Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Purchasing A Mattress In Chicago Before buying a mattress, there are certain things every consumer should know. In most parts of the country, including Illinois, used mattresses can be resold as long as they meet certain labeling and processing requirements. Also, in the City of Chicago, the law requires that deteriorated, secondhand, reconditioned, or altered products cannot be advertised or sold as new. How to Know If You Are Buying a Used Mattress: By law, there must be a conspicuously posted label describing the contents of themattress and any bedding. The label must state whether the bedding is made from all new materials, or is made in whole or in part from secondhand material, otherwise called “refurbished.” Requirements for selling refurbished mattresses: All used bedding must be taken apart by a refurbisher, and inspected for stains, pests, odors. No material or component of used bedding that is soiled, has odor, or is infested may be reused.
Ask if the retailer sells used or refurbished bedding. Look at the label attached to the mattress to know if you’re buying a new or a used mattress. If you’re looking to buy a new mattress, make sure your mattress has a “new” mattress tag. Ask the retailer to write “new” on your sales receipt if you’ve been told you’re buying a new mattress. If you don’t see any tag, consider doing business with another retailer. Otherwise, you simply don’t know what you’re buying. Ask about the retailer’s return and refund policies, and get copies in writing. Beware of Bed Bugs: When buying a used or refurbished mattress, the possibility of bed bugs arises. Bed bugs are small wingless insects that bite people and pets and do not transmit diseases. Their name comes from their preferred living quarters: mattresses, sofas and other furniture. A bed bug problem may not be detected in the store and typically begins after bringing it home.
Signs to watch out for are clusters of black specks on your mattress. Bed bugs have an oval body and range in color from white, to a golden brown or orange. If you suspect bed bugs, take immediate action by contacting the retailer. If you feel you have been a victim of fraud click to file a consumer complaint with the City of Chicago or call 311. Click to download the Purchasing A Mattress in Chicago Fact SheetWhat is the law about selling used mattresses? According to the Federal Trade Commission, federal law requires that any mattress containing used stuffing must bear a tag or label stating this information. If labeling and processing requirements are met, used mattresses can be resold. However, not all states require labels, and the state requirements for used mattresses tend to vary. How do you locate the serial number on a Lane product? How long is a Simmons Beautyrest warranty? Is it illegal to sell a used mattress? Some states allow recovered old mattresses to be sold when they have new ticking or fabric and after they have been sanitized or disinfected.
In other states, only the springs can be reused. When purchasing a mattress, ensure that there is a viewable tag or label, and read the content information prior to purchase. The FTC further advises that most new mattresses include a white tag to indicate it is made of new materials. Used mattresses may contain a red or yellow tag warning consumers that the mattress contains used materials. The department that regulates mattress labeling varies from state to state, but consumers can check bedding labeling laws in a particular state by contacting its departments of health, consumer affairs, agriculture or licensing. The FTC suggests that if a mattress does not have a tag that includes information about its contents, a consumer should contact another retailer. Learn more about Is This Illegal? What are some laws about downloading copyrighted movies for free? It is against the law to download copyrighted for movies for free unless the viewer or the file provider has received authorization from the copyright hold...
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Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top I'm possibly selling a used mattress (plead the 5th) and to my surprise was told that it's illegal! I've never heard this before. It seems that many others are asking this question and have heard it too: Snopes discussion forum post Another Wiki answers question specifically about Pennsylvania None but the Pennsylvania question seems to have a definitive answer. Is it illegal to sell a [for simplicity's sake, non-stained, not-known-to-be-infested, etc.] used mattress? Feel free to differentiate between person-to-person sales vs. via a business if the requirements differ. If, as one of the Wiki answers posts states, this might be state dependent, a summary of which states (or countries) allow/disallow this would be neat to have.
For starters, like almost every question that begins "is it illegal", the real answers are always: It depends on where you live, so Ask an actual lawyer. Having said that, it is not illegal to sell a used mattress in any United States jurisdiction that I know of. However, most states have restrictions on what you can and can't do when selling used mattresses, primarily involving fraud or health concerns. For people who sell bedding as a business, the rules are rather strict, frequently requiring licensing from the Health Department, among other things. Many states (20 as of 2/10/2013) are part of a national cooperative, the International Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials, that attempts to synchronize bedding laws. You can read all the various requirements that member states adhere to on their site. For a consumer selling bedding to another consumer, you avoid many of the regulations. What's left typically boils down to two things: In some states, it may be a legal requirement that the bed include a label stating that it includes second-hand materials.
Often this requirement only applies to retail or wholesale sellers, as in California's Business and Professional Codes, Section 19123, but other states, e.g. Wisconsin Statues, Section 100.2095 or Florida Statues, Title XXXIII, Chapter 501, Section 145, the law can be read as applying this requirement to all sales. If you haven't already ripped it off, your mattress probably has a label that says exactly the opposite, so you will need to be careful and See #2 Above. You may need to have the mattress officially sanitized. For example, in Delaware, Title 16, Chap. 21, § 2105. Selling or leasing used mattresses; sterilization and disinfection, says: (2) Any secondhand mattress, pillow, bolster, featherbed or comfortable, unless since last used it has been thoroughly sterilized and disinfected by a reasonable process approved by the Department of Health and Social Services. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest