In the case with Tempur-Pedic®, as well as all other polyurethane foam mattresses, a visible body impression is hardly ever the real problem.  The real problem with a polyurethane foam mattress is that they soften substantially.  So what happens is that even if the mattress doesn't have a visible or measurable body impression that will exceed the warranty standards, it will most certainly have a physical softening where the sleeper lays and it will feel like a very deep body impression.

We almost don't even have to mention the other condition that is not covered by virtually all manufacturers.  You guessed it, softening of foam.  Softening of foam is considered normal and is not considered a defect in the mattress.  An example of this aspect is quoted here in the warranty of Dormia®.  "Your mattress will be replaced or repaired, at our option, should it be found defective because of faulty workmanship or structural defects other than specific limitations contained here in.  It is understood that this does not include a normal increase of softness in the foam..."  In this example, the manufacturer is admitting to you that the mattress is going to soften.  Of course it will, it is plastic foam.

Again, in Tempur-Pedic®'s warranty, they too admit that their foam is going to soften and that it isn't covered under their warranty either.  Read it here for yourself.

In their commercials Tempur-Pedic® emphasizes that their mattress is the only one with the "genuine" Tempur® material.  Judging from their warranty shown above, there really isn't anything "genuine" about it.  It is the same polyurethane material that is in all other memory foam mattresses.  In fact, the law label on a Tempur-Pedic® says, "100% Polyurethane Foam," same as all other memory foam mattresses.

There is one other aspect about mattress manufacturer's warranties that you should know about.  If what we have already disclosed hasn't made you angry, this most certainly will.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates the mattress industry with their warranties.  According to OSHA, a mattress manufacturer can void their warranties if the customer has stained the mattress.  Consumers are lead to believe that this regulation is about protecting workers from handling unsanitary mattresses.  This sounds legitimate on the surface but retailers handle stained mattresses almost on a daily basis.  As an added service for buying a mattress most retailers offer to remove the old mattress, stained or not.  OSHA doesn't seem to care about the safety of retail employees.  There seems to be some duplicity here.

To illustrate further, if there is some legitimate defect in a mattress, say, a spring has come loose and is sticking out of the mattress, why can't the manufacturer just send the customer a new mattress?  In a case like this, there is no reason for anyone to handle the old mattress.  But if the mattress has a stain, the manufacturer has an out with honoring their warranties because of the OSHA regulation.  And you can bet they will use it to get out of the warranty!

What is really happening is that the OSHA regulation was designed to protect the mattress manufacturers from having to honor their warranties, not to protect workers from handling unsanitary mattresses.  Mattress manufacturers have an association called the International Sleep Products Association, "the international trade association representing the mattress manufacturing industry."  What has probably happened is that large mattress manufacturers have gotten regulations that benefit them financially by lobbying or by some other nefarious means.  If OSHA would have acted independently with the purpose of actually looking out for worker safety, then they would have included mattress retailer workers in their regulations.

The only way to avoid being ripped off by a mattress manufacturer is to make sure you get a quality product from the start and to buy a mattress where you can replace the top cushioning material when it wears out or gets stain damage.  Our Perfection Sleep System® utilizes latex rubber foam that is proven to last 40 years.  Additionally, you can remove and replace the top material thus preventing you from having to buy a whole new mattress.  Lastly, you can buy with confidence that you will not be sleeping in toxic fire-retardant chemicals!   How is that for a superior product?