How Much Does Testing Cost?

[Former_Member]

According to this article, it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090827/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_product_testing_mattel

Is it really that expensive? How can any of us small sellers possibly afford to do that? And what about custom orders? If you have to test every product, is it even possible to offer custom orders for kids under 12? Who is going to pay hundreds of dollars for a custom clothing item for their child?

Does anyone know how much the testing really costs?

[Former_Member]

To add to your question Crafts - is there a list of testers anywhere? I'm not located in the US, but if there was a list of places we could go (and perhaps get quotes) that would be helpful.

[Former_Member]

Here's the link for the CPSC approved labs to do testing under the CPSIA. http://cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labapplist.aspx
You can narrow the search down by selecting your country &/or what testing is needed by your products at the bottom of the page.
Goto the main CPSIA website, http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html , and research what testing your product needs. Some of these companies do not preform all the tests a particle product needs or can not test certain product categories, and some will over sell you on what tests are needed for certain products especially the gray area items like jewelry and accessories.
When I started to research this law there were only 14 approved labs in the USA, now there are 51 only 8 months later, so check the site often new labs with better pricing or more local to you may pop up at anytime.

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

Rats! I guess I sold my lab (lead testing) and retired a few years too soon :)

[MerCurios]

In my past life, with CA laws we had to test every piece of metal that went to Dillards. All of our testing was done overseas & yes, it's very expensive! some times about $500 per piece which definitely eats into the profits.

testing takes 3-5 weeks and each state has their own set of passing grades.

I might have the lab info around here somewhere. Convo me if you would like me to look for it.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Mer, your past life is probably not pertinant with the present life. The CPSIA has a whole new list of labs that can test, and a whole new list of testing methods. And yes, isn't it funny that the cheapest places are "overseas" when the entire problem was caused by the said "overseas" manufacturers. Are you learning how to speak Mandarin? It may be necessary in the very near future.

Am I a total cynic of this administration, and the congress? You bet, I see them doing everything they can to put us all out of business with the overburdening regulation.

Yet after 2 years of screwing us over, they get a pension, that quite likely is more than you and I make in the private sector if even we would get a pittance, and that we will be paying for until they are cold in the grave. And shoot, they may have well written into the bills that their spouses will get the pensions long after they have kicked the bucket.

[MerCurios]

Hi Fae,

I've been out of the 'industry' for three years now. Went my own way a year after my son was born. Prior to that I spent 20+ years in the NYC Fashion Industry working for the likes of Liz Claiborne & Emmanuel Ungaro. Most recently I worked for an accessory manufacturer that had many high profile licenses: Michael Kors, Guess, Ellie Tahari, Calvin Klein, etc... & strong private label business too.

Of course everything is made over seas - China, India, etc... It was more cost-effective to have the products tested near the factory to save on time & $$. The labs we used were independent third party facilities approved by the retailers in question. So for the most part there was no funny business.

We had several items fail right before they were supposed to shipped - talk about a nightmare.

xo,
MJ

[Former_Member]

MerCurios,
I think what Faye is trying to point out is since you left the industry the government's regulations have changed along with what the governmnet feels is an approved 3rd party testing facility. Under the CPSIA a lab must be vetted(& the vetting renewed annually) by the CPSC and the approved tests used for the determination of lead by weight for children's products for the CPSIA are quite different from used for lead content in the federal laws concerning lead in general products regulations, CA prop 65, the IL potenial lead poisoning act, or the MN lead labeling law.

Unfortunately like Faye said here in the USA a vetted lab's using approved by the CPSC methodologies the charges start at $50 per component & that the prefered vendor rate not the average which can be upto $150. Where as pre-approved testing labs outside North America and Europe are only charging $35 to $50 for the same tests regiment.
For example to test a zipper a crafter needs
1) the "teeth" tested
2) the zipper stops tested
3) the top of the slider tested
4) the bottom of the slider tested
5) the "Y" channel tested
6) the pull tab tested
So for a pre-approved USA based lab to test it will cost the crafter $300 to $900 while the same testing cost an international manufacturer that tests outside the USA $210 to $300. Not exactly the type of policy that promotes small domestic independant business. And when you consider that if a micro-business is producing kid sized jeans there are other parts that will need testing, like snaps and rivets, the testing amount skyrockets to the point where it's cheaper to buy a designer label pair, not the best encouragemnet for someone that want's to go their own way into business.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

MerCurios, I wasn't trying to downgrade your creditials, which you obviously have. I think that you will find that many of us have many years in the fashion industry and related fields. For many reasons we have left the corporate world and started a small business. Welcome to Etsy!!

As JDM has said, this has been a nightmare for small and micro businesses. And with seemingly changing requirements, conflicting information from the CPSC, and all the other craziness, it has been for the most part the large companies that have been easily able to abide by the letter of the law.

When this mess started in Aug 08, and for some time after there were only 6/7 labs in the USA and most wouldn't agree to test our small quantities. And until quite recently, they didn't even have a test for phthalates that met the requirements of the CPSIA, yet we were supposed to test.

Unfortunely, like most of the laws passed lately, the devil is in the details, which were never thought about before the law was written. Small business was the colateral damage of this law.

[MerCurios]

Oh my gosh! I have NO IDEA what was translated in my post, however, I was not feeling "down grated" by any means. Nor was I trying to argue or create an argument.

I was 'just saying' what we/I used to go through & that it was a pain in the tush & I empathize with what you guys are feeling & experiencing. ...especially being independent & not a corp with a lot of capitol. Make sense?

Don't know how any of that got lost in translation. Oh well.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

MJ, no problem here. It is sometimes quite difficult to get the inflection in a forum, without seeing or hearing a person. I was concerned that you took my comment as insulting you, which I had no intent of doing.

XOXO Beverly

[Former_Member]

Hi all
I'm wondering if anyone has come across any more information about testing for those of us who don't have lots or batches. I understand that testing for phthalates destroys the item, so representative samples of components would have to be tested before they were made into the finished item. I wonder if anyone has come across any more information about testing one of a kind items once they are finished. I don't see how this could be possible at all, but maybe something new has come along as testing facilities and processes evolve.

Could this eventually be something that a small seller could do?

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Lead testing also destroys the item. What type of item are you making that needs phthalate testing? Not everything would contain phthalates.

[Former_Member]

Okay.. I am at complete loss. So, my newest listings I have to take down because they aren't tested?

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Toocute...

Depends on how you feel about selling items that are against the Term of Service. According to Etsy, you must be in compliance with all applicable laws governing your products.

Your faux pearls and unknown metal chain and findings are not exempt from testing, and without Testing certs from the supply manufacturers, you can not be sure that they would even pass testing. Also, there are small parts testing and use and abuse testing you may need. In addition, there is the small parts labeling and the CPSIA labels that you need to have.

[PerthroSupplies]

Here in Tampa, I found 8-test kits for $40. Thing is, ONE piece from every batch of charms is not representative of average content, so you have to test several from each order... of each kind of thing, so if I get three orders of Hearts, Stars, and Horseshoes each, I have nine orders... and several pieces from each order have to be tested.

So yes, testing EASILY adds up to hundreds. And I have a university nearby that can do some types of testing... for an equally steep fee.

I have completely given up on anything that looks like it might be for someone younger. Even the yarn flower hairties are for older wearers.

[Former_Member]

nigatsubebe,
How does the test kit achieve the PPM reading for weight of lead vs. total weight of the component?

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

CPSC has said that the testing kits can not be used for testing as they are unreliable, and do not follow their protocols. Nor is the Univ. testing lab unless they are on the list of CPSC accredited labs.

[PerthroSupplies]

Jewelry,

Dunno. It seems like lots of the non-professional lab stuff is sold to do the job, though. For $60, this one is supposed to measure for surface lead as little as 5PPM using a swab that changes colour in the presence of lead. Most work the same way.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00998454000P?vName=Tools&cName=ElectriciansTools&Lighting&s...

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203308BS

I don't actually make items for kids, but I was considering testing all items even for adults... but it's way, way too expensive. I don't have $50 for business cards, much less $50 apiece for several testing kits!

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I don't think the CPSC is concerned with surface lead. If they were, millions of houses, schools and businesses would be off limit and condemned. That is where most lead poisoning occurs in children, from the paint in their homes. But those in congress forgot that little fact when they wrote this law. Writing "any" lead in children's products was down right insane.

How can a child be "poisoned" by the zipper on their jeans? They can't eat it, and I don't know of too may kids that go around all day dragging a pair of jeans and sucking on their zippers.

No, instead of concern for the lead paint in old houses, they worry about the snaps on a onsie's crotch that have an additional barrier of a diaper to prevent it from touching a baby.

The biggest concern in children's products should be in jewelry, the lead and cadmium in the charms and beads and chains. Children, even teenagers and some adults mouth these products, and children can swallow the parts. And the painted surfaces on toys that can flake off, and that babies and toddlers teeth on.

The valid testing for lead is by grinding up the product and disolving it in acid, thereby leaving you without a product to sell, just the bill for materials, shipping, and testing. But you have a piece of paper saying all was okay.

[Former_Member]

Here is a blog that lists CPSIA-compliant suppliers:
http://cpsia-compliance.blogspot.com/
If you buy items from their compliant inventory, you don't have to test the finished product, providing you don't use any non-compliant or non-tested articles.
Fabrics that are not embellished with beads or rhinestones are exempt.
Diapers are exempt.
Remember that anything that can be looked at and judged as something that could and probably would be used by a child 12 or younger needs to be tested or certification needs to be provided unless it is in the exempt category.
I'm just glad I do fabric things with occasional zippers or buttons from compliant providers. I don't know how y'all do it.

[Former_Member]

I just got an email back from a company in California that was on the CPSC approved testing site list. They told me they charge $50 per component.

[Former_Member]

simple additions-thanks for that site!I need a supplier of elastic.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

elastic is exempt.