Is There a Backlash For Cutting Mattress Tag?
Does the Mattress Police Department exist? And is there really a penalty for cutting mattress tag? One recent story offers an interesting take on the much-debated topic.
Edwardsville, Illinois resident Amy Murphy unexpectedly got herself involved with the mattress-cutting controversy. Murphy, who suffered from severe back pain, purchased a memory foam mattress for a hefty sum of $1,500 (apparently, the price of comfort has a high ceiling). Yet after only a few months, her mattress lost its memory and began sagging in the middle.
After documenting the sag, Murphy went to return the mattress. After all, it came with a 25-year warranty. Yet the warranty was voided, all due to that cardinal mattress sin – yep, Murphy removed her mattress tag.
Ah, the mattress tag! That oft-feared label on new mattresses clearly states, “Do not remove under penalty of law.” And while most folks don’t take the warning seriously, Murphy did – she lost even more sleep over the matter when she found out the store, Mattress Source, wouldn’t take the mattress back.
But after some help from a local consumer advocacy group, Murphy was able to get a new mattress. The new one is sag-free and she’s once again enjoying sound, pain-free sleep.
So, it seems the secret police or men in white coats will NOT come whisk someone away who cuts a mattress tag. The story has reached almost urban legend proportions, but Amy Murphy’s experience suggests otherwise.
As it turns out, the mattress tag removal warning only applies to new sales. Stores and retailers cannot remove the tag. The tag serves two purposes – it lets the buyer know their purchase is indeed a new, never-used mattress, and also identifies the type of mattress filler.
Once bought, it’s not illegal for the owner to cut the tag off. But, as Murphy found out, anyone who removes the mattress tag may find it harder to return their mattress.
