It is highly likely you were deceived, although anything is possible, as selling mattresses with a 3.5-year-old manufacture date, an absent date, or a completely cut-off law tag strongly suggests you received floor models, used customer returns, or liquidated stock instead of brand-new products.
There are regulated laws that govern this. Under strict federal and state consumer protection laws, it is illegal for a retailer to remove a mattress’s white law tag before selling it to a consumer.
A missing or defaced tag instantly voids the manufacturer’s warranty, meaning you paid full price for products that arrived pre-voided and may have already begun degrading if stored improperly since 2021.
You should firmly demand that the shop manager provide the original manufacturer invoices, proof of “new” classification, and written confirmation that these units were never in another home.
If the retailer becomes defensive or refuses to offer a full refund or proper replacement, contact your credit card bank immediately to initiate a chargeback for a product “not as described.” I am not sure you have passed some time limit, though.
You can also file a formal deceptive practices complaint with your state’s Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as banks and regulators take missing legal compliance tags very seriously.
Having said this, it all may be overstated as there may have been a simple miscommunication, a part of the initial sales conversation that was missed or something else quite innocent.
Part of the issue is the time lapsed from the original purchase. Although you have a receipt for the puchase date and an existing law tag showing a much older manufacturering date. The other, a case can be made the tag was there and blame you for removing it.
At the end of the day you just want to make your situation corrected. Start with your local shop and document the correspondence.
Best,
Maverick
