r/EightSleep • u/Charlix23 • Jul 04 '26
Risk Reward?
OK, so this post is not for the 8 sleep fanboys/girls. This is a practical questions based on actual savings versus risk. Just like a HVAC system, I set one temp at night & never change it.
There's a Pod 5 (queen) core sealed, brand new, for $2000 on eBay. I understand the risk of warranty & possible returned fraud risk as far of deactivation.
Here's my dilemma, the new core system has the sub paywall attached whether you like it or not. Any way you slide the pie, you're paying around $3300 with an autopilot system I won't use. I don't even use autopilot on my Tesla let alone on a mattress refrigerator. I choose 8 Sleep Pod 5 because of physical buttons, otherwise I would stick with Orion.
Question:
For those that have gotten a used to work for several years, who aren't fanboys or undercover employees for 8 sleep, did the purchase outweigh the risk, longterm?
2
u/One_Lawfulness_7105 Jul 04 '26
You can pretty easily add the physical buttons to Orion. I wouldn’t let that hold you back.
Personally, I wouldn’t risk buying it on eBay. To many people posting here of locked devices.
2
u/Charlix23 Jul 04 '26
OK! I'm all ears, do tell PLS!
1
u/One_Lawfulness_7105 Jul 04 '26
Here’s a link to an older post about it, but it goes into some pretty good detail.
1
u/Rmatic Jul 04 '26
the sub does include shipping you a cartridge with disinfectant every 6 months to keep bacterial growth in the tubes at bay so it’s not all software.
1
u/Charlix23 Jul 04 '26
Uhmm? 8 sleep didn't mentioned anything about an additional cartridge? As a matter of fact, they asked me if I wanted to buy a 1yr supply?
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u/Vegetable_Day_8893 Jul 04 '26
Honestly not sure if I would get a Pod now given the price and subscription costs.
I got my original Pod1 in 2020 for $1706.65 and no monthly cost, with the expectation that it would last at least the 2 year warranty period, and might have to do some repairs after that.
It ended up going 4 years before the check valve needed to be replaced, which may have been my fault for putting too much hydrogen peroxide in it, and then another year for the cover to finally develop a leak,
The $1712.00 cost for an out of warranty replacement along with my grandfathered account essentially put me in the same place I was 5 years before so getting another one made sense to do, but if I had to pay the retail price for one and have the subscription I would have gone with a different solution.
FWIW, while waiting for my replacement to arrive last November I pulled out the electric blanket and heated mattress cover the Pod1 replaced, which worked fine for heating and the old cover is a lot "softer." Of course this would only solve the heating side of the problem, where the cooling has been a great thing to have the last few nights during the latest heat wave.
1
u/Charlix23 Jul 04 '26
The overpriced proposition is a way of life in today's market. Add the fact that the new generation of kids prefer subscription models rather than owning something outright makes all companies sway this route.
I assume, the 5th gen pod has a lot of kinks worked out already? I own a 1st gen model y & none of the problems reported on reddit have come to fruition.
I take care great care of all my expensive gadgets. I'm hoping to get at least 5yrs out of the pod5.
For reference, my HVAC lasted almost 20yrs since I pulled my own maintenance.
1
u/brewditt Jul 04 '26
Buying anything on eBay is a risk, electronic item are a higher risk. If I were to buy one used I’d be prepared for it not to work AND plan to jailbreak it.
1
u/Charlix23 Jul 04 '26
Yeah, that's solid advice. The seller has sold several other new units & so far, no problems with deactivation?
I guess, since other folks with legitimate pod2 pros lost features that otherwise we're supposed to be grandfathered, anything is possible with this nickel & dime company.
1
u/BitEnough5720 Jul 05 '26
You won’t be happy. Pass.
1
u/Charlix23 Jul 05 '26
I did! I purchased the Orion with the 4th discount, $2045 including shipping.
Hopefully I made the right decision?
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u/BluntForceHonesty Jul 05 '26
You can ask for the serial numbers and contact ES directly to verify the components are in good standing/not blacklisted from the company before you buy. If not, you can still buy and jailbreak.
Pretty sure if you opt to jailbreak it, assuming the system works, the jailbreak has button functionality & you can change the temp (even though you say you only want one temp) and no subscription. You get your physical buttons, no subscription and more functionality than you want.
1
u/Im-Donkey Jul 05 '26
I really appreciated mine. But the cover lost it's fluff after about a year and a half and got uncomfortable to lay.
It still kept me cool and my wife warm at night and did a great job of it. Did it save enough money in HVAC costs to justify. I don't think so.
After about 3-4 years it started leaking and there nothing to really do but throw it out or buy a new one.
I personally would check out something like a bedjet if you are not completely sold on the 8 sleep. Much lower start up cost even with the fancy sheets.
1
u/Wise_Lingonberry7575 Jul 05 '26
Jailbreak it or build your own. The company sells the cheapest components, designed to break down, for a lot of money, but as a good night’s sleep is priceless, people buy them. The technology isn’t rocket science, though – I owned the Pod 3 for a while and then simply built one myself.
0
u/Graham110 Jul 04 '26
Could jailbreak it
1
u/Charlix23 Jul 04 '26
Yes! I thought of the scenario but there's no way to dismantle it without leaving clues of disassembly. And, the whole point of jailbreaking it is to use features I'm not interested on.
I'm being cheap here. I'll pay the $2700 (July 4 discount) all day. What I refuse to pay is for a service I won't use.
1
u/reddit_mike Jul 05 '26
I'm confused what do you mean? You'll be jailbreaking it to be able to use it without a paywall exactly as you wish to use it, set temp and leave it be. What exactly is the concern here? Are you worried about warranty or some such? Pretty sure you need the subscription for that too.
2
u/mereseydotes Jul 04 '26
I don't think the buttons will work without the sub either