It may not be everyone's ideal purchase, but if you have a comfy, clean mattress you no longer need, likely someone will haul it away for a reasonable price. Approach the mattress-seeking masses from one or two angles to increase the chance of a sale -- without breaking the law. Step 1: Obey the Lawit's illegal to sell a used mattress in some areas, unless it's properly cleaned and sanitized. Such hygienic practices help control the spread of bugs or disease -- and reduce the ick factor that may otherwise derail a sale. Professional mattress cleaners may use steam or ultraviolet light for the sanitizing process. If you have a quality mattress professionally cleaned, advertise that fact, and tuck the charge into the list price to recoup cost. Step 2: Include Details Write your ad, including pertinent information, such as size -- twin, queen, king -- condition, age, thickness, firmness, whether the mattress comes with a box spring, and its make. Some mattress makes and models are costlier, longer lasting and better all-around quality than others, so do your homework.
If you can't remember how much you paid originally, find out what similar mattresses are selling for now, so that you can price yours accordingly. If it was used on a seldom-slept-on spare bed, advertise it; if it was always protected by a mattress pad, note that too. Let potential buyers know what type it is -- memory foam, innerspring or pillow top, for example. Depending on condition, list it for no more than half the price of new to generate interest -- and be ready to dicker. Step 3: Place, Post and Boast Place your ad wherever it seems practical; if you live in a small town, for instance, you can simply print a few ads for local bulletin boards, post it for sale on your social media feed, run it in a community mini-magazine, and even mention your ware to trusted resident gossips, such as your butcher, baker or specialty coffee shop. In a city, or if you live near a large center, advertise the mattress on auction sites or in local newspapers. To increase the chance of a sale, include a picture of the mattress, zooming in on the fabric and any tags -- such as a brand or cleaning company's label -- and note whether you can or cannot deliver it.
If you can offer delivery, list a nominal fee to cover your fuel and time. State laws vary on the sale of used mattresses. Some require special labels, while others only allow parts of the mattress to... So you're tossing and turning, your body aches, and you can't sleep. It sounds like it's time for a new mattress. The experience of buying a mattress often equates to that of buying a used car or sometimes worse. After all, there's no... Brand-new mattresses can be expensive, and finding the right one for your comfort and style can require lots of research, such as... Many charitable organizations will accept donations of mattresses and box springs as long as the items are clean and structurally sound. Hotel chains are always looking to increase their bottom line. Many hotels already sell branded products based on their towels, bathrobes, sheets,... The process of selling a tanning bed is not as simple as selling a television or even a car. You may be surprised to learn that many common household items can be recycled.
For example, with the right information, you can... There are many important purchases you must make when putting together a nursery. Perhaps the most crucial is the mattress that goes... Most of us spend one-third of our lives sleeping, which means that a mattress is one of the most important furnishings in... How to Donate a Used Mattress How to Tell How Old a Mattress Is? How to Get a Free Mattress How to Sanitize a Mattress How to Sanitize a Secondhand Mattress How to Get Rid of My Old Mattress 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.