CPSIA- THRIFT STORE stripped of KIDS' ITEMS! GONE! KTRK ABC13 Houston 02-10-09

GONE! Customers stand bewildered at Northwest Assistance Ministries resale store in Houston, staring at empty shelves and racks at a thrift store in Houston, Texas- ALL THE CHILDRENS' ITEMS ARE GONE! CPSIA regulations, despite a one year stay of enforcement regarding lead testing and certification, scare store owners into getting rid of items for children 12 and under because of potential fines! Retailers are still liable if an item with unacceptable lead limits is sold. Target and Walmart also took extra measures to remove potential offenders.

(Afraid to go to local thrift store in my hometown- will I still be able to buy kid's items at deep discount in these terrible economic times?)

Video from KTRK ABC13 Houston
From a broadcast Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Copyright KRTK
All rights reserved

Please visit the KTRK ABC13 website to comment-

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/consumer&id=6651903

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[handcraftivist]

I am a long time patron of thrift shops and can't believe I may not be able to stretch the budget with this invaluable resource as I have for years- buying children's clothing, toys and books! :( Why the powers that be didn't think this through BEFORE passing this legislation last summer is irresponsible IMHO. Catch me on Twitter at Twitter/handcraftivist

[jaymorpheus11]

At least kids won't have to deal with that junk.

[BestTits]

lol wow

[kjw41309]

I get toys at thrift stores all the time. I got a Macarena gorilla at one, and a Furby Baby, and several Ty Beanie Babies. I got other things too, but I'm not going to ramble on about them in a comment. I'll just post videos of them sometime.

[Unklebillybob]

This law is just plain dumb and stupid. And guess what,? On August 14, 2009, the new Public Law 110-314 will be going in effect. This is all due to a rash of tainted products coming out of China. But, who will be loosing? Not china, but the American Small Businesses. Time for all of us to contact Congress men & women ,,, tell them to either rewrite this dumbass law or start looking for a new job themselves.

[yardsalequeendotcom]

Buyer beware is what I say. I do find it *funny* that the thrift store wants to protect the kids from potentially hazardous toys, but hey, let's let the kids ride around in the shopping carts while standing up. (second 34) Talk about being unsafe!

[GeoSusan]

I was very upset when I saw this because I saved a ton of money for my son this year shopping at goodwill but if these item aren't safe I dont want him wearing them.

[midwestbookseller]

It also affects children's books. It's become risky for booksellers to sell older, out-of-print children's books.

[teenfashionuk]

I can see how this has come about, as we in the West have allowed an influx of cheap imports over the past few decades and with that will ultimately will come some rather suspect, dangerous childrens products, combine that with a 'Let's Sue For All We Can Get' culture and the two gets Governments and Big Industry/Insurers running scared.

[teenfashionuk]

This kind of blanket lesgislation could so damage many small operators, more importantly it will affect

those who care enough to make beautiful individual things and use their own particular skills and prior knowledge to do so.