Sleep Number

Chapter two in our quest to replace a 30 year old mattress brought us out to Rt. 22 to look at our bedding (excuse me, «bedding systems») options. Unimpressed by the Temperpedic and Simmons offerings we auditioned at Sleepy’s, we drove further down the highway to Sleep Number.
THE SLEEP NUMBER STORE EXPERIENCE (4.50 stars): First, finding this store wasn’t easy, and we travel Rt. 22 almost weekly. As a hint, look on the eastbound side of Rt. 22 as you pass the Ethan Allen showroom. Once found, it didn’t take long for us to conclude that a Sleep Number bed is exactly what we were seeking. Greg, our salesman, is a true professional and knows both his product and salesmanship very well. With all due respect, however, the Sleep Number bed sold itself.
When you enter a Sleep Number showroom you’ll be invited to stretch out on one of their beds, actually one of their low-​end models, hooked to a video analysis system. You’ll see the pressure points created by your body on the mattress surface; this isn’t a gimmick. Although the bio-​feedback helps, you can feel exactly what the video is displaying. As the mattress firmness is cycled from 0 (mushy) through 100 (rock-​hard), there will be a spot which feels just right. A word of advice; your choice of pillow design and firmness is equally important in finding an optimal sleeping experience. Finally, your choice of mattress pad thickness determines the model number (and cost) of your Sleep Number bed.
The actual sales experience was a pleasure. We visited during a sales weekend, and received a very solid discount. Pillows, «breathable» pillow and mattress covers and delivery ($ 169, with carting of our old mattress and box spring) are extra, and we bought a European down comforter ($ 94, reduced from $ 400). With all of the extras, our purchase was a thousand dollars less than the Temperpedic beds. We were promised a delivery «in two weeks, or less.»
THE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE (2.50 stars): We heard nothing for six days, and the Sleep Number website hasn’t been able to locate our order to this day– it’s flashy, but worthless. On day six we received a call from a gentleman who identified himself as being with a company we hadn’t heard of, and asking to schedule a delivery. The earliest available delivery date was 2 ½ weeks from our purchase date. Further, a «four hour delivery window» was «mandatory». .. «strike two.» Silly work rules and poor time management isn’t what buyers of premium products are paying ($ 169) for.
Fortunately, the next pitch was hit into the left field bleachers. The two man delivery team called ahead, respected us and our home, were personable while working efficiently and made sure that we knew how to operate the bed. It was a bit amusing to watch such a random assortment of ordinary objects assemble into a flawless and finished bed.
THE SLEEP NUMBER PRODUCT EXPERIENCE (5.00 stars): Forget the advertising hype, this is a great product. Neither my wife nor I wake up with the sore backs that had started every day. We sleep better, and unquestionably, wake up more refreshed. My pillow took a few days to get used to, but the mattress was excellent from day one.
I’m thrilled that we stopped into this Sleep Number store, and encourage anybody looking for a new bed to make a stop here.