can't resell kids items? - Page 3

[grniys]

Originally Posted by stickywicket67

what i think it means is that consignment stores and thrift stores get single items from consignors/donators. in other words- "one of a kind".

often big thrift stores buy new items in job lots from manufacturers or in the case of a consignment shop some will supplement their used inventory with new socks, tights and barrettes. those are not considered "one of a kind" items as they are bought in bulk quantities and they are placed on the floor and sold as new.

in the article Goodwill says that those products make up only 10% of their kids merch. i took that to mean that they aren't concerned how the law effects the majority of the stuff on their racks -largely manufactured used clothing and toys.

very confusing indeed.

I took the wording of the article to mean that only 10% of their merchandise is one of a kind used, and therefore allowed. So that would mean the additional 90% would have to be tested or dumped.

One thing I think everyone can agree on is this law is sooooo confusing. It's like they took a sledgehammer to a fly with this and didn't realize what it would do.

[Flor]

Ifyou read the thread in Activism, lot of us wrote to our representatives and the response we got it that they all support this. Its easy to say we should keep lead out of kids items, but the results of this law will be terrrible.

[ElliesMomma]

oh, but won't this be a great way to get americans spending money again? : seriously, if everyone has to go out and buy new again, that's like an incredible boon for the children's clothes, toys, etc. industry. disgusting!!

[stickywicket67]

i'm not getting the "retroactive" aspect of this thing that is supposedly going to shut down thrift and consignment stores.

wouldn't that mean that stores like Marshalls, Ross, TJ Maxx, Gap Outlet, every single outlet store would have to dump their inventory that was made before 2/09? or pay thousands of dollars to have it tested? essentially destroying their profit margins yet not a word about it in major newspapers or news channels?

it just doesn't make sense.

[angelpie545]

Well, I just looked at my local Craig'slist and there isn't anything in it about not allowing ads for used children's items any longer. There is an entire kids-baby section open too. I'm quite sure that places like Value Village, Marshalls and that like will continue to stay open, and if the law affects them, there will be HUGE lawsuits, with discrimination to the poor among one of the top accusations.

[Flor]

Here's mainstream media. Its LA Times and it says thrift stores will have to dump their stock of children's items:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,2083247.story


Here's NPR, though a lot of articles just deal with the postives of the law. Check out the comments at the bottom. The discussion is happening, but the media isn't picking up on it much:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=98643877


And here is just a list of press coverage:
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/press-coverage

[mamazee]

I would think "retroactive" would apply to things that have been manufactured but not yet sold. I can't imagine it applying to garage sales - not enforceable at all - though maybe it could to resale shops.

The law is a problem. I've read about it several places. It's like the organic laws that do nothing to help with providing organic food for people or protecting organic farmers, but instead seem to make it impossible for small farmers to be able to label their organic goods "organic." Big businesses can handle regulations that small companies can't.

[Flor]

Except that small farms can still sell their products, just not labeled as organics. These toys will be illegal to sell! It seems unbelievable!

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Flor

Except that small farms can still sell their products, just not labeled as organics. These toys will be illegal to sell! It seems unbelievable!

Yes it is worse, although the lack of an organic label will possibly put some of those farms out of business, so it isn't as simple as just selling as non-organic. Some of them exist simply because people want their *organic* goods.

[NettleTea]

[NettleTea]

I just had a thought. Why can't this law apply only to imported toys and clothes? That would fix about 90-95% of the problem.

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by Grylliade

I just had a thought. Why can't this law apply only to imported toys and clothes? That would fix about 90-95% of the problem.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by Grylliade

I just had a thought. Why can't this law apply only to imported toys and clothes? That would fix about 90-95% of the problem.

Because that would make China unhappy and our government wants to bend over backwards to keep them happy.

[Flor]

Originally Posted by Grylliade

I just had a thought. Why can't this law apply only to imported toys and clothes? That would fix about 90-95% of the problem.

That is the suggestion of the Handmade Toy Alliance. Toys made in the US and Europe haven't been (a big) part of the problem.

[NettleTea]

Do I dare ask how this new "law" might affect the trading post?

[jeca]

Wow, just wow. That really makes me nervous. I buy %70 of my kids stuff second hand. Three kids new stuff all the time. I would have to start buying them just cheap new crap rather than quaility second hand.

[firsttimemama]

Is there any suggested action for those of us that don't agree with this? I guess I need to find the activism thread..

[bender]

I found a pdf talking about preparing a company for the changes, and it indicated that only imported items were subject to testing. I was written in August 08, so maybe info has changed?

[Cinder]

Originally Posted by A&A

I don't see all that stuff ending up in a landfill. It will get "passed around" somehow, even if it's not outright resold.

And will ebay just up and die? I don't think so. This sounds like a hoax.

It's definitely not a hoax, but I really think they came out a couple weeks ago to say that resale clothing will not be affected.

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/colu...96355&catid=79

[NettleTea]

Originally Posted by Cinder

It's definitely not a hoax, but I really think they came out a couple weeks ago to say that resale clothing will not be affected.

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/colu...96355&catid=79

Well, that's good news.

How nice of the government to decide for us what we may and may not do in our lives. Right down to the clothes and toys that we buy.



From the article:

It literally took an act of Congress to make retailers sell safer products for children.

I think they have that a little backwards. The problem is the companies that don't manufacture "safer" products. Of course, the retail stores do make a choice when they order in the newest plastic crap instead of safe, natural toys. However, that is not the root of this problem.