Posted on 01/07/2009 10:54:31 AM PST by Question Liberal Authority
Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - Families who depend on thrift stores and consignment shops for kid's clothing could lose that option in a few weeks.
That’s because a new federal safety law is written so broadly, it could force these stores to stop selling kids clothes entirely.
The new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act takes effect February 10. It requires any store to certify that clothing sold for children 12 and under is free of dye laced with lead or other chemicals.
Beth green smith owns the golden hangers consignment store in western lights:
“When you're talking about consignment, it's not like you're rolling in dough,” says Beth Green, owner of the Golden Hangers consignment store in Western Lights. “Fifty percent is going right back out to the consigner, so you don't have a lot of extra cash to perform this test.”
Smith says unless the feds loosen the new rules, she'll have to stop selling children's clothing, which comprises a good chunk of her business.
“This economy's tough, and a lot of people come in here for the kids' clothes, playclothes. Somebody just left with a pair of snowpants for her grandson -- and all of that could go away,” says Smith.
At Golden Hangers, about 12 percent of their business comes from the 12-and-under childrens' market. All of those clothes will have to be disposed of somehow -- if not sold before February 10, they’d likely be thrown away.
But other stores depend almost entirely on that 12-and-under market.
“There's consignment stores out there that specialize in children's clothing. I guess they'll have to close the door, they can't afford to pay to have it tested,” Smith says.
The new law was passed after lead and other chemicals were found in mostly Chinese-made toys and clothing.
Consignment store owners say the law was a good idea that went too far.
Tuesday afternoon, a Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesperson told NewsChannel 9 "the Commission is aware of the impact of the new law on small businesses...and is exploring whether there is any flexibility in the law."
With the deadline just five weeks away, the CPSC says this is a top issue that they are currently exploring.
Nothing like making a federal case out of buying secondhand sweatshirts.
OH MY GOD!!
This is broader than I knew!!
In the Wall Street Journal, Rick Woldenberg was quoted as describing February 10, 2009 as National Bankruptcy Day because that’s the day when many of us will go out of business due to the implementation of the CPSIA Regulations... Come February 10th, a lot of people will be hit hard by reality when their products are returned or their financing is declined.
To recap, this law was passed (424 votes to 1) to protect children from unsafe toys after last year’s widely publicized recalls (by the way, recalls have actually decreased by 46%). What few consumers realize is this legislation affects more than toys. What few clothing manufacturers realize is this also affects them. Of the ones who do know, most of them think it only applies to children’s clothes. Other than apparel the law includes diapers, blankets (housewares), books, videos, computer and electronic products, strollers, cribs, car seats, and anything humans come in contact with in their environment. Our objections are not higher standards for product safety or even the costs involved per se. The problem is Congress wrote the law and forced the CPSC to implement it before the regulations were written. These regulations are not written by people who are familiar with manufacturing and thus, impose unnecessary burdens
Lets see - I grew up with second hand cigarette smoke, lead based paint, DDT, bikes with no helmets, dirt clod wars that were “epic” in their ferocity, BB gun fights, tons of sugar cereal, lawn jarts, mini bikes and go-karts with no roll bars, and a huge bag of powerful fireworks I saved all year for.
How the heck are we still alive???
I don’t know what everyone’s all upset about. The USSR government was able to provide its population with all the basic needs:
Public transportation (just remain patient with the crowding and long repair waits).
Food (maybe you had to wait in line for bread, but there were plenty of beets, potatoes and cabbage)
One winter coat and one set of bed linens is plenty. Just drink some vodka if you get chilly.
Cars, TVs, Black Sea vacations were easily available (to apparatchiks, anyway).
/sarc
We had junky toy from Japan, not China.
I'm going to be one of the people joining the riots if this actually goes through.
So true LOL
“dirt clod wars that were “epic” in their ferocity”
LOL
The only thing that’s going to kill us now is the Gov’t.
“unintended”
No. Very much as designed. Just look at how much companies like EA are against the selling of used console games.
They think if sell of used products goes away then people will be forced to buy new.
Pssst! Hey Steve, wanna buy a slightly used kids winter coat? I got a ton of 'em in the back of my van. Make me an offer. < /sarcasm>
This may sound silly, but unless they correct this mess, I can see black market outlets for kids clothes popping up all over this country.
There are a couple of animal shelters in our area that are supported by clothing donations that are sold to the public. More genius from DC...
This is going to be a big-ass boon to the Asian sweat shops that furnish cheapy merchandise for the discount stores. The corrupt morons in Congress earn every dime they get from foreign sources.
“4 million jobs and small businesses at risk”
ironic that so many business owners and employees who’ll be affected were among the fanatics who helped push this law through.
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