Time to get tough on used beds
How do those pesky bedbugs find their way into homes? Sometimes they hitch a ride on a used bed, perhaps one that is passed off as being new.
The International Sleep Products Assn. is concerned about this problem and has launched a new campaign to protect consumers from preventable fire and health risks, including those posed by bedbugs. ISPA is leading efforts in a number of key states to enact new, tougher laws that address the spread of bedbugs in used and renovated mattresses.
The trade association is concerned about "unscrupulous mattress renovators" who simply sew new covers over old, often filthy used mattresses without sanitizing them first or disclosing they are made from used materials.
That is a disgusting practice, and it is one that ISPA is right to tackle. Ideally, used mattresses — and the bedbugs that can inhabit them — should be taken out of circulation. Mattress values are so strong these days that we don't need cheap beds from renovators to meet consumers' needs. And we certainly don't need yucky used beds masquerading as new beds.
http://bunkbedstogo.com/ commented:
Now days, used beds may have bed bugs..haha
Not sure if this is a good idea..
the truth commented:
close your eyes, here's the truth. this legislation's only purpose is to weed out the competition and put more money in certain folks pockets. Bed Bugs cannot live inside of a mattress used or otherwise!!! The can only live on the surface, and the $150 treatment in the laws is something of a miracle substance... no it's alcohol that you could buy for $1 in the drug store. These laws are bad for the low end consumers their supposed to protect. Don't be a shill for these folks dp, get the facts and realize you are being played. The wording of "unscrupulous" should key you off that there is another agenda here. The pesticide and recycling "industry" is sucking you in and you don't even realize it. Get some facts and prove me wrong.
This Just Bugs Me commented:
Bed bugs live in the 5 star luxury hotels and ivy league school dorms and just about everywhere else. While I could care less about whether the renovators are attacked or not---that will not make the problem go away. The bugs are here and they are hitchhiking in suitcases right to your homes. Nobody that reads this buys a renovated mattress--but someone has had an encounter. If the industry really wants to address it---then it had better get real. Legislation? A joke.
bedsellingdaddy commented:
Be like getting manufactures to help pay for warranty claims, inspections, ect. Seems the factories want to give you 2 percnt off wholesale when you get 4 6 8 10 plus percewnt back.
get a clue commented:
lets face it, renovators exist because retailers who haul away old product want to avoid the high cost of disposal (not to mention a bit of cash on the side). likwise, customers who buy from dirty window renovators and porch steps are only getting what they deserve, and are rarely new name-brand mattress shoppers anyway. bed bugs are a world wide issue and cross all economic barriers,(yes even the best most expensive 5 star resort can have a problem with them) but no one is suggesting closing down all hotels. It is simple, major manufacturers want to stop this growing encroachment into their territory without any expense (the definition of political lobbying)and legislate the headache away. What they need to do is share in the expense of disposing of the haul offs propperly, and only sell to retailers who agree to dispose of the used product through their sponsored program.
i'm not holding my breath.
bedbugs commented:
I do disagree with those who say regulation is ineffective, therefore we should never regulate. Nothing like getting a speeding ticket to slow you down--at least for awhile.
And, hmmm, speaking of expecting industry to simply do the right thing without regulatory interference, I do wonder who is selling all that ticking to renovators who reupholster filthy old beds and sell as new?
Steve commented:
Its about time. As a manufacturer in the state of Calif. which has more mattress manufacturers than the rest of the U.S. combined, this is a welcome and long awaited relief. We are inundated with non licensed manufacturers making beds that are unsterilized, and at prices well below fair market value. Hopefully they get it right and enforce these regulations and are able to follow through with this.
Lisa S. commented:
I am so thankful to live and work in NC. Our bedding laws are so strict. It is the best. It also goes back to knowing who you are buying from and who their suppliers are. ISPA needs to tackle it, since some states don't.
Donna Barlett, ViewIT Technologies commented:
This article makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. Thank you for bringing such nasty business to light. Perhaps a 'buyer beware' social media awareness campaign would be the most effective way to bring this to the consumer.
Warren Littrell commented:
I totally agree with you but how do you go about stopping the practices? I can't imagine how may bodies it will take to police this. The last thing we want to do is to put local, state or federal goverments in charge of policing it. We have seen how well they do things in the past. This is a disgusting practice that needs to be stopped.
