What Happens to these?

[Former_Member]

In addition to the thrift stores, what about the other stores or products that are apart of the American landscape but you generally don't think about. How will these stores or products comply with the CPSIA I realize the answer lies in the responsibility of the manufacturer but especially where the retroactive portion of the law is concerned --do you see these businesses being able to throw away untested merchandise and stay in business?:

-the dollar store(think about how many little dollar stores there are out there as well as the franchise ones...how in the world would they test all of the little items they have, how would they organize a system in order to assure that all of the thousands of fly by night manufacturers are in compliance? What happens to the children's that they already have...they're not the poster child for safe toys BUT in certain economic sectors, that might be all a parent can afford--will there be no more dollar store toys?

-The discount dept. stores: Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, ---again they have such a huge amount of manufacturers AND their primary business model is built from purchasing lots of items that didn't sell in the regular stores or had too large a quantity. so will they survive or just completely get rid of their children's sections--which again would hurt alot of families both job-wise and being able to purchase.

-County fairs and smaller carnivals: I know the major theme parks such as Disney will be able to comply because of their stable venue and their huge grossing profits---but what about those traveling carnivals or the fairs. I'm sure the most obvious answer is that the responsibility for testing would be on the manufacturer but how would that affect the business models for these types of entertainments? I still love the county fair and I am grown--what about all of the small vendors and artists(many of them selling children's items) that often sell at the fair?

-Another thread mentioned things like sanitary pads(many girls start before age 12 in this day) and bandaids---other medical or hygiene items

-wrapping paper, the kind meant for children's gifts.

-school supplies---what's going to happen to lead pencils?

There are probably more that are affected but that's what I thought of off the top of my head.

[Former_Member]

I'm overwhelmed about all of this.

[Former_Member]

WOW. The scope is HUGE! They REALLY need to rethink this. Why can't they see that?

[acorngirl]

DVD cases. Decorative plastic fruit. Cat toys that kids handle.

"Lead" pencils should be fine- as long as the paint if any is lead free. The "lead" has been graphite for many years. But all that pretty yellow paint on the classic pencils would need testing, and the metal bit that holds the eraser in place... Good lord.

[Former_Member]

I TIA. Although pencils are graphite, not lead. But there is a TINY metal band at the top... maybe that part contains lead??? The whole thing is so fucked up (excuse me, but there really is no other description), that it almost seems like it CAN'T be enacted. It's about to get real interesting here in the US.

[Former_Member]

And what about musical instruments? I realize that most schools have already cut music instruction, but this seems like the final nail in that coffin.

[Former_Member]

I can't speak for all of the stores you list, but Marshall's and TJ Maxx and probably the other discount dept stores will be fine. They generally buy direct from the manufacturers so they will be receiving certified items. I was in management for company that is owned by TJ Maxx so I know how they do their buying. You learn their entire buying platform when you are in management. Items are also tagged with an internal numbering system so that an employee can look at the tag and tell exactly where the item came from.

Less than 3% of their inventory comes from other department stores. The rest comes directly as over runs or cancelled orders from the company itself. They will be fine. People think that they buy most of their merchandise from other dept stores, but they don't.

[Former_Member]

Or Tiny adults like me 5'2" and can wear clothes from the girls dept or my grown daughter (21) who has to buy things like jeans in the girls dept because even in the Jr's the size 0 it often too big. (friend is taking in the Interview suit we found in size 0 for her.)

Or disabled adults who sometimes use childrens items or child care items to help with some of their basic needs?
(we bought a safety "faucet cover" from the baby dept, because we were concerned about grandma being hurt by the faucet when getting into or out of the tub.)

And no the big "overstock" stores will not be fine, for a while, they'll have to dump current stock (they weren't the original buyer and may not be able to get certs from the maker)... and will not be able to take the things the big box stores are getting rid of because it has no certs.
Some of the stock in shops like BigLots and TJMaxx has been there a LONG time. Maybe a year or two.... are all the companies that made those items still in business to provide certs? can they even cert items that were made 2+ years ago?

I think in the long run we'll find that VERY few businesses will NOT be affected by this, and some will be affected in ways they never expected.

What about the company that makes supplies? government told them early on they don't need to test if item doesn't necessarily indicate use by kids.
Will the person who closed their shop buy as many supplies? Will they buy ANY supplies?

And who supplies the suppliers? f I look at one of my plushies, I'm reminded that wool comes from sheep, and sheep come from farms. Alpaca yarn comes from alpacas... and someone is making a LIVING raising those animals, and sheering their fur to make the yarn i use.

Someone has to mine the silver and copper and stones for jewelry, someone has to produce the acrylic that becomes paint or yarn...

many many hands are involved before MY hands ever pick up that skein of yarn. And this law will effect everyone down that chain.

[Former_Member]

Monday, on a drive through the city, I noticed in some struggling neighborhoods, the only businesses left were generally beauty supply, hair salons, 2nd hand shops, and shops with goods for kids.
The 2nd hand shops and the shops with kids stuff all had SALE, 50-75% OFF child items, and "Going out of business" signs.
In the posh-ish neighborhood where my friend lives, there's a shop with all baby stuff, and another with stuff for "tweens", both had big sale signs. Except for a restaurant that had closed that had been there "forever" the rest of that shopping district seemed to be doing OK.