Well Mark, unbeknownst to many innocent consumers out there, the warning that it is unlawful to remove the tags from a mattress or pillow is not for you! It is for pillow and mattress sellers only. How many times does that mean you have unnecessarily awoken with the long pillow tags rhythmically flying in and out of your gaping lips, in sync with your snoring- all because you – a law abiding citizen – are afraid the pillow and mattress tag police may raid your house and find you guilty of snipping off those annoying tags? The specific US Code we’re dealing with here is Title 15 – Commerce and Trade, Chapter 2, Subchapter V – Textile Fiber Products Identification, Section 70c – Removal of stamp, tag, label, or other identification Statute (a) Removal or mutilation after shipment in commerce. “After shipment of a textile fiber product in commerce it shall be unlawful, except as provided in this subchapter, to remove or mutilate, or cause or participate in the removal or mutilation of, prior to the time any textile fiber product is sold and delivered to the ultimate consumer, any stamp, tag, label, or other identification required by this subchapter to be affixed to such textile fiber product
, any person violating this section shall be guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice, under the Federal Trade Commission Act. This became the law in the early 20th century when the US government responded to concerns that some of the materials used in pillows and mattresses easily conducted illnesses or harbored pests such as lice. Some manufacturers would stuff their goods with just about anything including horse hair or corn husks, since the customer could not see them. Mattress and pillow manufacturers were required to clearly define the contents of their products and to identify whether or not these contents were new or recycled materials by placing tags on them. This was important as recycled materials could still contain lice, bedbugs or human excretion. This information allowed consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases. It also meant that based upon their contents, some mattresses and pillows would not sell. In order to ensure no pillow and mattress sellers removed these tags in order to make the sale, they were stamped, in bold letters, with a clear message – “Do not remove under penalty of law”.
The words, “except by the consumer” have since been added but not a lot of consumers bother to read the tags in detail. The myth that it is illegal has been passed down by word of mouth and through popular media. Both the movie PeeWee’s Big Adventure and an episode of Garfield and Friends feature characters who were punished for removing these labels. Before the words “except by consumer” were added to the labels, Fred, a character on a popular 1970s show called Sanford and Son, removed a warning label, tore it up and exclaimed, “power to the people!” Johnny of Johnny Bravo is chased by police in a helicopter after removing a label from a stuffed animal and then saying to himself, “Pfft, what are they going to do?” Even the mattress company Serta, who are presumably well aware that it isn’t illegal for consumers to remove the tags, created a commercial where its famous counting sheep were thrown in jail for tearing off of the label after the mattress’s owner said she didn’t need them anymore.
SpongeBob SquarePants also once asked Squidward to hide him from law enforcement when he panics after removing the tag from his mattress. Although it may not be illegal for you, the consumer, to remove the tags from your pillows or mattresses, it is a good idea if you cut them off to safely store them with your warranty information. Many mattress manufacturers, including Sealy, Serta and Simmons require the tags to be produced in a warranty claim. If you liked this article, you might also enjoy subscribing to our new Daily Knowledge YouTube channel, as well as: Taking the Tag off a MattressThe Labor Day weekend brings out sales and discounts at retailers, but it doesn’t mean every item will be a good buy.Because of the holiday’s timing several weeks before the start of the holiday shopping season, some categories may offer better deals later in the year. At the same time, smart shoppers can pick up some excellent prices if they know where to look. Customers are less satisfied this year with department stores as retailers have cut back on the types of discounts they had often offered in the post-recession years, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Some brick-and-mortar retailers have been investing in service and staff to fend off customer defections to online retailers.That’s not too surprising, considering that retail sales are expected to rise 3.4 percent this year, while online sales will jump as much as 10 percent, according to the National Retail Federation. As a rule of thumb, you’ll find the best deals on summer items that will soon need to be pushed out of stores to make room for fall and winter goods. Along those lines, fall and colder-weather items won’t offer deep savings until later this year. Because Labor Day marks the end of summer, retailers are already looking forward to fall and pushing their full-price autumn wardrobes. Check the sale racks at stores like Gap and Macy’s to find good bargains, as well as the “sale” sections of their websites. Deep discounts are expected at outdoors retailers such as L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer, as well, according to DealNews. With thoughts turning to colder weather, some retailers are offering discounts on grills even though it’s still warm across much of the country.
Target is offering up to 20 percent off grills and grilling accessories, while Lowe’s is providing a $100 discount on Weber Genesis gas grills, as well as free delivery and assembly. Last year, Sears and Walmart also offered some good grill deals, according to DealNews. Mattresses can set back consumers by thousands of dollars, so it makes sense to hunt for a bargain. Labor Day could provide some good deals, according to NerdWallet. Sleep Train is offering as much as $400 off some mattresses, as well as selling a queen-sized pillow-top mattress set for $399. Sleepy’s is cutting prices by half in its Labor Day sale, although the sale excludes some manufacturers. Anything fall-related is unlikely to be discounted much this weekend, so it’s best to hold off on fall clothing. If you’re looking for warmer clothing, wait until November, when the fall lines will be heavily discounted to make way for winter styles. Apple is reportedly unveiling new phones this fall, which means older models may be discounted later in the year, NerdWallet noted.