The strange behavior of Mark Hacking, the Utah man who reported his pregnant wife missing about 20 minutes after he purchased a mattress with no box spring, turns our thoughts turn to crimes and mattresses. (For the record, we hope for the safe return of Lori Hacking.)
Mr. Hacking appears to have committed two major purchase mistakes. The first: never, ever buy a mattress without the accompanying box spring. You jeopardize the warranty. Also, the fit of the pair is important—mattresses and box springs are designed to perform as a set.
His second mistake was buying anything that vital without his wife present. It is ill-advised for one spouse to purchase a significant anything without the express consent—by which I mean presence—of the other, especially when the other is pregnant.
To avoid making similar mistakes, research with some in-store product testing. Be Goldilocks: Find the one that's just right. Start with a medium-to-firm mattress with box-spring coils that don't allow for too much give. Dress comfortably for this outing. Ladies, for obvious reasons, please wear pants.
Before you take it home, make sure it includes tags that say "new." Some nasty people try to recover used mattresses and sell them as new. This is against all laws, including the laws of humanity. Every used mattress must be sanitized and stain-free, and the retailer must identify each used mattress by marking it used. That makes it easier for you to head straight for the new models. After all, you'll spend more than 200 hours a month sleeping on this set, to say nothing of other in-bed activities—like reading—so this is no time to skimp.
Top it all off with beautiful linens from Bloomingdale's Home store. It carries all the trendy new lines, such as Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer, as well as Ralph Lauren Home, DKNY Life and Pima Cotton. When buying sheets, always look for a high thread count and a big sale, like the one Bloomie's is having right now. Hurry!
Bloomingdale's Home, Fashion Show Mall; 784-5400.
Leave it to the Swiss to bring us the Dux bed. A typical queen-size bed has about 900 springs, but a Dux? About 3,600, according to the company; the extra springs mean the spine rests in a more natural position. Prices start at $5,000 and max out at $12,000. The store Duxiana will even let you take a cat nap at the showroom so you can try before you buy—without worrying about the three bears.
Duxiana, Boca Park; 383-0383.
Anne Kellogg is a native Las Vegan with a thing for purchasing stuff. E-mail her at
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