by Shifman makes genuinely handcrafted two-sided innerspring mattresses in Newark, NJ, since 1893. Construction quality is real: hand tufting, cotton and wool upholstery, flippable build. The problems are price (very high, not published), persistent owner complaints about early sagging, and a warranty service record that falls short of the craftsmanship story. If you want American-made luxury with an innerspring feel and a long protected trial, the Saatva Classic gives you 365 nights and a lifetime warranty at a publicly listed price.
Saatva Classic
9.2/10
- Dual-coil construction with a reinforced lumbar zone pad, similar innerspring responsiveness to Shifman
- 365-night home trial with free white-glove delivery, setup and old-mattress removal
- Lifetime warranty, price published and consistent
- American-made, three firmness levels to match your sleep style
- $99 return fee during the trial
- Not hand-tufted or two-sided like Shifman
If Shifman's luxury innerspring construction appeals to you but the opaque pricing and warranty complaints give you pause, the Saatva Classic offers a comparable high-end coil-hybrid feel with full transparency on price, a 365-night trial, and consistent service.
Check Price at Saatva
Shifman overview: a genuine heritage brand
Shifman was founded in 1893 in Newark, New Jersey and still manufactures there. The company is defined by two production choices that are genuinely rare in modern mattresses: hand tufting and two-sided (flippable) construction. Most mattresses today are one-sided and built on assembly lines. Shifman's workers hand-insert tufts to secure the upholstery layers, which resists bunching over time and is labor-intensive to do well.
The upholstery core is primarily cotton batting, with select models incorporating New Zealand wool and other natural fibers. Shifman's Handmade Collection is sold exclusively at Bloomingdale's; other lines are carried at Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and smaller specialty retailers. Pricing is not published directly by Shifman and varies by retailer, but every independent source describes it as a premium, high-cost brand. When prices are cited they typically place a queen in the $2,000 to $5,000+ range depending on model and retailer.
Shifman specs (what we could verify)
| Spec | Shifman |
|---|---|
| Type | Hand-tufted two-sided innerspring; some natural-fiber and latex-blend models |
| Price (Queen) | Not publicly listed; consistently described as very high ($2,000+) |
| Trial | Varies by retailer; some list a 100-night in-home trial |
| Warranty | 10-year non-prorated (per third-party review sources) |
| Where sold | Bloomingdale's (Handmade Collection), Macy's, Neiman Marcus, specialty retailers |
| Made in | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Flippable | Yes (two-sided construction) |
Performance: construction vs. owner experience
The feel is classic luxury innerspring: more lift than sink, bouncy response, and a hotel-bed surface. If you have slept on a premium European-style coil mattress and liked it, Shifman is in that category. The hand tufting does create a firmer, more structured surface than foam-top hybrids. Motion transfer is higher than foam or latex, which matters for couples.
Cooling is better than average for this type. Cotton and wool breathe well and do not trap body heat the way synthetic foams can. Hot sleepers who prefer innerspring usually do well on Shifman versus a memory foam alternative.
Edge support is strong. The coil perimeter combined with a dense border rod gives consistent support to the edge, which is useful if you sit on the side of the bed or share the full mattress width.
Owner reports are split. A meaningful segment of buyers reports genuine relief from back pain and lasting satisfaction with the handmade quality. But there is a recurring thread across multiple review platforms: sagging or impressions within the first one to two years, followed by warranty inspectors rating the depression as below the threshold for a claim. Several owners also note that the two-sided construction, while a good idea, is too heavy to flip realistically without two people, which limits that durability benefit in practice.
Pros and cons
- Genuine hand tufting and American manufacturing, not a marketing claim
- Two-sided build extends mattress life if you can flip it
- Cotton and wool upholstery breathe better than synthetic foam
- Classic luxury innerspring feel with strong edge support
- Pricing is opaque and very high without a clear published value benchmark
- Recurring owner reports of early sagging not covered under warranty
- Two-sided design too heavy for solo flipping (negates the durability benefit)
- Trial and warranty terms vary by retailer; no consistent national policy
- No online-direct buying with a guaranteed long home trial
How Shifman compares to Saatva Classic
Both are American-made and take an innerspring-first approach, but the terms differ sharply on every measurable point:
| Feature | Shifman | Saatva Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Queen) | Varies; not published, very high | $1,995 (published, consistent) |
| Home trial | Varies by retailer (some list 100 nights) | 365 nights nationwide |
| Warranty | 10-year non-prorated | Lifetime non-prorated |
| White-glove delivery | Varies by retailer | Yes, free, includes setup and removal |
| Firmness options | Varies by model and retailer stock | Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm |
| Two-sided | Yes (very heavy) | No |
| Hand tufted | Yes | No |
Shifman wins on craft provenance: hand tufting and two-sided construction are genuine. Saatva wins on every transactional term: price clarity, trial length, warranty depth, and delivery experience.
Who should consider Shifman
Shifman makes sense for buyers who can test the mattress in person at a retailer, are specifically drawn to the hand-tufted two-sided heritage, and are comfortable buying without a long protected trial. It is a poor fit if you want online ordering with a reliable 365-night return window, need transparent pricing to compare value, or are buying for a guest room or situation where flipping solo needs to be practical.
If you are set on American-made luxury innerspring feel but want full trial protection, the Saatva Classic is the cleaner buy.
Shifman's handcraft is real but the purchase experience is not. Opaque pricing, inconsistent trials, and repeated warranty-service complaints are genuine gaps. Test it in a showroom if you want the heritage feel, but get all terms in writing. For protected trial and published pricing, Saatva Classic is the stronger buy in the same innerspring category.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shifman a good mattress?
The construction is genuinely high quality: hand tufting, two-sided design, and natural fiber upholstery are real production advantages. The recurring owner concerns are early sagging and warranty claim difficulty, which temper the premium price. It is a good mattress for buyers who test it in person and manage expectations on the service side.
How long do Shifman mattresses last?
The two-sided design is intended to double lifespan versus a one-sided mattress. In practice, many owners report the beds are too heavy to flip regularly, and some see impressions within the first two years. The 10-year warranty is non-prorated, but owner reports suggest warranty claims are sometimes difficult to get approved.
Where can you buy a Shifman mattress?
The Handmade Collection is exclusive to Bloomingdale's. Other Shifman lines are carried at Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and independent specialty mattress retailers. Shifman does not sell direct-to-consumer online with a national trial policy.
What is the price of a Shifman mattress?
Shifman does not publish a national price list. Pricing varies by retailer and model. Based on third-party review sources and retailer listings, queen sizes typically range from around $2,000 to over $5,000 depending on the specific model and collection.
Is Shifman better than Saatva?
Shifman has hand-tufted craftsmanship Saatva does not match. Saatva has a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty, published pricing, and free white-glove delivery that Shifman does not. Which is better depends on whether you prioritize provenance and craft or purchase confidence and post-sale protection. For most buyers shopping online, Saatva offers a better risk-managed experience.
Saatva Classic
9.2/10
Dual-coil innerspring hybrid with a reinforced lumbar zone, three firmness options, free white-glove delivery, a 365-night trial, and a lifetime warranty. American-made with a published price. The strongest innerspring alternative to Shifman for buyers who want full purchase protection.
Check Price at Saatva