In the age of 24-hour delivery and instant gratification, it can be hard to understand why we experience delays. Right now, deliveries of mattresses and other pieces of furniture are taking up to six weeks, a timeframe that was virtually unheard of before the pandemic began. Why are mattress deliveries taking so long in the era of COVID?
Mattresses in the Era of COVID — Why Is Everything Taking So Long to Get?
COVID-19 changed all of our lives in unexpected ways. The pandemic had a lot of surprising effects on the economy, including a rise in demand for mattresses. In fact, mattress manufacturers have experienced an increase of 50 percent in sales over the course of the last year!
This may seem odd, but if you think about it, it makes sense. There was an unprecedented boom in home renovations during the pandemic. Some of us had life changes that led to new roommates. Some of us were inspired to upgrade our living spaces to make them more comfortable, or we just finally found the time to set up that guest room in the basement. No matter what the cause, a lot of people are buying mattresses right now, and much of the delay in receiving them is caused by retailers struggling to catch up with the demand.
At first glance, this seems like an easy problem to fix. If people need more mattresses, we can just make more, right? However, there’s more to these delays than meets the eye.
Production Delays
In a traditional economic system, increases in demand are met with increases in supply. Unfortunately, COVID introduced production issues alongside the increase in demand. When the pandemic began, factories were faced with a challenge: adapt, or close completely until it was safe to return to work. Manufacturers who managed to stay open reported working with only half of their usual staff, and needing to slash working hours or otherwise limit production for safety reasons.
These issues would have already caused minor delays if furniture demand was at regular levels, but the boom in purchasing caused even more strain on this teetering system. The increase in demand, combined with the difficulties in manufacturing new inventory, led to predictable shortages and delays. The mattress industry was not immune to this effect. Keeping enough mattresses in inventory to meet demand has been an ongoing challenge for store owners. Even though production is catching up, there’s still some ground to cover before inventory levels reach their full capacity again.
Shipping Delays
Now that there’s a COVID vaccine, manufacturing is slowly getting back to normal. Hopefully, these issues will soon be a thing of the past. However, there is one final hurdle between you and your mattress order: shipping delays.
Adapting to COVID imposed significant changes on how people make purchases. For many of us, that meant relying more on e-commerce than brick-and-mortar shopping. Experts estimate that one in five American dollars spent in 2020 was spent at online retailers, and most Americans are continuing to use e-commerce as the pandemic winds down. This has led to an ongoing boom in shipping, which has caused labor and supply shortages in the shipping industry. The supply chain is still adapting to this new reality, which means these frustrating delays will remain a fact of life for at least a little longer.
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If you can’t wait out a potential shipping delay, experts recommend doing your shopping in person. Go to a retailer and explain what you’re looking for, and see what inventory they have on hand. In a pinch, you can even ask about purchasing a floor model. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find something that meets your needs. Rely on the mattress experts. We’re here to help.
Are you looking for a new mattress? Visit Beautyrest Sleep Gallery. At our locations in Springfield and Branson, Missouri, we provide an extensive selection of top-quality mattresses, including Beautyrest®, Serta iComfort®, Tempur-Pedic®, and Scandinavian Sleep Systems. A family-owned and -operated business that supports local charities, Beautyrest Sleep Gallery offers free local delivery and setup as well as a Best Price Guarantee. Shopping for a new mattress can be overwhelming, but with our wide variety of mattresses and expert sales staff, we can put your worries to rest. To get started, please visit us in store or explore our mattress selection online.