A quality mattress can cost thousands of dollars and is expected to provide years of comfortable sleep. But what should you do if it starts sagging or sinking long before you think it should? That’s the question Anita Karnes faced after she said her Tempur-Pedic mattress developed a noticeable dip just two years after she bought it. “It had a place on it to where you sunk into it,” Karnes said. “It was a dip in the mattress. And you could visibly see that one side was lower than the other.” Karnes contacted Home Zone, the retailer where she purchased both the mattress and its foundation. Karnes said Home Zone first sent technicians to determine whether the problem was related to the bed’s support system rather than the mattress itself. “They came out here the first time, and they screwed slats, which it already had slats…but they screwed slats onto the frame,” Karnes said. When that didn’t solve the issue, she said technicians tried another approach: Styrofoam placed beneath the mattress. “And they came, and they stuck that under the bed, the side that was sinking,” Karnes said. Experts say that’s a common first step in many warranty situations. Before approving a warranty claim, manufacturers and retailers often want to confirm that the mattress has been used with a proper foundation or bed frame. An inadequate support system can contribute to premature wear and may affect warranty coverage. Many mattress warranties are handled directly by the manufacturer, and the claims process varies by brand. For example, Tempur-Pedic’s 10-year limited warranty covers certain manufacturing defects, including visible indentations of three-quarters of an inch or more, provided they are not caused by normal wear or an unsupportive foundation or bed base. The company instructs customers to submit warranty claims directly, along with photographs of the mattress and proof of purchase. In Karnes’ case, she said the second attempt to improve the mattress support also failed to resolve the problem. Home Zone then offered to apply the original purchase price toward a different mattress. Karnes chose to upgrade to a Tempur-Pedic hybrid model, which combines memory foam with traditional coils. “So we got a better Tempur-Pedic that had springs in it,” she said. “We spent $1,000 more, but we got a better mattress.” Sleep experts say hybrid mattresses may provide additional structural support, and the coil system can help reduce the deep body impressions that some people experience with all-foam mattresses. Before purchasing a mattress, compare sleep trial policies as well as warranty coverage. Many brands offer sleep trials lasting 90 to 100 nights, giving customers time to decide whether the mattress is the right fit. Some companies, including Saatva and Nectar, extend that trial period to as long as one year. If you believe your mattress has developed a manufacturing defect, review the warranty to determine whether the issue is covered, then contact the manufacturer to begin the claims process. Some retailers also offer generous return policies. Costco, for example, allows members to return mattresses without a restocking fee. Mattresses must be clean, in reasonable condition, and associated with an active membership. In-store purchases must be returned to a warehouse, while eligible online mattress purchases qualify for free in-home pickup. ...read more read less