What is etsy doing about this

[Former_Member]

Ok this is sad! I just found about the extent of this and can not believe that etsy has not notified me or any other shops about the affect this is going to have on them and us!!! Most people do not go in the form. I work two jobs and do my wood working on the side to make extra money for my family.

I would have thought that. (1) etsy would have sent out an email telling us to call or write our congressmen. (2) Started a petition among the etsy community and there customers. Do they not realize that they may also lose money because crafters like me do not have the moneys too pay for the test. So I will stop selling my products on etsy!!!!!

Esty you need to get in the fight or at least let us know that there is a fight that needs to be fought!!!!

[LaurieRyan]

etsy has been fighting by helping us gather the information that we have needed to fight it. in fact they are the ones that have helped us get to where we are here now.

[Former_Member]

I guess I don't see exactly why people would want to fight against making sure children's items are safe for children to use. I think that this is something that is important with all of the lead and other issues that come with children's products. And I don't really think it is Etsy's responsibility to inform sellers of regulations on the products they make. As a seller, I think it is important to research everything that may come along with making items to sell to consumers.

I do realize that it sucks to have something like this come up but I do think that there does need to be something like this going on to make sure that things like paint, stain, fabric, etc. that are being used are safe.

[Former_Member]

I have not seen any of this if etsy has done anything where is it? I would like to know where I can find this info. I am not expecting etsy to sit done with me and explain me. But it would have been nice to have an email sent out explaining what is going on and how we can do something about it. I don't search the forms because I have limited time and can not spend large amounts of time looking for data that should be on the front page.

[Former_Member]

I think that's part of my point...if you are going to make products to sell to people there needs to be an amount of research on the sellers part to make sure their items are meeting any regulations that come up in relation to their items. That's how the US market place works. This forum has been up for over a year now so I don't know how much more Etsy could have really done at this point. As a seller you can't rely on anyone else to keep you in the loop to regulations concerning the items you make.

[Former_Member]

Oh come on! I am not saying that keeping childern safe is not important! I make pens and art bowls. They are not for kids but I am affected by this bill.

[Former_Member]

True I can not rely on others to keep me in the loop. But this is huge in the craft world! Half the people on etsy are affected by this. Every jewelry maker all wood works and anything that can be touched by kids.

[Former_Member]

What I was saying didn't directly relate to children either, as a seller of anything I feel I am responsible for doing the research to make sure I am complying with any regulations in relation to the items I make...children's items or not. Maybe if you feel they should have done more you could email an administrator and let them know that you think that.

[Former_Member]

I'm afraid that it isn't Etsy's responsibility.

We all need to know the law pertaining to us (where we live) and the arts and crafts we carry out just as we need to know any other laws such as road use, taxation etc. for our Country, State or whatever.

Unless you make specific items for children neither the American or European or any other laws relating to safety of products intended for children (under 12 in USA and under 14 in EU) will apply to you.

[Former_Member]

You're right I should do my research and I HAVE! I use finish that are no toxic but I would still have to get them tested. But I started this forum to find out why a broad form of communication was not used to let use know what was happening. I do not expect etsy to hold my hand here.

[Former_Member]

Untrue bluekitty the law covers small parts like the metal hardware and anything that has metal on it that a child can touch.

[LeafandYard]

Wait, it's Etsy's job to tell us about new laws now? I think it's the responsibility of citizens to know what laws are being passed by our "for the people" government. Too many people only care what Congress is doing when it impedes them from doing something else.

This law was passed in 2008, for the record. Maybe one of the reasons why our government gets away with so much is because people don't watch it as close as they should.

I think a broad form of communication was not used because this site expects you to know the laws (and rightly so). There might have been something in 2008 when the law was passed, but I wasn't selling then, so I don't know.

[Former_Member]

moonskywoodworks... The products in your shop aren't affected by the CPSIA. It only applies to items for children 12 and under.

[Former_Member]

"I guess I don't see exactly why people would want to fight against making sure children's items are safe for children to use."

Ah, but if that were all the law did, it would actually make sense. As it is, the law goes a LOT further than that. The restrictions it places are, in many cases, ridiculous - removing lead from lead batteries INSIDE the hoods of kids' off-road vehicles - and the testing costs it places on small manufacturers especially are beyond crazy. Add to that that some major manufacturers (who have been among the biggest transgressors in the first place!) have now gotten approval to do their own in-house testing at their labs in China while the rest of us are trying to contemplate shouldering testing costs for "batches" of one or two items, and it's a complete cluster. :-(

Example: as a tie-dyer, I'm relieved to know that both dyed and undyed fabrics have been exempted from this law. I should also be happy that I can go to Target, buy a pack of Onesies (which have already been tested by Gerber and certified lead-free, right?), and dye them - BUT once I alter (apply dye to) them, I become the manufacturer and am responsible to re-test - yes, RE-test - the same metal snaps that have already been tested, just because they haven't been exempted. I haven't added lead to the snaps, I can NOT add lead to the snaps via tie-dyeing them, but there it is. THIS is the kind of stuff we're fighting. This does nothing to make kids' stuff safer - it just puts people out of business. :-(

As to what Etsy should be doing, well, they did it! They provided a specific forum for us to discuss things, to disseminate information. (It took weeks of asking for the forum, but they did it.) They did try to interview someone from the CPSC but that was about the point I burned out on the CPSIA and I don't think that ever took place. As PP have pointed ot, it's not Etsy's job to keep us all informed. It would be nice if they came across something that should be disseminated to sellers and brought it to our attention, but in this case especially, Etsy sellers did it themselves, and Etsy helped us by consolidating information and making it easier to share and help each other.

[Former_Member]

Very well stated GenerationsTieDye

[Former_Member]

and yes, what Generations said

[LeafandYard]

anickascottage says:
Very well stated GenerationsTieDye
--------

Ditto.

[knitwit4ever]

In addition to setting up this Forum section on CPSIA matters, Etsy has discussed it in the Storque several times: http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/CPSIA/

[Former_Member]

I am sorry but I just read an article by a lawyer in American Woodturner that talks about the unintended effects of this law. I am not trying to say that it is etsy job to notify use about new laws but I pay them money and they are part of the craft community. They are affected to and should be more involved. I love the etsy web sight is has been good to my family. I have met lots of great people here. I hope to continue this relationship with etsy. I just can't understand why it has only made it to the forums! The intention of the string is to get people to understand that the whole of the esty community is on the chopping block.

[LaurieRyan]

waves a allyn, that was the point I was trying to make but not awake enough to be clear LOL

we are not about not protecting children we are about this law that was so badly written and the fact that it would have such a major impact on small business's. the items sold on etsy are made with supplies that have already been tested and for the sellers here to have to retest would have put them totally out of business.
steps down off soap box now

[Former_Member]

moonsky, it hasn't only made it to the forums.

When this all started, Etsy was heavily involved. They blogged, they twittered, they pariticpated and supported those affected. They gave a list of emails to contact. They have done a lot. It's now up to each individual seller to do the work needed to make sure that they are compliant and what that all entails.

If you really, truly believe that Etsy should be more involved, I suggest sending a nicely worded email to admin outlining your concerns and possible solutions.

In regards to your comment that you pay them money, you get exactly what you pay for, a venue to sell your goods on. I'm truly not sure what else you expect of them.

Deon

[LaurieRyan]

waves at deon

[Former_Member]

*waves back at Laurie. ;)

Deon

[Former_Member]

you are making & selling items to the public -- so it is upto YOU to know what laws & regulations you have to abide by

if you sell at a craft fair - do you expect the craft fair manager to notify you of changes to the law?

Etsy is venue for you to run your business on - everything else is upto you

[Former_Member]

Deon you are right I do get what i pay for and thank you for the info. I was not aware of what they have done to date. I just can't believe that I had to sit done for two hours to find out what has been done. My intentions are not to beat up etsy. Its to get people to realize that this is big and GenerationsTieDye has made my point better then I. The amount of misinformation that I have seen posted is unbelievable.