Originally Posted by
drcollie
You can't buy a bed on specs, I learned that a long time ago. Best way to buy a bed (as far as I'm concerned) is to test drive one for at least 15 minutes in the store. See how it feels, not for 15 seconds, but for 15 minutes. I know, you will feel silly doing it, but that's how you are going to know. If you have a partner that sleeps with you regularly, they should be on the bed with you. Relax and see how the bed supports you. Notice the edge stiffness and if its satisfactory. What happens to the bed when you partner moves (roll value?).
What you're paying for in a premium bedding set like a Shifman or Royal Pedic is Performance over Time. These brands will continue to sleep as good at the ten year mark as they will when new, and that's something no mass produced bed can do, the others degrade over time. I have been a dealer for both brands and slept on both. In my house, we replace them at the 15 year mark, though some people push them well beyond that time frame. Almost all your common "S" beds (Serta, Sealy, Simmons, etc) are all done at the 7-year mark.
Toppers are easy to add later, most are UPS-able as well. I suggest buying the basic bed and then sleep on it for 3 weeks to acclimate. If at the end of that time you want more 'plush' in the bed, then you can buy a topper.
Springs don't ever wear out in my experience, the material atop the springs eventually loses its resiliency and that's why the bed has to be replaced periodically.