how is etsy responding to CPSIA??

[Former_Member]

This has been addressed before and no comments were made and I'm interested in answers so here it is.....

f this has been addressed already please post a link. I am curious how etsy listing policies might be changing due to CPSIA.

Will Etsy be responsible if a seller makes and sells items that have not been tested?

How will the seller prove that the item has been tested?

Since you are not allowed to list illegal items on venues like etsy will a none tested item be considered illegal and not allowed?

I know a lot of moms in one handcrafting community who say they are going to continue to sell and not submit to testing. I keep telling them I think this is foolish.

I am just curious on what kind of policing people should expect. I have already pulled my grow with me baby bracelets from the market because I don't have the funds to test.

How will we pay for the testing????? WHen will we pay?? WHat are we paying for???? How long does testing take???

[Former_Member]

I'm still really confused on this. I keep reading on it and pretty much have the following link memorized but still don't understand what needs to be tested and not.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

This act is way too general and conflicting information seems to be flying all over the internet. For instance, one article in wikepedia states that all manufacturers of children products should provide a "General Conformity Certificate" which supposedly became mandatory on November 12, 2008 for all manufacturers to have their products tested.

This is giving me a headache and I can't seem to find black and white answers anywhere.

[Former_Member]

I agree with you and am getting really aggravated!

THANKS!

[RetrologyDesigns]

I agree CrochetandCrafts. I am in Australia but it appears that anything I make can be seized by customs and destroyed. This is going to really hurt an already sick economy. I can't seem to find any exemptions for small business except for people selling used stuff. I am truly angry as well. Just as I was hitting my stride here on Etsy. Phooey. And everything I read makes me more confused.

[RetrologyDesigns]

GAR, thank you for starting this thread. I know Etsy wants to help. I think a clear list of what requirements are would help a bunch. I hope they can supply this. Then again, I am intelligent and I'm having a lot of trouble figuring it out. Maybe they are having the same trouble....

[Former_Member]

You're right, and that's my main concern. Our economy is extremely sick and this could potentially kill it. It's not like the makers of handmade children items and businesses can suddenly work for those companies that will be able to afford to do this, because most of those fuckers are outsourced to Asia!

[RetrologyDesigns]

Absolutely. I just vented in another thread. Boy am I mad. I did so well before Christmas and with my preschooler and school aged kids out for 2 days a week I was looking forward to some more craft time. I will make stuff for my other shop, but the felt food was what I loved to do.

[Former_Member]

I don't think Etsy will monitor. They will probably be able to treat it like they do with taxes and health code compliance for foods sold - they will make it clear that each shop owner must be in compliance with whatever governmental rules are relevant.

Etsy is not buying our goods, is not the manufacturer, middleman, or final destination. Essentially Etsy is renting us space, with our rent being a percentage of our sales. Our listing fee is basically a charge for advertising. It would be impossible for Etsy to monitor our compliance. Bringing the point further, Etsy has shops whose owners reside outside the U.S., and if they sell to buyers in other non-US markets, than this doesn't affect them in the least.

I could see Etsy having all shop owners read and "sign" something saying that they are aware and agree to operate to the letter of the law.

[Former_Member]

A couple of weeks ago I participated in the Monday night chat with Etsy Admin and I asked them about this. I think it was Rob.

He stated that as sellers we all signed the TOU that stated we would follow local, state, and federal laws. BUT... Etsy will NOT pull items or close stores unless they receive a formal notice regarding someone from the CPSC. This is similar to their policy on copyright infringement where they won't stop someone from selling unless they receive a formal notice from the person who holds the copyright.