How will buying a bed change after Corona & COVID 19?

Updated Dec 2021: Buying a mattress is a rather tricky process for most people. Not only do you have to work out exactly what requirements you need from a new mattress, but then you have to work out which one is most comfortable. For some people, this involves visiting retail stores and lying on showroom models that other people have also had to lie on.

Given the new Delta and Omicron COVID variants, physical bed stores are having to reduce their capacity once again. Some are even needing to offer appointments to meet COVID restrictions. This can place a frustrating burden on you, the customer, when buying a new mattress.

For some people, this increases their risk or anxiety when buying a bed, especially if you’re trying to self isolate or shield during this troubled time. We’re going to discuss a number of options when it comes to buying a bed in the safest and easiest way, whether that be in a store or online. We’re going to give you all of our insider tips too, to make it as stress-free as possible!

• Buying a mattress in a showroom during COVID 19
• Mattress guidance during Coronavirus
• Buying a mattress without visiting a shop
• COVID Secure mattress delivery methods
• How much to spend on a mattress

We are pleased to be able to stay fully open with both our manufacture and delivery following fully COVID-19 secure processes. So you can still find your perfect mattress during the lockdown.

Buying a mattress in a Bed Showroom during COVID-19

The first port of call for a lot of people is to go and try mattresses in a showroom. Whilst we proved for years that you’re better off seeking advice first before visiting stores – to reduce guesswork and save money –  we also appreciate that, for some people, they really do want to try a mattress out in a shop.

Many mattress retailers are introducing stringent COVID 19 hygiene protocols. These retailers will be incorporating the following safety measures if you visit a mattress showroom:

• Temperature checks of customers before they enter the showroom
• Face masks for staff and customers when visiting the stores
• Hand sanitising stations to clean hands
• Plastic or paper ‘disposable covers’ on both mattresses and pillows
• Set allotted times when you can try mattresses
• Keeping social distancing measures at all times – at the moment, that’s 2 metres apart from sales staff and customers
• Quarantine periods once people have laid on each mattress (different waiting times for each store)

The good news is all of the above help keep you safe when shopping for a new mattress. We will now have a look at how Corona has fundamentally changed the way we buy mattresses in shops and online.

How shopping for a mattress has changed

Given the necessary safety measures in mattress shops, it’s meant that being able to test a mattress for comfort is now increasingly difficult. With the inclusion of plastic and paper covers, it means that trying to ‘experience’ the true feel of the mattress is pretty much impossible. The coverings and plastic fundamentally distort the true feel of the mattress. It may be frustrating to hear, but even if you’re lying on a top-end Vispring Natural Fibre mattress the addition of plastic and paper covers will mean you’re only getting a partial feel for the mattress. It’s a bit like testing out a sofa in a showroom with its plastic packaging on it.

• Plan ahead
• Allocate enough time to trial a few well-researched mattress contenders
• Make sure you know what you’re looking for before visiting the shops

Increased need for mattress information during COVID 19

When shopping for a mattress in a shop during COVID 19 you’re going to have a more limited amount of time and access to view a showroom’s ranges. Gone are the days of spending a few hours trying each and every mattress multiple times. With the new safety procedures, you’re going to have to shop smart to be able to try the mattresses that are most suitable for your needs.

This is where you need to do your research beforehand. Our online Mattress Compare tool can help you shortlist a couple of mattresses that best suit your requirements. This helps you plan a more efficient and successful trip out when buying a mattress in a showroom during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you’ve not already downloaded our mattress buying guide you can do that here. It will give you all you need to know before arriving at the shops.

Making a checklist of the following areas will also help improve your mattress shopping chances in store:

• What spring tension do you need? (This is based on your bodyweight)
• What mattress ‘type’ are you looking for?
• What comfort feel do you want from the mattress? Soft, Medium or Firm?
• Are you looking for a man-made or natural fibre mattress? (Reducing your search volume)
• What sleeping position do you have? Choose the correct comfort for this position.
• What is your mattress budget (what can you reasonably expect – more below)
• Do you have access issues for delivery? If so consider a zip & link mattress.

Buying a mattress without visiting a shop

The alternative to visiting a shop to buy a mattress during Corona is to buy one online. Did you know that the National Bed Federation reported that over 50% of us now buy our mattresses online without ever visiting a showroom? You’ve actually got higher chances of sleep success too, given the amount of information available to you that isn’t in stores.

You may be looking to buy a mattress online for a number of reasons:

• You may not want to visit a store for health reasons
• You want to avoid paying excessive overheads for a new mattress
• You want more information on mattresses than sales staff can provide
• You require tailored specialist sleep advice
• You want to save time and money
• You prefer to support independent smaller mattress makers

We’ve been providing free advice and selling our own tailored range of mattresses online now for over a decade. Long before it became the norm! We can help you choose a better mattress, with expert advice. Avoid the high markups of stores, all from the comfort of your own home. All of our models are hand made by our craftsmen and women here in the UK. All is in line with government hygiene standards during the manufacturing process.

So why not get in touch with our small team of experts to provide some customised advice to help you find the best mattress?

COVID Safe Mattress Deliveries

All of our deliveries follow a number of COVID secure protocols. This means that buying a mattress from us avoids you having to come into any unnecessary contact with people if you’re shielding or prefer to stay away from the mattress shops.

Our delivery teams are fully equipped with a range of personal protective equipment, including protective washable boiler suits, face masks, face shields, hand sanitiser and disposable gloves. We also are introducing contactless delivery, installation and collection processes. Delivery teams will hand in their personal protective equipment each day to be washed and sanitized, with their vans also undergoing daily sanitization inside and out. Our delivery teams will also be using contactless temperature checking of each delivery team member, and a health declaration process will be completed every day.

Our delivery team will be offering 3 delivery options based on your preference during COVID 19:

1.    Delivery to a room of choice within their home

• Customers will be asked to stay in a different room, having ensured the route and floor are completely clear to the nominated delivery room

• Beds will be unpacked, assembled and installed, with old packaging taken away

2.    To their home’s door-step / threshold

3.    To a safe place immediately outside their home

• This will need to be at the same postcode and a large enough area cleared to place the product

Our delivery team continue to keep in touch with customers on the day via phone calls and text messages to confirm our final arrival and delivery time. We will take a picture of the delivered product in the final location, and will ask customers to confirm verbally (from 2-metres) that they are happy with the delivery and we will sign on their behalf.

Knowing how much to spend on a mattress online

Before you buy a new mattress, either in the shops or online, it’s helpful to know exactly what to expect for your budget. If you’re buying a mattress in a shop during Corona, then this guide will help you make the most of your time and save unnecessary risk.

If you want even more information on the top 5 mattresses we have reviewed, then our list of articles below will help save you time when planning your visit to mattress showrooms.

1. What to expect from a £500 Mattress
2. What to expect from a £750 Mattress
3. What to expect from a £1000 Mattress
4. What to expect from a £1250 Mattress
5. What to expect from a £1500 Mattress
6. What to expect from a £2000+ Mattress