Why do Americans spend tens of millions of dollars on something completely unneeded?

[Dr_Zinj]

I'll bet I either don't have one, or the description doesn't apply to me.
First of all, If I don't need it, I don't buy it.
Secondly, if it's still working, I **** sure ain't going to throw it away.
I'm a Depression Era thinker. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

 

[dusty3030]

The common American box springs and mattress arrangement, especially the springs.

Bruce

I'd say bcp nailed it.

 

[tallyho8]

The common American box springs and mattress arrangement, especially the springs.
Bruce

BINGO! The answer is "foundation" commonly referred to as a box spring. When I was a child we had an open spring under the mattress and when I got married we had a box spring. Then the industry decided the spring was useless and expensive for them to make so they made a hollow box with a covering to match the mattress and called it a foundation and charged exorbitant prices for them.

The only purpose of one now days is to raise the mattress to a comfortable level off the floor on an old fashioned bed which is what most of the manufacturers make today. It is completely useless because all you have to do is make the legs of your bed frame about a foot taller, put a couple more strips across the bed frame and cover the frame with a thin sheet of plywood that you place your mattress on.

If the manufacturers would simply change their design, foundations would no longer exist.



When your bedspread is on the bed it will appear the exact same as it does with the foundation. The only reason manufacturers continue to make the old fashion bed is so that their retailers can continue to sell you a high priced foundation.

When many people buy a new mattress they also buy a new foundation although theirs is in great condition just so the foundation cover will match the mattress.

When your bed legs are higher you have much more storage room under your bed. With taller legs on your bed frame your headboard will still connect the same way though you may have to drill new holes. The bed will feel no different without the foundation.

 

[J F]

Is the op employed by SleepNumber?

 

[J F]

My post above was in jest, before I'd seen your above post, just to be clear.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Good one.

 

[bdobson]

Very intriguing (had to Google this to spell it) what your next riddle

When I bought my first bed I bought it from the factory through my dad he sold furniture for Hudson's. He cussed me up and down for not buying the box said the mattress need it for proper support. Since I was making the bedroom set I wanted storage under the platform and made everything else fit my plans Still using that set today 30+ years latter but with a sleep# for the past 10 -15 years

Your about 1/2 right some bed frames the side board would require something to raise the mattress otherwise your leg would contact the edge as you sat on the side of the bead. That being said I do have one bead with a box spring because of that very reason. But the master and the kids all have platforms with sleep # mattress on them even the old bunk beds just had a sheet of ply for the foundation. What can I say I'm cheep.

 

[NorTracNY]

Gee, last time we bought a matress, the salesperson told us we don't need boxsprings anymore and the foundation was unnecessary and was just a spacer. I didn't know people were spending money replacing their foundation/box when they got a new matress. Glad I'm not one the OP is talking about.

 

[TnAndy]

Sleep by number mattress here, 'foundation' is a plywood box I built.

 

[Travelover]

Just like those overpriced spacers they sell for under the new front loader washers.