Are you thinking of selling a used mattress? You’re in for the shock of your life! You’ve probably heard that a car loses 10 percent of its value the moment it leaves the dealership.
Well, the reality is that mattresses depreciate much more dramatically.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve slept on the mattress. You can expect to receive offers significantly lower than how much you paid for it. This is why many brands would rather donate returned mattresses than try to resell them.
So, how much do used mattresses depreciate? Well, the answer is about 80-90 percent. You may get slightly better prices for Tempur-Pedic and other popular brands, but the depreciation can be much higher for generic models from a brand nobody recognizes.
How to Slow Down the Depreciation of Your Mattress
It is impossible to prevent a mattress from depreciation. But if you have plans of selling it soon, finding ways to slow down the depreciation rate can be critical. Here are the tried and tested tips to get the best value for used mattresses.
1. Keep the Tags and Packaging
If you have plans to sell your mattress in the future, keeping the tags and other packaging material can be critical. Many potential buyers will look out for tags and boxes so keeping them intact can help make your listing more attractive.
Also, the tags and packaging can give a sense of authenticity to your mattress. This is especially true when you own a brand name model such as Tempur-Pedic. Such brands are masters of packaging so boxing your mattress right can shoot up its value significantly.
2. Use a Mattress Topper or Pad
Mattress toppers or pads are a must-have for extracting maximum value from your second-hand mattresses. Toppers or pads protect the mattress from making contact with your body as you sleep.
This provides insulation against exposure to dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, sweat, and stains. For the best results, we recommend that you choose waterproof mattress pads or covers especially if you have young kids at home.
Besides, buffering your mattress also protects them from showing signs of wear and tear such as sagging in the middle.
Always keep in mind that the right mattress pads and protectors can keep your expensive mattress in a mint condition many years after purchasing.
Have you checked out the article we wrote about finding the right mattress protector on the market right now?
3. Always Use Bed Sheets
Sleeping on bare mattresses is the latest trend among Millennials and young people. But that is a big no-no if you have any plans of selling your mattress in the future.
Lying down on your sheet-less bed exposes the mattress to body oils, dirt, grime, and sweats. For pet owners, this makes it easy for your mattress to attract pet dander and other sources of stains.
This habit cannot only lead to an abnormal depreciation of your mattress, but it can also make it completely unsellable. Who do you think would be interested in paying for an overly stained and stench-filled used mattress?
Have you read the article we wrote about sleeping without bedsheets? Click here to find out the top reasons why it is a terrible practice.
4. Keep Your Mattress Clean and Air it Out
The best way to get good money out of your old mattress is to keep it as clean as possible. Even if you always use bedsheets and lie down on a topper or pad, your mattress can still get exposed to some amount of dust.
As such, regular dust-offs can keep it clean which is healthier for your breathing. Besides, it can also conserve the value of the mattress and slow down its rate of depreciation.
Additionally, try to air out your mattress regularly. Even if it looks spotless, a bit of sunshine and fresh air can be good for it. This can prevent bad odors and the risk of the mattress developing a stale stench down the line.
5. Keep the Sale Receipts
Your receipts can serve as proof of purchase that can help potential buyers validate the age of your mattress. This can be a great way to sell your mattress for the best price possible.
Receipts come in handy especially when you’re trying to sell mattresses which have only been in use for a few weeks or months.
6. Read the Warranty and Stick to the Terms
Reading the warranty details is one of the most popular recommendations experts give for new mattress buyers. Beyond that, sticking to these terms can help your mattress stay in the best shape which means relatively minimal depreciation.
Failure to do this can result in a quick deterioration of your mattress, making it more impossible to sell.
Where to Sell Used Mattresses
Thinking about selling your slightly used mattress? You’re in for a wild ride! Regardless of the bleak market outlook for second-hand mattresses, know that many people successfully sell theirs for cash every day.
Here are the best platforms for flipping old mattresses.
1. Friends and Family
This is one of the easiest but most overlooked ways to sell any slightly used personal item. If you have friends and family who might need a new mattress, you could easily sell it to them. They may even be aware of the order history and how little you may have used it which can be a good bargaining chip for you.
Sure, you might receive a lower-than-expected price but you can take pride in the fact that your mattress ended up with somebody you know and care about.
Neighbors can be another great option when you’re looking to exchange an old mattress for some cash. For instance, you can speak to those living across the street to inquire if they might be interested. You never know, you could be in luck by getting someone close to make an acceptable offer.
Remember, selling a second-hand mattress to somebody you know can save you lots of money and time.
2. Second-Hand Furniture Stores
Second-hand furniture stores can be a great source of quick cash for your used mattress. These stores are available in many large cities.
Are you struggling to find a used furniture store? A quick Google search should help you with that.
Be sure to call ahead and find out if they might be interested in buying your old mattress. Once they give a positive response, you can walk in there and talk to the manager or whoever is in charge. Do not forget to take along some proof such as clear pictures of the current state of the mattress as well as details like purchase receipts.
Just be aware that these second-hand stores will offer a low ball price without much room to haggle. Their business model entails buying used items at the lowest price possible and reselling much higher to turn a profit.
3. Consignment Shop
If you’re not in a hurry to receive cash from your used mattress, consignment shops can be a great option. These are used furniture stores that do not buy second-hand items outright. Instead, they list the item for sale and make a commission on the sale price.
This can be a better option in terms of how much money you receive from your mattress. But it could take some time before your mattress sells. If money is tight, you may want to look at other outright sale options since it is no secret that the demand for used mattresses is far from high.
Also, consignment stores have higher requirements in terms of mattress age, value, and brand recognition. Most stores would only take in your mattress if it is an expensive brand in a superb like-new condition.
4. Craigslist
People list their used mattresses for sale on Craigslist and other online classifieds websites all the time. Such listings can offer you an effortless way to get rid of your old mattress and make some money in the process.
Be sure to provide lots of pictures and details about the price. Also, set conditions that can protect you from scams and unscrupulous people. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is.
eBay and the Facebook Marketplace are additional platforms for selling your slightly used mattresses. If you’re a member of relevant Facebook groups, you could find a buyer by posting details about your mattress over there.
How to Sell Used Mattress
You’ve decided that getting some cash for your used mattress is better than nothing. Shall we take a look at the steps you can follow to sell your mattress?
1. Local laws
Mattresses are personal items and some states explicitly forbid their sale. If you live in one of those states, it is important to abandon your dream of making any money from the mattress.
Instead, look at ways to donate the mattress to a homeless shelter or another charity that takes in such items.
Also, speak to your accountant about how to make your donation tax-deductible. You could even end up saving more from your good deed compared to selling it.
However, if your state laws allow selling your old mattress then you can proceed to the next steps below.
2. Set the Price
How much can you make from your old mattress? It is important to be realistic during this step. Often, the prices for old mattresses range from $50-$250. Regardless of how much you may have paid, note that buyers have the upper hand in the used mattress market.
You can get an idea of how much to target by looking on Craigslist and eBay for the prices of similar mattresses in similar physical conditions.
Another good tip is to pop into a used mattress store that sells these mattresses for an idea of how much to price your mattress.
You can also get insights into the value of your mattress through an online used furniture calculator. These calculators can give you an idea of how much your old mattress is worth.
Always remember, a potential buyer is likely to haggle your asking price so make room for that without overpricing your mattress.
3. List It
Once you determine how much your mattress is worth, the next thing is to list it on your favorite online marketplace. Be sure to include as much information as possible including multiple pictures, videos, and other multi-media.
Also, state the purchase date of the mattress and how long you slept on it. Showing copies of your receipts and any additional details that can make your listing more attractive may be helpful too. Here’s a summary of the details that should appear in your listing.
- Original purchase price
- How often you slept on the mattress
- Which part of your home the mattress was kept (eg. guest bedroom)
- Location of the mattress
- Shipping terms
- Possible Pickup dates
- Mode of payment (Cash, Paypal)
Conclusion
Mattresses do depreciate rapidly but the right techniques can help you slow down the decline rate. Remember, mattresses in terrible physical shapes can be much more difficult to sell because most people find the idea of sleeping on previously owned models revolting.
This is why it is important to keep yours in the best shape possible. Sometimes, throwing in a deal sweetener such as free shipping can improve your chances of making a quick sale.
