Aug. 31, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- The Original Mattress Factory, Costco and Sleep Train Are Among the Standouts for Mattress Retailers

YONKERS, N.Y., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Buying a bed can be tricky. Different retailers rarely call a model by the same name and sales seem to be perpetual, leaving shoppers in the dark about bottom-line prices. What's a shopper to do? Consumer Reports asked 17,444 online subscribers who recently bought a mattress if they were satisfied with their purchase and where to shop to get the best deal.

When it comes to a good night's rest mattress brand matters. Respondents rated Tempur-Pedic, Original Mattress Factory and Select Comfort higher than most for overall satisfaction. Shoppers who bought those brands were much more satisfied than those who bought Spring Air and Stearns & Foster models. And satisfaction doesn't have to come at a high price. Although the median price for a Tempur-Pedic is $2,408, Original Mattress Factory models average around $891.

Overall eighty-four percent of respondents said they'd definitely or probably buy their current mattress brand again if they had to do it over. An unhappy 16 percent said they'd probably or definitely pick something else.

"Buying a mattress is no bed of roses," says Tod Marks, senior project editor for Consumer Reports. "In fact, there are plenty of thorns. Comparison shopping is almost impossible and you're apt to make that expensive decisions after trying out a bed for just a few minutes in the store. And if you're unhappy with your selection, you could be out hundreds of dollars if you want to make an exchange."

Problem sleepers said Tempur-Pedic (made of memory foam that conforms to the shape of the body) and Select Comfort (a line of adjustable air mattresses) provided the most relief. More than 60 percent of long-suffering sleepers who bought either of the two brands said their sleep was very much improved, while respondents who purchased Stearns & Foster and Spring Air mattresses were less satisfied with their mattress. About 10 percent of problem sleepers who bought them said their condition worsened.

The right mattress choice can be the key to a good night's rest and it doesn't have to cost a lot according to the Consumer Reports survey results. Here are the details:

    --  Any new mattress beats an old one. Seventy-two percent of readers said
their new bed improved their sleep. Consider replacing a mattress if
it's uncomfortable, even if it's only five or so years old.
--  Problem sleepers had a preference. Among those who said they had
problems sleeping, 78 percent said that a new bed, any new bed, improved
their ability to get a good night's rest.