Common Waterbed Questions and Answers
General
Who is Boyd Flotation?
Since 1977 Boyd Flotation has been developing and manufacturing quality specialty sleep products and accessories. Boyd Flotation currently sells over 400,000 mattresses worldwide each year. Boyd Flotation is the largest manufacturer of waterbeds in the industry. Boyd's impressive list of over 30 US patents with more pending, all pertaining to the continued quality, innovation and design of unique specialty sleep products, is solid proof of our company's only focus.
How do I contact Boyd Flotation?
You may reach a qualified Customer Care Specialist Monday-Friday from 8am until 4pm CST at 1-866-926-2693. You may also send an email by CLICKING HERE
Who is Blue Magic?
Blue Magic is owned and operated by Boyd Flotation. Blue Magic is the trusted and recognized industry leader in waterbed conditioner, waterbed care, waterbed supplies and waterbed accessories and has been since 1978.
Will my item look exactly like the picture?
While we strive to provide the most true to color images and accurate descriptions of our products, the actual color or shade of the item may vary due to the color settings of your computer monitor. Boyd Flotation cannot guarantee that the color you view on your monitor will exactly match the product due to the nature of online shopping constrictions.
Ordering
How do I know my personal information is secure?
We use industry standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) software to encrypt your personal and credit card information so you can feel safe shopping online with Boyd Flotation.
Can I place an order over the phone?
YES. Our Customer Care Specialists will be happy to assist you in placing your order over the phone. Our Customer Care Ordering Department is available by calling 1-866-926-2693 Monday through Friday from 8am until 4pm Central Standard Time.
How do I know you received my order?
You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours of placing your order. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact us at 1-866-926-2693 to confirm your order.
Can I make changes to my order?
YES. Changes must be submitted by calling or emailing our Customer Care Department. Changes can be accommodated only if your order has not shipped. You will receive an email confirming your exact order changes within 24 hours of your request if your request can be accommodated.
If I live outside the U.S. can I still order from your website?
NO. We can only accept and ship orders from this website to addresses in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.
Payment
When am I charged for my order?
All orders begin processing immediately, so your card is charged at the time you submit your order.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express and Pay Pal. You can also finance orders totaling over $500.00.
Can I pay with a check or money order?
NO. Boyd Waterbeds does not accept checks or money orders for online order placement.
In which sates do you charge sales tax?
Sales tax is charged for in-state deliveries to Missouri and California. Sales tax is collected on the total order amount. Sales tax will be calculated during the check out process.
Privacy and Security
How do I know my credit card information is secure?
We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. Our secure server encrypts all of the information you submit, so it is safely transmitted to us. Please review our complete Privacy & Security policy by CLICKING HERE.
Do you sell the information you collect online to third parties?
NO. We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.
What are cookies and does Boyd Waterbeds use them?
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyze web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. If you would like to view exactly what cookies we collect and how they are used, view our Privacy Policy by CLICKING HERE.
Shipping and Delivery
What do I pay for shipping?
Absolutely nothing! Shipping is FREE on all items purchased from Boyd Flotation or Blue Magic.
How is my order shipped?
We ship all Blue Magic products, pillows, accessories, bed frames, replacement softside waterbed bladders and hardside waterbed mattresses via FEDEX, or USPS. If you ordered a softside waterbed mattress and/or a matching softside waterbed foundation shipping is via a common freight carrier. You will be contacted by the delivery agent in order to set up a delivery time. Most delivery companies offer appointment windows (usually 2-4 hours) between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday. If you do not accept delivery during your appointment window you will be responsible for any additional re-delivery charges.
Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii?
We can only offer free shipping on orders shipping to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, please call a Boyd Flotation Sleep Specialist at 1-866-926-2693 to determine if shipping to your location can be achieved for an additional cost.
What if I receive the wrong item?
In the event that an item was shipped in error, please contact a Customer Care Specialist at 1-866-926-2693 within 24 hours.
What if an item is missing?
Missing items should be reported to a Customer Care Specialist at 1-866-926-2693 within 24 hours. Please note that if you ordered multiple items, they may be arriving in separate packages.
Do you ship to P.O. boxes?
NO. Sorry, we cannot ship to a P.O. box.
How long will it take to receive my order?
In most cases, your order will be processed and shipped within 72 business hours. In some cases one or more components of a bed may be out of stock. If this happens, the bed will not ship until all components are received and the order can arrive complete. You will be notified by phone or email if there will be a delay in shipping.
Returns and Cancellations
What is your return policy?
Boyd Flotation offers a 30 day return policy WITH NO RESTOCKING FEES. The item must be unopened, unused and in its original packaging. Contact a Customer Care Specialist at 1-866-926-2693 in order to obtain a Return Authorization (RA) number. The customer is responsible for return shipping costs. Blue Magic products are non-returnable, as are fiber filled water mattresses and an item that has been used. Please review our complete return policy by CLICKING HERE.
Do you charge a restocking fee for returns?
NO. At Boyd Flotation we will not charge you a restocking fee for simply returning an item.
Can I cancel my order?
YES. If you haven’t started the checkout process, click the “Remove“ link in the Cart. To change the quantity of an item, click on the “Quantity“ field in the cart and select the quantity you want. Orders placed on our online store are charged and processed quickly. Once we receive your order, we immediately begin to process your order for shipment from our inventory. Cancellations will only be accepted within 24 hours of orders being placed and if your order has not shipped. Contact a Customer Care Specialist at 1-866-926-2693 to determine if your order can be cancelled.
Waterbed Care
How full should my waterbed be?
Fill level is a matter of personal preference, but the following is a good guideline. Fill your mattress until it is about 1" below the frame level. It is important not to overfill at this point. Once this has been achieved lie on the mattress with no pillow. If two people will be sharing the bed both of you should lie on the bed. At this time you want your body(s) to be fairly parallel with the floor. If your head feels lower than your mid section and you feel as if you are rolling off to the side you have too much water in the bed and will need to use your Blue Magic Fill and Drain Kit to drain some water from the bed. If you feel like you are in a hammock, with your middle lower than your head and feet, you will need to add some water. Once you have achieved a parallel position, you can add or remove small amounts of water until you achieve your desired firmness level. Note that if you are sharing your waterbed, when the second person gets in or out of the bed, you are effectively adding or subtracting an amount of water equal to their weight and you may need to make an adjustment in the water level.
How often do I need to change the water in my mattress?
As long as you maintain the mattress and provide proper care, you should only need to drain your mattress when you want to move it.
Why does my waterbed make a sloshing sound?
Air may enter your mattress during the filling process. Also, the vinyl which makes up the mattress is a semi-permeable membrane which means small amounts of air can sometimes pass through the vinyl. (Water cannot, however!) Properly maintaining your mattress by adding the recommended Blue Magic Waterbed Conditioner as scheduled will keep bubbles at a minimum. However, you may still develop air bubbles despite following the proper maintenance. If this occurs, add a bottle of Blue Magic Bubble Stop, available in Waterbed Supplies.
Why does my waterbed have a strange smell?
Odors usually occur from one of three causes. The first is when the mattress is new and has the smell of fresh vinyl. Once the mattress has been exposed to air for a while, the odor will disappear. Using Blue Magic Vinyl Cleaner will speed up the process. If you smell a musty odor, the cause may be from bacteria that has formed outside the mattress. This happens if the mattress becomes moist due to condensation or a puncture. If this is the problem, dry the area, fix the problem and then clean the mattress, liner and heater pad with a product such as Lyceum, then with Blue Magic Vinyl Cleaner. The third cause is from bacteria inside the mattress. If the odor is particularly strong when you remove the pull cap and seal, bacteria may have entered the bed from a dirty hose or from using the incorrect conditioner or no conditioner at all. Use of Blue Magic Super Shock will solve this problem. Be sure to follow the directions included with the product and follow up with regular scheduled conditioning treatments.
Do I really need a safety liner for my waterbed?
YES. The safety liner is a necessity, since it will catch any water in the unlikely event that your mattress should develop a puncture. A safety liner can prevent unwanted damage to furniture, floors and rugs. Never fill your waterbed mattress above the level of the safety liner.
Why is my waterbed dry and brittle?
Improper care of your mattress may be the reason. You need to follow the recommended maintenance schedule for your mattress by adding Blue Magic Waterbed Conditioner or Blue Magic Waterbed Conditioner Tablets once per year. Regular use of Blue Magic Vinyl Conditioner is also recommended to prevent your mattress from becoming dry or brittle. Do not use regular household cleaners on your vinyl, as they can have a drying effect on your mattress. The second most common reason for a mattress to become dry or brittle is not using a good mattress pad to absorb body oils, or not laundering the pad often enough. If your mattress has become dry and brittle, it is much more likely to develop cracks and tears. At this point it is better to replace it with a new waterbed mattress.
Do I need a heater for my waterbed?
If you have purchased a hardside waterbed mattress you will most likely enjoy the warmth provided by a waterbed heater. Although some people have been known to prefer the cool feeling of an unheated waterbed, most people will find the unheated water unbearably cold. If you purchased a mid or deep fill softside waterbed mattress, you may also enjoy the additional warmth provided by a waterbed heater. This is a matter of personal preference, as the insulating properties of the pillowtop covers found on most softside mattresses usually provide a comfortable sleeping environment. Shallow fill softside waterbeds do not require waterbed heaters.
How much will it cost to heat my waterbed?
Depending on the size of the mattress, it will cost between $100-$200 per year to heat your waterbed mattress.