Even the manufacturers warranty sounded more than reasonable - reasonable for the manufacturer that is. Like most consumer goods, most bedding does come with some sort of warranty. But like snowflakes, no two are alike and the devil, as they say, is in the details and the proverbial fine print.

So before signing on the bottom line, it pays to know exactly what the warranty covers and most importantly, what it does not cover.

The length of the manufacturers warranty should not be used as a measurement of how long the mattress will last. The lifespan of the average mattress depends on a variety of factors including the quality of the foundation or box spring, the weight of the owner, the number of people who sleep on the mattress and how the mattress is handled while moving from place to place.

For example, if the movers significantly bend the mattress to get it in or out of the house, there is a good chance the border wire may be bent or the spring coils could be damaged.

An obvious exception on almost any warranty is abuse or neglect. An automobile manufacturer may warranty the vehicles engine for 10 years, but without exception the warranty would be rendered null and void if the owner neglected to check or change the oil.

The same is true for bedding warranties which will cover defects in workmanship and materials for a very specific period of time and warranties come with a variety of exceptions.

Very few if any manufacturers warranties will cover the cost of transporting or shipping the item back to the factory, retail outlet or other specified location. An example of damage not covered in almost all bedding warranties includes fabric, including damage caused by normal wear and tear.

Using a foundation or frame that is not matched to the mattress will often void the warranty. An example would be using a frame with a queen or king mattress and foundation that does not have adequate center support.

Some warranties cover something called body indentations but quite often there is usually only one quarter inch that stands between an indentation that is covered and one that is not covered. How an indentation is measured may be open to interpretation and what looks or even feels like a problem to you may not look like a problem to the manufacturer.

If you get the mattress home and it does not feel comfortable do not look to the manufacturer or retailer for relief. The presumption is that the buyer had the opportunity to try out the bedding before making the decision to buy.

Always keep the sales receipt from your purchase. This is very important since warranties apply to the original buyer. The manufacturer would have no way of knowing whether you are original owner without the sales receipt and will not honor a warranty claim.

Most bedding warranties are pro rated meaning that the amount of time the bedding was in service is taken into account when calculating the warranty claim. This is similar to the formula used to pro rate the warranty on a set of automobile tires.

Each manufacturers warranty is different and the best advice is to read the warranty carefully and ask questions before making a purchase decision. Do not make the mistake of assuming that something is covered by the warranty and you will not be disappointed later.