Disclosure: Though intelliBED provided us with a Relief Perfect bed, we purchased the Tempur-Pedic all by ourselves and regretted every minute of sleep on that thing. Post may include affiliate links.
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This is the first of a series of posts sharing why we switched from Tempur-Pedic to intelliBED and discovered how intelliBED is perfecting the science of sleep . . .
or the science sweet dreams.
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After 14 years—and countless restless nights accompanied by countless aches and pains—it was time to replace our old-school pillow top mattress. But which mattress should we buy? I know! Let’s ask friends and family on Facebook. Crowdsourcing is perfect in this type of situation.
But not this time. Our “crowd” told us Tempur-Pedic was the way to go.
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And it so wasn’t. And I so posted this on Facebook the next morning:
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Most of the replies were along the lines of “give it a few weeks” and “it can take about 30 days.” Funny story. The sales guy at the store even told us he had to rotate the mattress and sleep on his wife’s side for a few weeks as she was much lighter than he and needed help breaking it in.
Funny in a “we no longer own a Tempur-Pedic” kind of way.
But then I came across these comments:
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I started to wonder if we’d chosen the wrong mattress. I was intrigued by this intelliBED with its magical intelli-GEL but figured we ought to give that Tempur-Pedic a couple more weeks . . . even though I have a firm belief it shouldn’t take more than a few days to get used to a new mattress.
Well into our second week we were wishing we had our old mattress back never mind its permanent valleys on either side. That’s when we decided it was time to learn more about intelliBED. The more we read, the more we felt buying an intelliBED mattress would be a genius move on our part. Why? Because intelliBED has lots of amazing features (you can read more about them here) but a few really sold me:
- Completely non-toxic (google “memory foam off-gassing” for fun; you’ll see why in the second video I make a point of how uncool it was my pj’s and pillowcase smelled like memory foam)
- Best pressure relief (great for my side sleeping)
- Best back support (super important for Nathan)
- 30-year warranty (YES, 30 YEARS!)
- 60-day risk-free trial (how else can you tell if you like a mattress?)
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We were more than ready to switch, and because we thought there may be others out there feeling the same, we thought it would be fun to share a bit of our story.
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And even more fun (lots more fun!) to share the top 5 reasons we dislike Tempur-Pedic and the joy I experienced the day our intelliBED Relief Perfect mattress arrived.
Who knew American Authors would understand exactly how I felt?
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After three weeks on that Tempur-Pedic, this was the happiest thing to pull into my driveway since the UPS man delivered my red Italian leather boots.
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And this was the happiest thing I’d seen in my office since Nathan set me up with two monitors.
Goodbye, Tempur-Pedic. Don’t let the door hit your box spring on the way out.
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Stay tuned as we share more of our story including our meeting with intelliBED founder Bob Rasmussen (he sheds some light on this whole “perfecting the science of sleep” thing) and what we really thought of our first couple weeks on that crazy awesome intelli-GEL.
Until then, you should probably switch out whatever mattress you have for an intelliBED, especially since I get to offer ITRML readers 10% OFF your intelliBED purchase. For reals. Talk about sweet dreams! Just click the image below or go to http://bit.ly/buyintelliBED and use code ISTHISREALLYMYLIFE.
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** UPDATE! You can now listen to my interview with intelliBED founder Bob Rasmussen and read my detailed intelliBED review (it’s been 8 months since we got it) including the 7 most important reasons to buy an intelliBED. **
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Like the quote says, buy an intelliBED. Now.
You can thank me later.
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Molly
I seriously want an Intellibed now. I loved your point about it being a workout to even turn over in a Tempur-pedic. Seriously, it’s sleeping in sand. I didn’t even like to sit on the edge of it because it felt like I was going to need a hand to even get standing again. It made me feel heavy. Is it possible that a mattress can be depressing? Worst sleep of my life. Mine went back after 3 days. I think looking for a mattress is maddening. You can’t lay on one for 2 minutes at a store and know anything. You can’t trust advertising. It’s great to hear from a real person who’s really trying it out.
Emily Hill
Thank you, Molly! And I hear you about the sleeping in sand thing. Best way to describe what it’s like sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic. I can’t believe we lasted as long as we did!
Megan
Can’t wait to hear how you like the intellibed. Also, which model of tempurpedic did you have?
Emily Hill
So far we are LOVING it! Seriously sleeping so well. I’ll be updating via the blog very soon. :)
And we had the Tempur-Cloud Elite. Hope that helps!
Jessie
anymore feedback on the bed? Would love to hear more as I’m thinking of purchasing.
Emily Hill
So sorry! Life has been seriously crazy with Snap Conference next week. (I help with all the speakers and classes.) Yes, we still love it! My husband just said yesterday how much he enjoys waking up without his usual back ache. We are totally sold! And I will do an update once Snap Conference is over and the dust has settled. :)
MN
I bought an intelliBED in May of 2006. I had researched beds to help my lower back issues. I will state, for the record, the intelliBED was VERY helpful and quite comfortable. I did not have the problems with aches and pains I had experienced before.
With that said, I began having trouble with aches, pains, and piriformis syndrome about 12-18 months ago. I noticed that there was a sizable “hump” in the middle of the King-sized intelliBED I share with my spouse. In fact, I had to literally PULL myself up in order to breach the hump. I had done everything required to maintain the bed (6-month rotations, etc.) and contacted intelliBED regarding the warranty. The individual with whom I chatted on April 6th had even indicated the beds manufactured during the time I purchased mine had inherent issues with support and were not up to the standards intelliBED requires. Without great detail (which I do have), the last communication I received from them after submitting my warranty claim form and other documents was April 13, 2015, advising my paperwork had been received and I should hear from them within 24-72 hours. I have sent two follow-up emails, May 9th and June 1st, requesting some communication from intelliBED about my warranty claim. Nothing. I can only presume perhaps they don’t want to cover 100% of the warranty work since I am entering year #10. The warranty covers 100% (although YOU pay for shipping to Utah both ways!) the first 10 years, then begins to pay less each year for the remaining 10 years of the warranty.
I hope you continue to enjoy your purchase and that you do NOT have to deal with the company. I have friends who swear by other beds they own and I am now in the process of investigating those options. I assure you I would NEVER purchase from this company again. They do NOT respond to customers in a reasonable manner. I cannot get anyone to tell me WHY I am being ignored. Having a good product helps with sales… but follow-up is far more important to me. I will never recommend intelliBED again and I have contacted friends I had recommended them to in the past to advise of my problem.
Good luck.
Emily Hill
I am so sorry you’ve had such a negative experience with their customer service. So far we’re pleased but we’ve had ours only a few months. I will pass your comment along to my contact at the company and see if we can’t get your situation taken care of more quickly. I wish you luck on your search for a new bed. I hope you find one you love!
MN
I was astounded to receive a call from the Operations department at IntelliBED today (6-18-2015). While there was no explanation for the lack of communication previously, it appears they are wanting to resolve my warranty claim. The information I received was very positive. I will reserve judgment until all has been handled. I will return to update my post regardless of how it goes. Thank you for your concern and response.
MN
FOLLOW-UP
On June 7, 2015, I posted a review of my personal experience with the intelliBED Warranty/Customer Service department(s). I was extremely displeased with the lack of response from the company after my initial contact on 4/6/2015. You may read the first review dated 6/7/2015 for details.
This follow-up is to provide information on what happened after I posted my review on several blog sites as well as the Utah BBB site.
On 6/18/15, I received a call advising my warranty claim had “just hit (my) desk” from the Operations Department. The caller could not or would not discuss why I had not heard from anyone after my attempts for communication but rather suggested we simply “move forward” from this point. He reiterated the same information I had garnered from my initial chat with Customer Service on 4/6/15. He advised he was going to simply replace my mattress with a comparable one with the “new and improved” internal components. He then told me it would be $700 for them to ship the new mattress. I advised I had a copy of my transcript chat where the Customer Service Representative had checked with the Warehouse Manager and quoted me $500 total for the two-way shipping of my old mattress for repair. He said he was the Warehouse Manager and he would honor that. (See summary for my question on why a one-way shipping charge would be the same as a two-way shipping charge.)
On 6/19/15, I received a call from Customer Service to get credit card information to charge the “discounted” shipping charge to me (again… shipping charge is a sore point with me). She indicated the new mattress would likely ship out on 6/22/15.
On 7/8/15, after some confusion with the shipping/delivery company, the new mattress arrived. My old mattress was removed & destroyed while on the truck. I took photos of the destroyed mattress per the Warehouse Manager’s request.
On 7/13/15, the Customer Service Representative called me to check up on the delivery and to request I forward the photos of the destroyed mattress to them which I did. On 7/17/15, the delivery company called asking if I had photos of the destroyed mattress they picked up. Yes. She asked if I would email copies which I did.
I have been sleeping on the new mattress for 3 weeks now. It is the way I remember my old mattress was in the beginning. I have not experienced any of the problems that had begun cropping up in the past year with my lower back issues or my Piriformis Syndrome. My sleep is back to what was advertised to me in 2006 (which I experienced and loved the first 8 years).
SUMMARY: I am very satisfied with my new warranty replacement mattress. I was always happy with the product until it began to fail. I remain less-than-happy with the entire Warranty experience. I cannot resolve in my head why a one-way shipment charge would be the same as a previously quoted two-way shipment charge. I do not understand why no one could explain the excessive length of time before anyone contacted me even after I followed-up twice. I have suggested to intelliBED the need for some improvement and consistency in its Warranty/Customer Service communications. I am fairly certain they are simply glad to be done with me. Quite honestly, I am glad this ordeal is over, too. My sincere recommendation to anyone who may need to work with intelliBED on any Customer Service issue is to GET IT IN WRITING! Use the Chat mode or Email mode. Copy/paste the entire chat transcript to a document to which you can refer later on. Keep a running document on any/all communications with dates, times, and names that you can refer back to if something changes. As a final, rather humorous note… I received an email yesterday from an individual identified as a “Customer Service Champion” thanking me for my purchase of the intelliBED mattress. I didn’t purchase it. It was a warranty replacement. The intelliBED company really needs to do some extensive organizing and coordination among its departments.
Lisa
Can you give an update on your Intellibed and how you like it now.?? I’m in the process of looking at Saatva mattress that is hybrid of coil and foams, but everything U.S.A. made, organic cotton quilted topper and considered the best selling mattress online right now. I haven’t bought one yet.. but looked hard at the Intellibed, until I saw the price for a king and then fainted.. I look forward to hearing about your Intellibed story.. thanks, lisa
Emily Hill
Yes! I’ve been meaning to get an update posted with video but summer has been nuts around here. We still LOVE our intelliBED. In fact, I just returned from a trip to NYC and while the Hilton bed was nice, it felt fantastic crawling into my bed last night. Yes, it is quite a bit of an investment but I’m planning on having mine for a good 15 years. I’m not familiar with the Saatva mattress, but if you feel it is better for your budget (and you won’t have to replace it after a few years), I’d go with that one. intelliBED does give you a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you could always try it and see what you think!
Mike L
Hello! My wife and I are looking at the intelliBED and I am doing due diligence by researching reviews online. I was happy to come across your review. I do have a couple of questions for you based on what I saw/read:
– The video of the intelliBED delivery only showed the mattress. Did you opt to keep your original box spring or did you not show delivery of that piece in the video? I ask because the person at the intelliBED store I spoke to suggested it would reduce the warranty if I used my current box spring (because they couldn’t validate what condition it was in, etc).
– You mentioned in a reply to a poster that you would reach out to your contact at the company. Did you mean the sales person that would contact you after 3, 30, and 60 days? Or do you have an agreement with the company as an advertiser for their product?
Thanks!
Mike
Emily Hill
Hi, Mike! I’m happy to answer your questions.
We did not keep the original box springs. (You can see them stacked with the Tempur-Pedic in the last photo.) I’m sorry the video didn’t show them bringing them in the house. I believe they were already in place when they brought in the mattress.
I was talking about the contact with whom I’m working on this project. I did reach out to him and he was going to follow up with the customer.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Mike L
Thanks for the quick response… and for pointing out my lack of observation to the obvious :D I will give you extra kudos for covering two of our big options: side-sleeping and sleep temperature. Thanks again for the review and for the quick response!
Scarlett
Question: When you state in your disclosure that “intellibed provided us with a Relief Perfect bed” are you meaning to say that they provided the bed for free? Or that you are now an affiliate who receives “commissions” from all who buy their beds based on people who mention your blog?
I ask this due to the fact that after much research, it seems that quite a few bloggers are now these so called “affiliates”, who do indeed receive what I call a kickback, or what others may call a commission, for writing these extremely positive reviews. Just curious……Is this true? I do hope this is posted and answered for all of us who look to these reviews when considering such a large and important purchase.
Thank you for your time.
Emily Hill
Yes, they provided the bed for free. I am also an affiliate, which is why the disclosure also states “Post may include affiliate links.” Any post I write that includes an affiliate link will have a disclosure placed before any links per FTC guidelines. Though I do receive a commission from sales, I honestly don’t receive much due to my small readership. Also, no matter the partnership, I am always honest in my reviews. I’ve written some where I’ve definitely not been a fan of the product. That being said, I still love my intelliBED and it’s been over a year. I wouldn’t think of replacing it, even with some of the more popular newer (much more affordable) mattresses. We did add a quilted mattress topper as it was a bit of a change to go from a pillow top to what feels like a very basic top! I do believe memory foam has its issues, but I encourage people to do their own research and find a mattress that works best for them. Many people swear by their memory foam or air chamber or pillow top. Hopefully whatever brand you decide to go with offers a trial period, as I feel that’s the best way to decide if a mattress is right for you. Please let me know if you have any more questions. I will do my best to help!
Scarlett
Emily,
Thank you for your honesty in this issue. It is greatly appreciated. It almost seems as though buying a mattress these days is akin to buying a used car, LOL,, and no offense to any car salesman reading this.
Again, I do appreciate your honesty.
Sincerely,
Scarlett
Fred
Hello.
My wife and I have had our intellibed twin xl mattresses for almost 2 years. The beds are very comfortable no doubt, however we both need a mattress that is a little firmer than the intellibed. If you prefer a softer supporting mattress the intellibed is perfect. We are going to be selling both of our intellibed twin xl mattresses and wonder if you may know anyone that is interested? We’ve always used mattress protectors to maintain the warranty.
Fred
Emily Hill
Sorry! I don’t know anyone off the top of my head. But good luck!