For my future children...

[Former_Member]

I hope all of you are able to stay around for my future childrens' sake. I LOVE the children's items on here. The plushies and other stuffed toys are SO much cuter than anything you can buy in store and would much rather buy toys on here than in big box stores--I'm really sick of Elmo.

Good luck to everyone! I've also been writing in about this law, even though it doesn't affect me directly.

[Former_Member]

I just don't know how people will stay open, ArtsAfire.
If you get cited & hauled into court, it will cost a fortune in time & lawyers. I'm not chancing it.
Helene

[Former_Member]

It does affect you directly if you buy toys from anyone who is not a major big time manufacturer, so kudos!

And, honestly, there are many who are thumbing their noses at this law and staying open. On Feb. 10 go shopping on Etsy. Buy from those who refuse to close. Let the idiots who made this law know we won't be stopped!

[Former_Member]

I'm staying... I'm not going away that easily.

[Former_Member]

I think I'm going to list a whole bunch of new stuff in my kids shop soon and Keep it open. This law is written poorly and needs work. I don't think they are gonna put me in jail for making some pretty cotton dresses and wool toys.

[Former_Member]

I doubt any small time crafter will ever be prosecuted. The law is so poorly written that it would be hard to defend it in a court.

[Former_Member]

I'm not sure that they may not use the "small time crafter" as an example. IRS seems to do it all the time to the small time business person :)

I will follow the final rules because I am just more comfortable. Hopefully, the final regs will make more sense for all of us to keep going.

[Former_Member]

We will stay open until they drag us kicking and screaming.

[NotMyTreeStore]

>ArtisticallySpeaking says:
I doubt any small time crafter will ever be prosecuted. The law is so poorly written that it would be hard to defend it in a court.

I agree. The few snippets of interviews I've heard regarding this law have all but come out and said they are not looking to prosecute small-time artisans. It would be nice to know that we're not doing anything that's technically "illegal," but I can't see anyone here facing massive fines and/or jail time. I will be shopping AND selling on February 10th.

[ManicMuffinTotes]

Let me ask a Hypothetical question.

If an Etsy toy seller did get hauled off to jail for still selling children/baby stuff, and of course it is lead free.
Would any of you be willing to send money to help with their fines and lawyer fees?
I'm asking because I would help out as much as I could.
I figure with as many people posting about this law, if everyone banded together and sent $5-$20 dollars each it would help that person out tremendously.
I was just wondering if you guys would do that?

[ByNanasHands]

I will NOT be closing, I refuse to be bullied by this law. Let them go after those large corporations that created this problem....The CPSC has already said it doesn't have the "staff or budget" for full enforcement. I bet they will be taking the little they have and really policing those that created the problems, the large manufacturer that outsources to China....

Would I be willing to assist financially to help someone here on Etsy that has gotten in trouble because of this law? Absolutely...

[Former_Member]

I'd absolutely help someone who needed assistance with legal fees!

And I'm going to keep selling baby/toddler items... the law IS poorly written and I don't see it standing up in court.

[Former_Member]

This is funny, they want to haul us off to jail for doing the American Dream, but the people of Wall Street who robbed people blind are having nothing done to them.

I am sure glad I live in America!

[Former_Member]

And I would help anyone who needs help!

[Former_Member]

I'd help, definitely!

[NotMyTreeStore]

Me, too.

[Former_Member]

I'm finding so much cute stuff on etsy that I want my kids to have. All of this mess makes me never want to buy mass produced stuff ever again.

[Former_Member]

Count me in!!

[Dannielle]

cuddlycozy says:
I'm not sure that they may not use the "small time crafter" as an example. IRS seems to do it all the time to the small time business person :)

*******************************************8

See, that's my concern. They have 100 field inspectors to police the law.

If *I* were a field inspector looking to make an impact I would get on my computer and snag all the Etsy violators before I'd get dressed and schlepp all over town visiting walmarts and toy stores.

Easy pickin'.

[Former_Member]

cuddlycozy says:
I'm not sure that they may not use the "small time crafter" as an example. IRS seems to do it all the time to the small time business person :)
-------------
I think if they did that it would backfire on them and only make the crafter look like the victim to the public. It would open Americans eyes to what the government is trying to do to this country and its citizens.

And to answer the question ManicMuffins asked....YES! I would definitely contribute $ to help with legal fees. I wouldn't have to think twice about it.

[Dannielle]

And, yes, I'd contribute in a heartbeat!

Though my ability to put my money where my mouth is will be greatly impacted by the fact that I will have just lost my income.

[Former_Member]

Dannielle...it would be "easy pickin", but how bad would that make them look? And it would bring attention to this ridiculous law. I don't know if they want the general public to understand what's happening here.

[ManicMuffinTotes]

When I took the "Buy Handmade Pledge" I really took it seriously. My kids got tons of things from Etsy for Christmas, as did my niece and nephew. Every teen, and small child loved everything they got. I seriously have not gone through the toy isle in Wal-Mart in two years.
I can't imagine having to do that again because all of this law.
I am glad so many of you are fighting this and sticking around.

[NotMyTreeStore]

>SugarAndSpice
SugarAndSpice says:
cuddlycozy says:
I'm not sure that they may not use the "small time crafter" as an example. IRS seems to do it all the time to the small time business person :)
-------------
I think if they did that it would backfire on them and only make the crafter look like the victim to the public. It would open Americans eyes to what the government is trying to do to this country and its citizens.

Well-said. Plus, I seem to recall watching or reading an interview with someone from the CPSC in which she said something to the effect of, "We are not out to get the small-time crafter; we will be looking at bigger business." Am I remembering incorrectly?

[Former_Member]

Seems like all the want us to do is buy "everything" from the big "W"!