Description of Tempur-Pedic

Company History

• Tempur-Pedic is a company started by Lexington, Kentucky, resident Bob Trussell in 1992. He traveled to Denmark to talk to the scientists who had developed a material called Tempur for their company Dan-Foam. The Tempur material was an improvement on the early-1970s foam used by NASA to help distribute the weight of astronauts during liftoff, making them more comfortable. Trussell thought the new foam would provide comfort and support for Americans looking for the best night's sleep they could get. Tempur-Pedic was born as a result, and the company specializes in spring-free solid-foam mattresses that are form-fitting and return to their original shape. The company also makes pillows and various other products today.

Claims

• Tempur-Pedic mattresses are touted as the most supportive and comfortable mattresses available. The company claims that the space-age foam material is capable of providing the best support possible because by evenly distributing the weight of the sleeper's body, it relieves all pressure points. This is designed to cut down on tossing and turning and lead to a more peaceful night's sleep. The spring-free design is also said to provide the ultimate in motion reduction. When two people sleep in the same Tempur-Pedic bed, the movement of one will not disturb the other. This was illustrated in a famous commercial from the company that showed a person jumping on one side of a bed while a glass of wine sat undisturbed on the other.

Complaints

• Not everyone recommends their Tempur-Pedic mattress to others. Some people have a hard time adjusting to the distinctly different feel of the mattress, according to the Tempurpedic Complaints website. Off gassing is another major complaint. The foam in the mattresses can release a smell that irritates some when it is new; this smell generally goes away in a short time. Temperature is another cause of complaints about the mattress. When the weather is warm, some say it is too hot to sleep on the foam. When the weather is cool, some say the foam becomes stiff. Complaints about the mattresses being awkward and heavy to move are also noted.

Costs

• Buying a Tempur-Pedic is a large investment. In fact, this particular brand of mattress is among the most expensive widely available on the consumer market. Tempur-Pedic often costs 30 percent more in stores than the average innerspring mattress. It is often twice as expensive as other brands of foam mattresses, according to the Tempurpedic Complaints website. IAt the time of publication, the average cost was, the Tempur-Pedic website sold the classic queen-size mattress for $1,549. Mattress prices for some kings are $4,998.