You’re browsing Facebook Marketplace and come across a listing that says, “used mattress for sale.” That’s great news, right? Not so fast! People spend roughly one-third of their lives in bed, so it is no surprise that the quality of your mattress can affect your overall health and well-being. It is vital that you choose the most comfortable and supportive mattress possible, and this can’t be done by picking up a bed from a garage sale.
There is a too-common misconception that buying a new mattress is going to be expensive. For this reason, you may assume finding a used mattress is the best or only way to save money. Here’s just a few of the reasons that this isn’t a good idea:
#1 It could have bed bugs.
Let’s get this first one out of the way. It’s very, very possible that bringing a used mattress for sale into your home brings some creepy crawlers in too. An all-too-common misconception is that bed bugs are the result of poor hygiene, dirt, or filth. One out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone else who has. They are found in all 50 states. Bed bugs are not only found in dirty homes or associated with lower-income families. They are an equal-opportunity pest! Bed bugs are easily transported in luggage or on clothing, where they quickly invade mattresses.
Once you bring this used mattress into your home, a few bugs from the mattress will spread to your couch, other bedrooms, and beyond. A female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. All it takes is for one or two of those eggs to be on the mattress, hatch, and find their way throughout your home. This will be a disaster! When you end up spending hundreds or thousands on pest removal to get rid of a bed bug infestation, you won’t feel like you saved money on that used mattress.
#2 It could be too old to be supportive.
The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every seven to 10 years, depending on comfort and support. If the person is getting rid of the mattress because it’s not comfortable and supportive to them anymore, that means you’re buying a used mattress for sale that’s already past its prime. Think of it as spending money on expired food or a broken-down car. Even if it’s less expensive than buying a new mattress, it’s a waste of money in the long run. Why? Because you don’t need a mattress; you need a new mattress!
#3 It won’t be the perfect mattress for you.
Not all mattresses are the same! When you see “used mattress for sale,” you should know that you need much more information than that. What brand is it? Is it memory foam, latex, or innerspring? Is it a Firm mattress or a Plush mattress? This is only the beginning! Your comfort feel is a personal preference. That is why at City Mattress, we have everything from Pillow Top mattresses to Extra Firm mattresses and everything in between. After asking you a few questions, they’ll point you in the direction of a few mattress options. The entire shopping experience will be much quicker and more stress-free than you imagine right now.
While a garage sale or thrift store may be a fantastic place to buy a bicycle or Tupperware set for less than you’d have to pay brand new, it is absolutely not the place to buy a mattress. Bringing someone else’s mattress into your home is a huge risk! If you’re considering buying a used mattress for sale because you’re worried about the cost of a new mattress, know that it doesn’t need to be this way.
We pride ourselves on having new mattress options for all budgets. Take a look at the Corsicana brand, where there are several Queen mattress options under $500 and all of them under $1,000. Renue is another fantastic option for price-sensitive shoppers. If you want a top brand at a price much lower than retail, we encourage you to visit one of our clearance centers. Some of these mattresses have been laid on or slept on briefly and returned, but they’re not “used.” All of the mattresses in our clearance centers have been inspected and sanitized, so there’s nothing to worry about. When you shop at City Mattress, a limited budget doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice quality and hygiene!