Im disapointed in you!

[#1]

Im disapointed in everyone here who has been so hard on childrens sellers who have said they will not close up shop. Why would you want to see your fellow etsian go out of business?

Im disapointed in those "fellow artists" who think that they need to turn in shops for noncompliance come February 10th- I know if it was you who had some back cloud looming over YOUR head- we would be supporting YOU and your choices.

Im disapointed in those who are closing their shops and allowing the beurocrats to force them into submission over something that we all know is completely WRONG.

Im disapointed in our law makers that they have not come out and said OUT LOUD that they are working to make this law MAKE SENSE.... even THEY know it is incredibly STUPID.

Im disapointed that there are SO MANY nay sayers and negative comments being thrown around the cspia forums here on etsy and on other sites. So many people use "morals" as their way to bullying people into believing they need to close their shops and follow the law....

we all know that the econom

[Former_Member]

pearlbythesea, you say that a buyer wouldn't know if a buyer had used dangerous materials in creating their work. So by that logic, before this law was passed, there were many dangerous items running amuck on this site. There's no reason to believe that everyone is suddenly using dangerous materials just because this nonsensical law was passed. Nothing has changed...things were never a problem for small businesses before, why should now be any different?

[Former_Member]

Sorry, I meant "if a seller had used dangerous materials..."

[Former_Member]

Knottybear- I agree with you very much. I couldn't read the rest of the thread but I just wanted to praise you . AND I agree with mugwumpdesigns, too. (first page)

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Pearl, "A preteen with severe brain damage very well might fiddle with and then swallow a bunch of rhinestones---you never know, and if that kind of thing were to happen, the materials should be safe."

Yes they should be, and if we weren't importing from China, who very well may be intentionaly poluting products sent here, (remember the dog food, and all the recalled toys were from China)we would not be in this state. But, I also think that a parent must be responsible in what they buy for their children. If you have a preteen that mouths their clothing, for whatever reason, you should be taking care that there is nothing that could come off their clothing that they could ingest. Even a perfectly safe tested button could harm a child and lodge in their throat. And swallowing perfectly safe tested rhinestones could potentially perforate a child's bowels. So in the case you are talking about, even a tested safe embellishment could be harmful. So could swallowing a apricot pit. So should the apricot farmer test his apricots, then the packaging company, then the trucking company, then the grocery store, then the day care provider that takes care of the child, all for the same potential substance, that may be in the apricot? Where should it end? That is one of the problems with this bill. There is nothing I do when I take a piece of fabric, that has been tested by the manufacturer of the fabric, cut it with my scissors, then sew it with cotton thread on my sewing machine. How is it possible that I can introduce lead into the fabric?

So by you saying that if I remain open selling after Feb 10th, you will not buy from me because I am breaking the law? How do you know that? What gives you the right to say that? Or are you just assuming that because I am open?

[Former_Member]

im not closing..

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

And I guess I read the OP post in a different light. What if you changed the word disappointed to sad, would you feel differently about what she said? I guess I read it that way. I AM sad that people are closing, I am sad that people feel oppessed by the government, and disheartened, I am sad that our elected officials don't give a hoot, I am sad that we are so uptight that we are quibbling with each other. But I also see that we have banded together, and people have found great strength in themselves and each other.

[Former_Member]

IlovePlum

I think you should be able to get the GCC's from the company that you get your blank shirts from. Most of the main companies are already ahead of the game. If you can get the GCC's from the company that makes your ink, then you are golden.

The HOPE is that by August 16th the law will be amended to permanently allow for GCC's from the suppliers.

For ME the issue is that a lot of my fabric comes from unconventional sources...LA garment district, large roll end wholesalers and other places. For the fabric I have on hand 90% of it has unmarked selvage so I don't know who the maker is to even try to get GCC's from them. So I can not even comply come Feb 10th. In reality, an exemption for cotton will not even do me any good as my fabrics are cotton/lycra blends. The only way an exemption would work for me would be if it was for all textiles.

Going forth I do plan to get GCC's from my manufacturers in the event that they do allow them on a permanent basis. As soon as I have a selection of fabric that I can confirm the origin of, I will then resume business to the USA.

Right now I can't even comply with "reasonable testing" without having some sort of actual testing done.

and faymoonedesigns, I think what you said is right. I am very saddened by this law. Saddened that so many people DO have to put their dreams on hold because the risk for them is too great. Saddened FOR them, yes. Dissapointed IN them. Not at all.

[worksofwhimsy]

I would never consider turning in a non-complient seller. But, I wouldn't be surprised if others do. I can see how some sellers that closed up shop might resent the fact that non-complient, illegally operating shops will benefit from the lack of competition after Feb. 10.

The same sense of economic desperation that leads many to "take their chances" with this law, will lead others to blow the whistle.

[Former_Member]

Well here is my question to those who will report sellers here on Etsy that stay open. Are you going to report the public library for stay open, or the school who continues with the art classes and with their libraries too? Or are you just going to report the ones you see here a competition? Are you going to continue sending your kids to school after Feb 10th?

I believe the sellers of childrens item on Etsy are ethical no matter what they decide on staying open or closing. I would not hesitate to buy from them if I had children. I would have pause for vintage items or made with vintage items but for the most part they dont. While my child is 24 years old and I know absolutely no one with small children, I have still written to my senator and congressman to protest the law. I hope everyone has done the same even if it does not effect them. I applaud the sellers who choose to stay open and the ones who choose to close. Both are working hard. Why are you not helping instead of being negative. If this law is left in place as is, it is only a matter of time before other things are place in new regulations. Are the things you make going to be next because whatever you buy comes in contact with children whether they are made specifically for them or not.

Instead of policing Etsy try to help them and get involved with getting the law change to a more rational legislation.

[MellyGirl2007]

I will be glad to see etsy sellers selling childrens items - compliant or not.

In my own personal experience so far, I have found that items made by Etsy sellers ARE the safe alternative. I have only had good experiences on Etsy and SO many things I've found and seen at WalMart and other huge chains are lousy with lead - I will continue to shop here for gifts for my little niece and nephews here.

[Former_Member]

"Instead of policing Etsy try to help them and get involved with getting the law change to a more rational legislation."

Holy cow... there are LOADS of resources with ways to get involved. In this very thread there were suggestions on ways to be involved.

There are people who created specific blogs, yahoo groups, phone trees, letter writing campaigns, lists of suppliers...

I was not one of them... so Im not tooting my own horn... but I have done my part as a retailer, buyer, and crafter to do my part. Collecting certifications from my suppliers and vendors... making calls... writing letters and sharing what I know.

Look... I truly am sorry if there were sellers saying they were going to be policing Etsy... that's not right... but all sellers should be doing what they can to be informed and get involved.

Again... Im not saying anyone on this thread isn't doing those things... but this is getting redundant.

[Former_Member]

I can't imagine turning a non compliant seller into the CPSA, but I KNOW there are people out there who will not give it a second thought. Being around eBay for as long as I was before leaving I have seen some women and mothers act in some pretty shocking ways. Nothing surprises me anymore.

I have always tried to live by the philosophy that people need to sweep their own doorstep before they go around sweeping everyone elses.

Also, I completely understand WHY some choose to stay open, and I fully support their decision. Whether I will buy from them or not, I don't know yet, but should something happen I would stand by my fellow entrepreneur/mompreneur through any fight, even though I decided not to continue with my own business.

A HUGE, like beyond huge part of my business platform revolves around supporting mompreneurs and small independently owned businesses. They are what completes my business. I need them. We ALL need them.

Regardless though. I still can not continue on after Feb 10th. I HOPE that I won't have to be down for long. That I can get some suitable fabric that has GCC's.

[Former_Member]

there's threads and threads dedicated to turning in resellers, copyright, etc. etc. and i understand that the intentions are good, on the part of many sellers... flaggers.

but the truth is that etsy has been so lax on those items that it's created this flag or DIE! mentality here, people get flag happy.

the item isn't removed and they get madder, and they band together and they flag in droves.


i can understand if it was done in good intentions, but the spirit of those threatening it really has been "if i can't stay open, why should you!?"


that's what's terrible.

and i certainly would hope that others that will be compliant wouldn't sabotage the marketplace by flagging.


the points been made numerous times, you really don't KNOW who's compliant, unless you're paying attention. and a lot of sellers may not be so open with their compliance. some may. it's their choice.

[Former_Member]

*flags StacyJean*

[Former_Member]

ayeMaloneDesigns says:
Pearl, "A preteen with severe brain damage very well might fiddle with and then swallow a bunch of rhinestones---you never know, and if that kind of thing were to happen, the materials should be safe."

Yes they should be, and if we weren't importing from China, who very well may be intentionaly poluting products sent here, (remember the dog food, and all the recalled toys were from China)we would not be in this state. But, I also think that a parent must be responsible in what they buy for their children. If you have a preteen that mouths their clothing, for whatever reason, you should be taking care that there is nothing that could come off their clothing that they could ingest. Even a perfectly safe tested button could harm a child and lodge in their throat. And swallowing perfectly safe tested rhinestones could potentially perforate a child's bowels. So in the case you are talking about, even a tested safe embellishment could be harmful. So could swallowing a apricot pit. So should the apricot farmer test his apricots, then the packaging company, then the trucking company, then the grocery store, then the day care provider that takes care of the child, all for the same potential substance, that may be in the apricot? Where should it end? That is one of the problems with this bill. There is nothing I do when I take a piece of fabric, that has been tested by the manufacturer of the fabric, cut it with my scissors, then sew it with cotton thread on my sewing machine. How is it possible that I can introduce lead into the fabric?

So by you saying that if I remain open selling after Feb 10th, you will not buy from me because I am breaking the law? How do you know that? What gives you the right to say that? Or are you just assuming that because I am open?





Woah Fayemalon! I'm talking about shops that are saying that they are remaining open AND are stating that they will not test their materials :) I'm in no way saying that I wouldn't buy any children's items from you, or any other vendor just because you remain open after feb 10th.

Now, hypothetical vendor A who states that they are staying open and refusing to test and refusing to follow US safety laws would be a vendor that I would avoid, because I would have no way of knowing if the products were safe.


The thread is kinda long, so you may not have had the opportunity to read the whole thing---

[Former_Member]

I think I see what Pearl is saying: she wouldn't feel comfortable buying from someone who stated up front that they weren't in compliance, NOT that she wouldn't buy from ANY children's seller open February 10th or beyond. Please PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong; it happens. :-)

I personally wouldn't have a problem buying from most children's sellers I see here on Etsy, or convo-ing them and asking if they'd make something for me, a sort of private Alchemy. And for the record, I wouldn't flag an item unless it were patently worrisome, like buttons all over something for a newborn - but THAT I'd worry about before Feb 10th anyway.

That said, it's like politics and religion to me: each person has to do what he or she feels is "right" to them in this situation. I would hope it wouldn't come down to flagging willy-nilly, but that is only my hope.

[Former_Member]

This is just so ridiculous. There is *no possible way* for me to get my quilts, aprons and bibs tested. I have *no money* to spare, I'm already in debt up to my eyeballs. Add to that the facts that my son is in the process of being dx'd with speech and sensory disorders, my husband's business is struggling and my mother is dealing with acute leukemia... Testing just ain't gonna happen.

Not. Possible.

Besides which, every item is unique - not to mention irreplaceable vintage and antique. Again. Testing not possible. It's unreasonable to expect it.

I'm tempted to stay open, because dammit I KNOW my things are safe, even if they cannot be certifiably so, but the attitudes I'm seeing around here make me think I have to close.

It's all so ridiculous, I can't even find words for it.

[Former_Member]

If people didn't stand up over the course of history and take risks, nothing would have ever changed. Like racial equality, women being allowed to vote etc. Absolutely it is your right to close up shop, you will be missed. . . but don't knock those of us who aren't going down without a fight. JMO

[Former_Member]

Pearl-

[Former_Member]

I should add that my libertarian sensibilities are so thoroughly disgusted by this @#$T that a good round of civil disobedience certainly seems to be in order.

[Former_Member]

Lizzypops says:
the attitudes I'm seeing around here make me think I have to close.


--------------------------


exactly. This is what makes me so sad.

[Former_Member]

Thanks to those who are supporting both those who choose to stay open AND those who are closing and directing their anti-CPSIA efforts elsewhere.

Anyone who wants to trade, though... *wink*

[Former_Member]

It is sad, I agree, because some are thinking, "I have to close because it's the law."

I, on the other hand, am thinking "I have to close because some nanny-stater with a chip on their shoulder is going to cause me a world of trouble that I can't handle right now." Even with two attorneys in the family! It doesn't matter. Even knowing that I could emerge victorious, I am not equipped for the battle right now.

Crap timing. That's what's getting me. Any other time in my life, I'd jump on this like a dog on a steak.

[Former_Member]

*offers hugs to the discouraged*

[Former_Member]

yes, it's sad, but to each is own...

I am not closing up my shop, but for those that decide to, it's sad, but many are afraid. Which is normal, people do freak out. Just as if I was told I have cancer, I will freak out and maybe not work and stay with my family (if I wasn't a stay at home mom), but it doesn't mean that I would give up on my life. I would still fight to kill the cancer.
Closing up a shop does not mean they are not fighting.
That's my opinion...