Shopping for a new mattress can be a lot of work, but finally laying down to sleep on your new mattress makes it all worthwhile. Of course, you might not feel so pleased if you discover that your mattress isn’t actually new. Few people want to purchase a used mattress, but the Federal Trade Commission allows retailers to sell them. The trouble is, consumers often think they’re buying a new mattress even when they’re not!
Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your new mattress is actually new. By taking a few preventative measures, you can save yourself the disappointment of finding out only too late that you bought a brand new used bed.
Looking Like a New Mattress is Not Enough
Retailers who sell used mattresses often have them mixed in with mattresses that are actually new. They know customers prefer new mattresses, so they try to make the used mattresses look new too. Indeed, used mattresses are practically indistinguishable from new mattresses.
Often recovered mattresses are dressed up with new fabric ticking. This gives them a new appearance on the outside, even if their inside has been worn out by years of sleeping. In addition, most retailers wrap these mattresses in heavy plastic wrapping, which often provides the illusion of newness and covers up any tags that might tell you otherwise.
Making Sure a Mattress is New
Although laws determining the resale of mattresses vary from state to state, most states require tags that tell whether a mattress is made from new or used materials. At the very least, new mattresses have a white tag that says they are made from all new materials. Some states use red or yellow tags to indicate used materials.
Be sure to check the tags on the mattress you purchase. If you test out a mattress on the showroom floor and it has white tags, don’t assume the one they bring out from the back has white tags too. Check them just to make sure. If you notice that none of the mattresses have tags, then you might want to take your business elsewhere.
Don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson if they sell mattresses with used materials. In addition, make sure you find out about return policies and warranty information. But go one step further and get copies in writing. If you are still unsure about the newness of a particular mattress, then ask that the sales clerk write on the receipt that the mattress is made from new materials; this will give you stronger recourse should you need it.
Buying a mattress can be hard enough without having to worry about whether it is used or not. However, knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Remember to get things in writing even if the salesperson says a mattress is new. Keep in mind that a salesperson is just trying to make a sale, and besides, he might assume all the mattresses are new simply because they look new! Follow these tips, and you’ll be enjoying the comfort of a truly new mattress in no time.