showroom feel, only to find that they have become significantly softer within a few years.
Goodhousekeeping.com ranks the Nolah Original 10″ as fourth place in their top five mattresses. This one doesn’t have any springs, only plastic polyurethane foam. The lifetime warranty states that it doesn’t cover indentations in the foam less than one (1.0″). Additionally, it says that a normal increase in softness of the foam is normal and doesn’t affect the pressure-relieving quality of the mattress.
The Bear Elite Hybrid takes the last place in the top 5 mattresses on goodhousekeeping.com. It has a hybrid spring and plastic polyurethane foam padding. The warranty for this mattress, which lasts for 20 years, states that it covers indentations over 1.5 inches. However, the warranty does not cover any normal changes in the feel or recovery feature of the springs or foam material, both of which do not affect the pressure-relieving qualities of the materials.
The common denominator between mattresses made with plastic foam and warranties that exclude coverage for the very things that go wrong with such mattresses is obvious to anyone. Many websites promote “great,” “best,” or “highest-ranked” mattresses, but the sad truth is that much of the information provided is misleading. In most cases, the mattresses have significant profit margins, enabling companies to pay for rankings and search engine optimization. As a result, consumers are deceived into thinking they are purchasing high-quality mattresses, when in fact they are purchasing nothing more than marketing. I have always maintained that large mattress companies are not experts at creating superior products, but rather experts at producing inferior products and presenting them to consumers as great mattresses. They should be ashamed of themselves.