Sunday, January 04, 2009

The government is preventing us from reselling baby stuff?!?

This has to be the craziest thing I have ever heard..from the article:

I want to be clearer and more specific about the effect the CPSIA (Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act) will have on reselling when it goes into effect on February 10. As clear as I can be, that is, since it seems there's an awful lot of confusion.

You will no longer be able to place used children's clothes or toys into the "stream of commerce" unless you can prove that they've been tested for lead and pthalates. Items manufactured after Feb. 10 will boast a permanent tracking label which will do just that. As I and others understand it, that means no selling items without such proof on ebay, Craigslist, yard sales, and church/organization consignment sales (See if your favorite sales are still scheduled). Of course, that means no buying kids' clothes and toys without the label from these sources either.


The link is here.

edited to add: That will this mean for parents? What will this mean for small, local businesses? I have started a new etsy addiction. What will happen to those people?

What are your thoughts on this? I was looking forward to eventually selling the boys' things after our next (and probably last, if we are graced to get PG again,) child.

6 comments:

Elyse said...

I don't like this...I don't like this at all!
~Elyse~

Manday said...

I went and started to read the actual legislation today and I am not sure the implications are as far reaching as some websites are claiming. It certainly has the implications for used good you have posted (which will not be an issue on new items, just old items), but also some of the language specifically refers to imports, which would mean American etsy producers, etc, would not be included. Of course I am no lawyer, and I did not read the whole thing.

Safire said...

I know! I saw this today too. I'm heart sick because I buy all of my kids clothes second hand. I hope they change this.

Annie said...

This is terrible because not everyone can buy new things.

Have a nice week.

Sandi said...

I guess I see this from both sides of the argument. As a parent of twins, the idea of buying EVERYTHING new makes me gasp for air and reach for a paper bag....and so does the idea of not being able to sell things we're finished using to the local resell shop.

On the other hand, I wouldn't want my children to suffer because of anything I purchased for them that was a problem, either.

ThePreemie Experiment said...

I think it is a very unrealistic expectation, on the part of the government. I tried mucking through their website and they sure don't make it easy to find the information.

http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

Our daughter was given so much as a baby and toddler. I can't even imagine if we would have had to throw it all away.

Yes, I'd like to be protected against someone selling something that had a high lead content, but heck, even the government isn't doing a good job of keeping the new toys/clothes with high lead content out of our stores.