Futon Blog

In my line of work I run into quite a few customers who browse online classifieds, as well as my sites looking for deals. Sometimes my prices are higher than the used futons that can be found online, but in quite a few cases my new futons can be lower then some of those used futons.

I have to say right off the bat that used futon mattresses really frighten me. I worked for years in a Northampton Massachusetts futon store, and in my time on the delivery truck have removed quite a few futon mattresses from customer homes. Let’s just say, there’s a good reason some of the mattresses were labeled “used” futons. Most I wouldn’t touch without gloves (there’s nothing quite like removing someones home birth mattress)! And this is often the type of used futon mattress you’ll find on free classifieds like Craigslist. When shopping for a used futon mattress, make sure it comes from a home with no pets and that you can go to the location to pick it up. A futon from a house with pets or unsavory conditions is the modern equivalent of the trojan horse. You never know how many squatters might be holed up in a used futon, but looking at the space might just give you a little piece of mind before bringing any used mattress back to your space.

So, lets look at the pro’s and con’s of buying a used futon from a free classified ad.

The Pro’s:

1. Often you can find a good deal. Not all used futons are a bad thing. If you can find a clean frame and mattress you’re doing alright.
2. You aren’t contributing to consumerism. Reusing is a great practice, if you can make it work or your family and home.
3. You might find a very high quality used futon mattress, that would cost quite a bit more if it were brand new. These finds are rare but are out there if you do your research

The Con’s:

1. Used mattresses can have all sorts of critters in them that you wouldn’t want to touch, let alone bring into your house.
2. Make sure you can take the futon cover off any used futon mattress you might be interested in buying. Futon covers on used futons are an effective smoke screen for sellers that want to hide accidents and other “bodily fluids” that might be in their futon. Yuck.
3. Your “new” used futon probably won’t last as long as a new futon, so be realistic about what you’re getting.

Keeping these simple tips in mind will help you find the right futon, whether you’re looking for something used or brand new. Good luck and happy hunting.