thrift stores checking for lead

[Tammy]

I read through this really fast but UGH...  Wonder how much prices will go up. 

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

[Big Daddy Audio]

The nanny state strikes again.

This country is going to govern itself right into extinction.  Some won't be happy until we're all dressed in leaves, and we're living in caves.

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[Lcmsa]

I work in a thrift store and we have stopped accepting toys and baby items because of the lead and the fact that a thrft store was sued for unsafe baby items.  We really can't take the risk. People get really freak out and swear up and down that THEIR stuff is fine. Some people just leave the stuff when we aren't open, which either get thrown away or  given away free. (apparently if you give it away no problem) LCMSA

[valleythriftshopper]

Unfortunately these laws, while well intended, are written by people who are not experts on the issue so they are usually too broad, like this law, or more complicated than they need to be. 

[Big Daddy Audio]

...while well intended...

And we all know about the road to Hell and with what it is paved.

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[Good Buddy]

I recently became aware of this new federal legislation the other day. A thrift store manager told me when I called him to add his location to the directory.
I did find out through some research that a large thrift store chain has lobbyists in congress to try to make things change for the more reasonable.

Unfortunately these laws, while well intended, are written by people who are not experts on the issue so they are usually too broad, like this law, or more complicated than they need to be.

Exactly VTS

What the lobbyists are going to try to do is change the laws so they're more specific and really geared toward more exacting safety precautions. It's just too broad.
What this new law does is it presumes guilt. Rather than making a reasonable law that has specific guidelines, like making sure all childrens clothes and toys have the proper labeling from the original sale. If it's allowed to be sold today, it's marked with proper verbiage. Therefore if a piece of childs clothing is donated and it has the correct labeling still visible, store should be able to sell it. That's it.
It should be very interesting how this turns out.

Here's some more articles on the law that Gary sent me.
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/01/05/thrift-shops-struggle-under-new-phthalate-lead-ban.aspx

http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=23

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977554267&nav=Namespace

[valleythriftshopper]

The nanny state strikes again.

This country is going to govern itself right into extinction.  Some won't be happy until we're all dressed in leaves, and we're living in caves.

SYNT
BFN

Its too bad the goverment has to step in because the private sector (big corporations) screw these things up.  If companies who should have better quality control, like Playskool or whoever put out that Dora the Explorer stuff with lead or Reebok who put 100% lead charms on kids sneakers (a kid died because of it) would be more responsible, public agencies wouldn't have to step in to prevent more deaths/injuries.

[nancydr2]

It seems like the manufacturer should bear the responsibility of their products being lead-free.  Why does the retailer or reseller have to do this?  It's analogous to getting sick from eating in a restaurant and holding the waiter responsible for the food being poisoned. 

Why don't people think things through?

[Good Buddy]

The thrift resale and consignment industries will not be effected apparently. After reading one of the pieces I linked to earlier I saw this link..

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

All is right with the world, for the moment..

[valleythriftshopper]

The thrift resale and consignment industries will not be effected apparently. After reading one of the pieces I linked to earlier I saw this link..

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

All is right with the world, for the moment..

That is good to know.  When they stopped putting out kids toys in thrifts previously it also meant no chance of finding vintage/collectible toys too.  I don't find them often, but when I do it is a real treat!

[daswitzer]

I've read the articles about the bill and found it odd that the child died a "few" years ago.  Did anyone else see that?   
I went thrifting today in a college town and the owner of this really nice, privately owned shop was very concerned about what is going to happen to her shop, as children's clothing and toys make up a large percentage of her sales.  She and another owner were going to meet with a state representative tonight to get all of the details.  Another concern that she had was what was she to do with all of her "under 12" merchandise IF she would be pushed to the point of testing everything for lead.  She said that she could not afford to do this and wondered who would be able to??  Will it get to the point where everything for children that is second-hand will be thrown into a huge bonfire?  I'm hoping that nothing will change in thrift stores concerning this lead issue.  What about rummage sales?  Will people be selling their kid's used tennis shoes in dark alleys?  I don't mean to sound political, but this reminds me of some of the animal bills that have passed in the last few years.  Working with animal rescue, I know a lot of laws that are out there that are just downright unfair.   Has nothing to do with thrifting, but in the town I live in, we are only allowed three pets, but ha ha ha, I have five and they'll have to drag me to jail over this one.  Fortunately, our mayor's wife is an animal rescuer also and our mayor will never enforce this law in our town as long as he is in office.  They have adopted 5 dogs themselves.   As far as I know, we DON'T live in a Communist country!

[valleythriftshopper]

I've read the articles about the bill and found it odd that the child died a "few" years ago.  Did anyone else see that?   

I believe that was the kid who swallowed the charm off the Reebok sneaker that was made of 100% lead (made in China. of course). 

[daswitzer]

Have you heard the phrase "A Slow Boat To China?"  If it gets to the point where no one can resell toys and kid's clothes, lets ship a few million tons of this Chinese junk back where it came from and THEN maybe American businesses will get back on their feet and men and women won't be losing their jobs on a daily basis.   I'm working myself up into a real dither folks!

[SplashsMom]

lets ship a few million tons of this Chinese junk back where it came from... 

I thought about that but "exporting" this stuff is prohibited under the bill.
Was glad to read it is already being amended to exempt thrift stores but don't know the government definition of "thrift."
I was horrified to hear that libraries need to comply with this as well. Will that mean disposing of children's books already owned? 

[Big Daddy Audio]

I've read the articles about the bill and found it odd that the child died a "few" years ago.  Did anyone else see that?   

I believe that was the kid who swallowed the charm off the Reebok sneaker that was made of 100% lead (made in China. of course). 

I don't want to seem obtuse, and I don't want to get into an argument over it, but I doubt very much, unless they were dangling lead sinkers (used in fishing) from their sneakers were they "100% lead."

This is typical of our current state of affairs with the government kowtowing to the safety nannies (descendants of Ralph Nader and that ilk) and killing a cockroach with a low-yield nuclear weapon. 

I'm sure that there are some (maybe very old) plates, stemware, and tableware that have some lead in it.  Someone may eat off these at an elegant affair.  Maybe we should disallow re-selling vintage and/or antique dishes if they don't explicitly say "lead free?"

This is bad legislation, plain and simple.

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