If you're a lifelong Simmons, Serta, Sealy or Tempur-pedic mattress sleeper and still not getting a good night's sleep, consider Sleep Sherpa in Edina (612-354-6107).
Owner Ben Trapskin opened a showroom late last year with brands and models most consumers have not heard of unless they're shopping for beds online. Brands such as Brentwood Home, Nest, Nectar, Novos, Leesa, Helix, Sleep Eight and others are on display at Sleep Sherpa so consumers can test them out.
Shoppers can buy from the manufacturer in the store through Trapskin (who receives a small commission) or purchase directly through the manufacturer's website. Sleep Sherpa does not warranty the beds or accept the returns. All requests for a return/refund must still be made through the manufacturer.
Amazingly, Sleep Sherpa is the only multi-brand e-mattress showroom in the country to Trapskin's knowledge. Many e-mattress companies have their own showrooms but only stock their own brand.
The advantage that nearly all of the mattress brands sold online have is the money-back guarantee within 100 days. Most don't require the mattress to be returned. Instead, the customer is asked to show proof that the mattress was donated to a charity.
Dave Smittkamp of Mattress Liquidators in West St. Paul said the reason many of the manufacturers don't want returned mattresses is that the profit margin is high enough and the quality low enough that it's not worth the trouble to get them back.The majority of e-mattresses sold are only two to three years old, so their longevity is an open question.
Most of the e-mattresses are made of foam or latex, minus the innersprings. "Some of them will be lucky to last 4 years," he said. He likes the Saatva brand, one of the few companies that does take their mattresses back. He sells their comfort exchanges (returns) at his showroom at 1253 S. Robert St., West St. Paul (651-344-7777).
Costco.com sells a couple of the beds from the Brentwood Home line (pictured), including an adjustable base
mattress ($3,400-$4,400 [king, delivered] on sale through June 4). A couple nonadjustable Brentwood Home beds are also featured at Sleep Sherpa.
Most queen-sized e-mattresses sell for $500 to $1,000, which does not include a box spring. Without the box spring, most are meant to be placed on a platform bed.
For more info about Trapskin and the first e-mattress showroom in the country, go here.
