Love love love Sleepmaster, so much so that I've made two (relatively expensive) purchases there…read more My primary motivation for searching for and purchasing WJ Southard mattresses was ecological. They are a local retailer and manufacturer. They source and use quality materials that are natural/organic. I've never experienced any off-gassing, something I'm extremely sensitive to. The longevity of the mattress far exceeds a traditional innerspring.
Their mattresses definitely come at a higher price point than if you were to go to Metro Mattress, Dream City, etc., but I have no doubt I will be sleeping on our Sleepmaster mattress for 20 or more years. I can say already that after I first purchased a Linklaen in 2014, I bought a run of the mill pillowtop from Dream City for our guest bedroom. The guest bed has already shit out on us, after hosting a handful of guests and occasionally my sleepy dog.
Carol is a wonderful salesperson (and she may be the only one there?), knows her product, is personable and straightforward. She always seems willing to cut a deal for you, especially if you are a return customer. I don't know if this is part of her sales gimmick, but if it is, it is effective as her delivery is quite sincere. I ended up purchasing a Linklaen, which is Sleepmaster's all latex model. It is definitely a very firm mattress, and keep in mind that if you lay on their floor model in the store, it is MUCH softer than what you will actually receive, after being broken in by many backs and butts of people wanting to test it out.
When I moved into a bigger house and had a bedroom that could accommodate a king, I went back to Sleepmaster and ended up getting an Archetype pillowtop, which is a bit softer model. It is a traditional innerspring with a latex topper. There is no breaking in period for this model. It feels like it's been your ride or die mattress. It is firm enough for me, soft enough for my husband, and roomy enough for the two of us, a toddler and a dog. The Archetype pillowtop is one of Sleepmaster's most expensive models - including delivery an hour away, it set me back $3402 (I did not purchase the box spring, that was just for the mattress). However! If the mattress lasts 20 years at least, and I'm sleeping on it every night, it breaks out to about .46 cents per night's sleep, and that sounds pretty good to me.
FYI, if you are searching for WJ Southard, Sleepmaster is the stockist, and that is where Google Maps will send you if you're searching for Southard.