Subtle Rantings

In typical common sense is dead fashion, a new federal law could outlaw all sales of used toys, clothing and other baby items. The new law mandates that all products sold for children ages 12 and younger must be tested for lead and other harmful chemicals.

What does this mean? From an LA Times article:

Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children’s clothing.

Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater! In this economic downturn, now is the time to be penalizing the cash strapped lower and middle class by getting rid of thrift store bargains?

Another perspective is what this does for consignment shops and handmade goods dealers like Etsy. This new law could completely shut down Etsy, who has been serving as an eBay type of marketplace for handmade goods. Which brings up another question: where did this law originate? Is it simply consumer protection gone awry? Or is there a little more to it?

With the recent news of eBay’s former president and CEO Meg Whitman preparing to run for governor in California, could she in some way have used her political ties to introduce and push legislative approval for this law? You might ask what’s the incentive or motivation for her to do this? Simple, eliminate the competition. Etsy and other online marketplaces are popping up left and right which are taking customers and revenue away from eBay daily. Conspiracy theory? Most likely, but still worth noting.

On the other hand, barring the prohibition of handmade “non-certified” goods, couldn’t consignment sales keep selling clothes that were already certified? Once a piece of clothing is certified, it’s always certified right? There still exists the major issue though that this will literally shutter tons of mom and pop shops who make handmade custom goods who can’t afford the cost prohibitive certification testing. Talk about killing capitalism and the pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality. Oh well, that actually goes well with the mentality of the new administration that’s coming into office on January 20th.

For more information see the following links:

LA Times – New safety rules for children’s clothes have stores in a fit
Baby Cheapskate – End of Second Hand Clothing and Toys?
Simple Dollar

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