Comments on: Hand-Me-Down Clothes in the Post Hand-Me-Down Era: Consumer Protectionism Gone Too Far?

By: mandolin

mandolin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:53:01 +0000

I find this very interesting. I did not know much about lead in clothes until this post. I do know, because I work in environmental cancer research, that our clothes are filled with chemicals to prevent wrinkling and keep them shiny. I always was happier giving my child used clothes knowing that most of the chemicals washed off by the time she got them. You are always supposed to wash new clothes to reduce chemical exposures.btw

A lot of people are angry about these new changes but I think protecting children is more important than a dollar value. I do not know how much lead is most clothes nor what the long term risks are with average exposures, and it may be that noone knows. However as a baby of 80s, I know I am filled with chemicals, PCBs and DDT….and I would rather avoid any other exposure for both myself and my daughter. Now this is after watching my mom go through chemo twice…and interviewing lots of women who are in cancer treatment.

If you have kids and are broke just stock up before then on used clothes. Ask for free piles in the sizes you need on your local craigslists. Go to canada and buy at used shops if you are on the border. You can also make friends with other parents and hand down the new clothes. Its not the end of the world…just get creative.

If you are not flat broke…you may pay a little more for clothes…but big deal. I would rather pay more and deal with less toxic issues for my kids. Speaking of which, when can we take the chemicals out of the clothes?

By: chinese clothing

chinese clothing — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:46:22 +0000

Of course some big brand companies did have the ability to deal with these tests, but these tests will rise to the additional costs onto consumers. And some small workshops or small companies, there is no ability to deal with these tests, does not mean that their products will certainly have problems.

In today’s economic circumstances, as a consumer, I also hope that the consumer has a transparent rather than compulsory.

By: cece portell

cece portell — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:27:54 +0000

I believe this law was developed for the benefit of the large merchants. You know the ones that sold us all of the “lead contaminated clothes” to begin with. Are they taking responsibility in reimbursing the public for their mistake? I don’t think so. Instead they are passing a law which makes it imposible to donate or resell the clothes that they have sold us, as our children out grow them. They will put the smaller thrift shops out of business. A lot of parents clothe their children from these stores because they are more affordable. By driving these small shops out of business they will raise the cost of children’s clothes to outragous prices. Who benefits from that? The stores that sold us the “Contaminated clothes”.

By: Tass

Tass — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:35:10 +0000

PHWEEP! Guys, it’s a bit of a myth. Check it: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/cpsia.asp

By: Wear It Again Kids

Wear It Again Kids — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:23:46 +0000

I just opened a small children’s consignment boutique 8 months ago. This has been a dream of mine for a long time. I have a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this business and I am struggling to get it up and running. This will be devastating to my shop as well as thousands of other consignment shops throughout the US. Thrift stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army and more.. we all need to take a stand and write to our congressman. Go to NARTS.org website and sign the petition..please. It only takes a moment. There are so many more “Big” things that the government should be focusing on..child abuse, second hand smoke, the real things that can harm our children. Not the cute little dress that someone buys for their little girl.

By: mom of four

mom of four — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:12:06 +0000

I looked into this and made some phone calls. The law is not what many think. Used children’s clothing already in our country will be able to be sold secondhand. After February 10, when goods enter our country they must be checked. Google this law and find the gov’t site and call for yourself. I did.

By: Mara

Mara — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:26:24 +0000

My home-based business of my own designs of handmade children’s dress-up tutus has been paying our mortgage and family bills for the last 5 years. When I first heard about the CPSIA, I couldn’t believe it! I read the actually wording of the law online and was appalled!

The strict testing requirements will not only be impossible for me as a micro-manufacturer to afford, but will also make it illegal for ANY business in the entire USA to sell ANY item for children under age 12, unless each individual product is tested and certified to be lead-free and phthalate-free.

Imagine going into ANY store in the entire USA and not being able to find ANY children’s product ANYWHERE in the store, or online, or at a yard sale, etc. It will be ILLEGAL for ANY retailer to sell an untested children’s item anywhere in the entire country!

Where will we buy our children’s diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, bibs, pajamas, clothes, socks, shoes, coats, boots, toys, dolls, books, quilts, blankets, cribs, highchairs, carseats, strollers, tricycles, bikes, etc. after Feb. 10th when it will be ILLEGAL for any retailer to sell them???

Unless each and every individual item is tested and proven to be lead-free, it will be against the law for ANY children’s product to be sold. So we, the parents, will be unable to purchase ANYTHING for our children until each item has undergone expensive testing, which of course is so unrealistic that it is practically impossible!

This law is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of, and unless it is amended or repealed before Feb. 10th, it will either empty EVERY real or virtual store in the USA of every single children’s product, or it will turn thousands of manufacturers and retailers in the country into outlaws, if they sell even ONE untested item intended for use by children under age 12.

WAY TO GO, CONGRESS!!!!!!

By: Billie

Billie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:22:31 +0000

This sounds to me like RETAIL CLOTHING MFG and sellers have a BIG LOBBY in Washington to make sure they sell their products NEW to the customer and cut out the economic frugality of USED children’s clothing that keeps most parents afloat when a growing child wears 3 or 4 different sizes in a year’s time. I sincerely believe that the law should be ammended to EXCLUDE used children’s clothing for the sake of the parent who cannot afford the $100 athletic shoes that will fit for 6 months or the $50 Name brand shirt that will be stained and faded in 3 months. If this law goes into effect, it is my belief that the RETAIL PRICES of children’s clothing will RISE worse than gas prices rose last fall.

By: DeputyHeadmistress

DeputyHeadmistress — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:57:58 +0000

Snopes has been wrong before- I think they have a touch of awe for the cult of the expert and argument from authority- and they are certainly wrong again on the CPSIA.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:10:52 +0000

Per Snopes.com, this is false

By: liz valdez

liz valdez — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:47:40 +0000

many famliys have no money to buy full price cloths.we cant afford to.most of us live on a buget.We depend on 2nd hand stores,yard sales,ect…Are you going to cloth our children? or give us refund checks to buy our kids their cloths?What are we suppose to do? Most of us dont make enough money to cloth our children some.And now with people out of jobs what are they suposse to do?You cant do this to the children just because you can affrord to cloth your children.Its not fair to this to them.And instead of throwing the cloths to the land feilds take the cloths to mexico they dont have any laws about cloths.They apreceate the cloths we give them.No one thought of the children in all aspects.yes i understand the lead situations but you should have had clothing factorys label the cloths as to what it was made of.and we wouldnt have this problem.

By: LINDA

LINDA — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:09:21 +0000

Get the government off the backs of native americans and other crafts people who sell clothes and toys

Lead is more likely from china..let’s boycott China goods if the US is doing this to us!!!!
http://WWW.ENCHANTED-MERMAID.COM

By: Tonya

Tonya — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:31:53 +0000

COMMENT #155 – yes, I’ve read the law very closely. This law is retroactive which means items SOLD after February 10th, even if they are MANUFACTURED BEFORE FEBRUARY 10TH. this is not a case of spreading undue panic. This is very real for those of us who own businesses that are affected.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:41:19 +0000

THE CPSC press release DOES NOT say that resale shops are exempt!!!!!! It says, and I quote from their press release “The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory”. “However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing”. “Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties”.

In other words, if we don’t KNOW that it has no trace amounts, then we can’t legally sell it. We would have to question every clothing item with decoration, writing on them, cute buttons, etc. There is no way to KNOW without testing, and you can’t do your own testing, either. It must be done by a government certified lab.

We are very careful at our store to check all recalls. We automatically get email notices from the CPSC on new recalls. We would never sell anything we thought could endanger a child. Funny how we never heard about this new law until last week a customer asked us about it, nothing from CPSC until their press release with “clarification”, which didn’t clarify.

We know they are not going to be actually “policing” second hand stores, but we operate our business legally, following the laws. This law has good intent, but I believe Congress did not truly think it through.

We will no longer be able to carry hair bows in our store because the small business that makes them can in no way afford testing. This is ridiculous! People should be making informed purchases, they should know that they are purchasing a used item, and that it possibly could contain contaminants according to the government, and then make their choice. This law wrongfully puts many small companies that make products that are safe, but cannot afford testing, out of business (like hair bows and other craft type items).

PLEASE, CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMEN!!!!! They are the only ones that can amend this law. They should exclude resale stores, and the law should NOT be retroactive.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:39:51 +0000

This is an article from snopes.com, confirming that CPSC will not be requiring testing on used items.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/cpsia.asp

By: Carlos

Carlos — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:07:50 +0000

Another article on the subject:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift9-2009jan09,0,7588285.story

Second-hand shops are reportedly exempt…

By: Stacey

Stacey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:10:01 +0000

I believe that the government should put some trust into the parents of the children. And let us think of their safety, but not purchasing something that we believe would be harmful to our families.
I grew up on hand me downs and my daughter is as well.
To tell us that we can not resale the items that we have now, is basically telling us to throw away money. Many families rely on selling their many children items that we accumulate, to purchase more items, because they grow so quickly.
If I had to purchase everything new, even on just titems that we NEED then I would go broke. Times are tough as it is, why would the government try to push this on us. It may comes down to us moving out of our house and in with family to make sure that the governement gets it’s way.
Whcih by the way, will not happen. I believe that the parents make the right choices on what will not harm their families.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:51:18 +0000

Please don’t be misled by the press release regarding resale stores issued by the CPSC. That is all it is, a press release, not a change to the law. Unless a real change is made all resale stores will be selling “banned hazardous substances” on February 10th. The scope of products impacted is enormous. It applies to ALL products intended for use by children 12 and under. Clothing, shoes, books, bedding, furniture, toys, you name it. And because the law applies retroactively, it requires that all new children’s products sitting on retailer’s shelves have the required certification. Since this certification hasn’t been required, most products don’t have it. So your local Target, Walmart, Toys R US, etc. will also have shelves full of hazardous waste on 2/10. All the kids books and videos at Borders, Half Price Books, also hazardous waste. The law also applies to children’s products that are given away, so if your church group makes baby blankets for a homeless shelter they must be able to certify the lead content in the blankets or be breaking the law.
It will be lights out for the majority of small businesses who manufacture children’s products because they can’t afford testing. Even if all their raw materials are certified, the product they create must be certified again. Every size, every color, every batch.

Stay at home moms who make hair bows will be subject to the same testing criteria as the large toy companies who manufacture in China and created this whole mess to begin with. The little guys will be gone and China will still be there producing 100% of our children’s products.

Everyone wants to insure our children’s safety. This poorly written law unfortunately is not the solution.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:58:40 +0000

DO NOT FALL FOR THE CPSC ‘STATEMENT’!!!

Nothing has changed people. It DOES AFFECT US and YOU parents and consumers, and our landfills.

The CPSC/GOVT was being so inundated with calls and letters that they tried to make us shut up. So they put on spin -but THE LAW HAS NOT CHANGED no matter what your congressperson or the CPSC wants to LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE!

They say we ‘don’t have to test’ – but what they didn’t tell you CLEARLY in their statement was this issue in the law is poorly written. We DO HAVE TO HAVE A REASONABLE TESTING PROGRAM and if ANYTHING, any ONE PART of ANY item for a kid age 12 and under contains more than the new, even lower limit of lead of 600 ppm it is a banned hazardous substance AND WE FACE $100,000 fine per violation and jail.

They ‘SAY’ we should just ‘be careful’ about what we sell and they don’t INTEND to ‘go after’ us. But it the STATES ATTORNEY GENERALS charged with enforcement of this law.

IF THE GOVERNMENT/CPSC IS ’saying’ THEY WILL NOT PROSECUTE US, then why don’t they CHANGE THE STUPID LAW SO IT READS THAT WAY. Their press release/statement was pure political spin.

Please, sorry for caps, but the media is spreading these falsehoods in order to make us stop calling and emailing and sending letters and it distresses me so much to see it working!

Read this article! It will show you how this law will affect EVERYTHING for a kid under 12 and YOU, yes YOU!

‘CONGRESS BANS KIDS FROM LIBRARIES?
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/74940-Congress-bans-kids-from-libraries/

This law DOES affect children’s books as well!

So insidious this spin and hype by politicos. Will you allow yourself to be fooled by believing everything you hear? Please!

Write, CALL (that really annoys them – but be prepared they will tell you it doesn’t apply or some such crapola but the law has NOT changed). The only way to fix this is for Congress to amend the law. the CPSC has no authority to do that despite what they may lead you to believe by putting out statements and such.

Visit http://www.savekidsresale.com and with a couple of clicks send a letter to your legislators. Please help us keep up the momentum!

Thanks, and again, sorry for the caps but I am beside myself trying to fight the misinformation.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:35:54 +0000

The CPSC issued a statement saying that the bill will not effect resale shops. Kind of.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html