# "do not remove" tags **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769 "2003-05-27T14:22:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/1 "2003-05-27T14:22:24Z")
what exactly is the purpose of those “do not remove” tags on matresses and pillows? it’s confused me since i was 6. why are they there and why shouldn’t we remove them? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/2 "2003-05-27T14:24:25Z")
welcome to the SDMB. You can remove them once you have purchased the mattress. It is the merchant who cannot remove them and the purpose is so that you, the customer, can read them. Simple, huh? ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/3 "2003-05-27T14:26:22Z")
why would you want to read them, though? is this some kind of conspiracy i should know about?☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/4 "2003-05-27T14:31:03Z")
Apparently you haven’t ever read them. 🙂 They contain a list of materials used and a manufacturer’s assurance that the materials listed are accurate. That way you know exactly what’s in the thing you’re purchasing. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/5 "2003-05-27T14:33:21Z")
So you know what they are made of. If you have a severe silk alergy it would be not good to get a silk pillow. More likely US companies wanted to make sure that patriotic customers are assured to know they are getting genuine domestic goods. And it is worth repeatuing. the warnings says do not remove **except by the consumer**. so go ahear and remove. brian ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/6 "2003-05-27T14:36:02Z")
what kind of person wouldn’t know what silk is if they are allergic to it? look at it. its silk. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/7 "2003-05-27T14:39:02Z")
The tag can get more specific than what is on the outside of an item. A pillow could have something **inside** it (i.e., the stuffing) to which the consumer may be allergic and might experience a reaction if he or she sleeps on it. The tag would list this. ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/8 "2003-05-27T14:41:21Z")
:smack: i feel so stupid!:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/9 "2003-05-27T14:45:41Z")
It appears that the exception for consumes became common about 15 years ago, or earlier, as this _Fortune Magazine_ [story](http://www.fortune.com/fortune/articles/0,15114,367625,00.html) is from 2001. > [@](#): > > In fact, about 15 years ago the language on the tag was changed to ease the minds of guilt-ridden consumers. . . . The tags first appeared around the turn of the century to inform buyers of a mattress’ contents. Back then, bedding was sometimes stuffed with materials that might have carried disease or vermin. Today the tag simply proves that the mattress is new, not second-hand. The article notes that the FBI isn’t on the case, but that some states - Texas is named - do check stores to make sure the tag is still attached. ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/10 "2003-05-27T14:49:10Z")
hold on. i live in Texas. so if i owned a matress store and there was one with no tag, i would get arrested? what kind of law is this? we call this a free nation? im going to cuba!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/11 "2003-05-27T16:15:47Z")
It’s not a criminal offense in Texas, but a person can be fined up to $25,000 for each violation of the Texas statutes, Chapter 345, “Bedding”. [Read all about it](http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/cqcgi?CQ_SESSION_KEY=URBTKOMLLGJS&CQ_QUERY_HANDLE=124228&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1&CQ_TLO_DOC_TEXT=YES). ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/12 "2003-05-27T16:31:51Z")
Those tags also show a model name of the mattess, warranty information, where manufactured and the date of manufacture. If you ever need to call a mattress manufacturer for warranty service, the first thing asked is that the tag is intact. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/13 "2003-05-27T16:39:56Z")
But that would mean that if you removed it (you, the consumer), you’d void the warranty? Hm. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/14 "2003-05-27T17:32:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*But that would mean that if you removed it (you, the consumer), you’d void the warranty? Hm. \*\* I cannot speak for all manufacturers, but in Sealy’s case, yep, you were pretty much screwed. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/15 "2003-05-27T18:23:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CJo \* > \*\*hold on. i live in Texas. so if i owned a matress store and there was one with no tag, i would get arrested? what kind of law is this? we call this a free nation? im going to cuba!:eek: \*\* You have a problem with laws aimed at protecting consumers? I want to know if something is cotton or silk or rayon. “Free country” does not mean “lawless country”. If you want that kind of freedom I highly recommend Afghanistan. But I get a feeling you wouldn’t last long there. ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/16 "2003-05-27T21:45:44Z")
i was just joking about the cuba thing. What if i had accidentally removed the tag in some way… i would have to pay all that money? thats crazy!:mad: ---
**Author:** ![CJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/17 "2003-05-27T21:59:22Z")
forgive me, i’m blonde. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/18 "2003-05-27T22:11:20Z")
To answer your hypothetical question… IF you had a mattress store and somehow a tag was “accidentally” removed from the mattress, you would have to contact your mfg rep and arrange for a replacement. I do not think that you could legally sell that mattress. However, those tags are sewn on pretty good, so it would almost have to be intentional. IF you had a mattress store and a mattress came in without the tag, the mattress police are not going to come in right away and arrest you. You would be able to present your case, and you would of course have back up reciepts of your legal purchase from the mfg. The mattress police do not lurk around corners waiting for you to tear off the tag, as opposed to what you have seen on TV. IANAL, but IF you sold a mattress without a tag intentionally, AND you were reported, you could be charged with fraud/intention to deceive. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/19 "2003-05-28T00:25:09Z")
**CJo** , just to remind you again: These laws apply to mattress _sellers_, not to consumers. You are free to rip any label off your own mattress as you wish. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769/20 "2003-05-28T02:01:33Z")
Aha! But what if you were selling it, like on ebay? Hm? What then? 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-remove-tags/177769.md?page=2)