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What Happens When You Pull the Tag off a Mattress?

Consumers who purchase mattresses often find accompanying information tags warning that their removal is prohibited by law. Over the years, many mattress owners have come to believe they'll get into trouble if they remove them. This is really nothing more than a popular myth. In reality, removal of those tags by their wholesale and retail sellers is actually what's prohibited. That's because the tags carry information intended to help the consumers purchasing them.
  1. Tags

    • Mattress tags are attached to mattresses by their manufacturers. At minimum, they carry information related to materials used as well as the manner in which they've been constructed. They're also intended to certify to consumers that they're buying a new mattress, not a used one. Federal law requires these tags remain attached to their mattresses until they're finally sold to a consumer. After that, the tags can be removed as the consumer desires.

    Usefulness

    • The required presence of mattress tags can be of great use to consumers. That's because mandatory information on mattress tags includes the specific fill contents. It also tells consumers what kind of fibers are used for covering and stitching. This information can be used, for example, by those with allergies to certain fibers or fillings to avoid mattresses containing those materials.

    Penalties

    • Though consumers are free to do whatever they'd like with the tags, manufacturers and wholesale and retail sellers cannot remove them. Federal law, in fact, is pretty clear about that prohibition. As well, any alteration or mutilation of the tag carries the same prohibition. Depending on the circumstances of each case, sellers who remove them can face stiff civil penalties. If fraud is involved, criminal charges could ensue.

    Considerations

    • Mattress tags can assist in preventing consumers from buying a counterfeit or fake brand-name product. Once they're removed from a mattress, the mattress can never again be sold as new, helping to prevent resale fraud. In some cases manufacturers will refuse to honor a mattress warranty if the tag is removed. Therefore, you should check the tag for any warranty information before removing it.