I had a Rainsoft water softener for about ten years on a rental plan. The softener improved the iron staining for a while but over the past 2-3 years iron and associated sediment was causing staining. Being lazy I only called the Rainsoft people about 2 years ago and asked if the filter/media might be clogged or no longer effective. They sent a guy out who took a look at the sediment filter and told me that the media would last forever and that I needed a new well. So, being lazy I did nothing until this summer when I asked them to take their junk back. They scheduled a date and didn't show up. We subsequently went on vacation for a month. On our return, the water was even worse and I called the Rainsoft people and asked if they could come and take the equipment out (telling them that I was having a new system installed). They responded by saying that I should have the new "contractor' put their system on the driveway and that they would schedule a pick-up! Since I was to be the "contractor", I was caught in a white lie. So, I removed the Rainsoft system and put it on the driveway. A PITA. I went to Lowes and bought a 44K grain softener and their "central backwashing water filter" and installed them. Well, the water was improved but not much. About like when the Rainsoft system was installed. I knew this was a loser solution from my previous experience. I continued reading water treatment texts and finally determined that I needed a sediment and iron filter. I bought a 1 cubic foot Katalox Light iron filter (which also handles sediment) via the internet for $739, removed my existing cartridge sediment filter, installed the Katalox filter before the softener so that the system is now:
Well water in----> Katalox filter---->Whirlpool Water Softener-----> Whirlpool Central (carbon) Backwashing carbon filter.
The water is now clear and we now experience the slick feeling of soft water water that was supposed to be produced by the water softener installed by Rainsoft a decade ago. Cost was $739 Katalox filter-$399 Whirlpool Water Softener-$299 Central Carbon backwashing filter plus $200 for Shark connectors and other installation materials etc.
Long answer, but I think you would do well buying a Katalox filter and possibly adding the WS and central filter if you want clean soft water without iron.