Nestof3 Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I am so over trying to get rid of stuff. We had a yard sale today. My husband toted a van full of stuff, including games and puzzles, to the thrift store. They rejected all of the games and puzzles because of the new lead law. So, now two bags of games and puzzles are now in our trash cans. I guess the landfills are really going to fill up now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Where did he take them? We just took a van load of toys, puzzles, boardgames etc to the goodwill dropoff here in Chesapeake. They were very happy to have them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 The law hasn't even gone into effect because it was delayed for a year, so I don't know why the store would reject your stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 He took them to the CHKD thrift store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Plus, how are they going to enforce it??? There aren't people who have been hired to go out and find the "bad" stuff. I vote that we all carry on as usual and if I ran any kind of children's business, I would be ignoring this law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 It's just ridiculous. Stupid government trying to legislate common sense.:glare: They did it with motorcycle parts, too. My boys are majorly bummed, 'cause you know, 12 and 13 year old boys frequently put the lead pieces of their motorcycles into their mouth to gnaw on them.:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herding Cats in NC Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 They rejected all of the games and puzzles because of the new lead law. My local Goodwill store wouldn't take a card game I tried to donate. They told me only books & clothes now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) My understanding is that , it's not that the law is not in effect, it's that they have decided not to enforce it for a year. However, it could still come back to "bite" someone, is the concern some have. So some businesses are choosing to refrain from selling items beginning now, that they think the law may pertain to.I've heard this law is a mess to interpret, and lawyers are divided on how they believe it should be interpreted. Edited March 8, 2009 by Miss Sherry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 The way they are regulating everything "harmful" these days makes me wonder how all of us older folks ever managed to get to adulthood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 The law hasn't even gone into effect because it was delayed for a year, so I don't know why the store would reject your stuff. If only it were that simple. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a stay. However, the law also gives authority for state attorney generals to prosecute under the law. The stay does nothing about this. Also, while the stay says that some stores don't have to test for one year, they are still held liable for what they sell. It is a catch 22 that they are caught in. This isn't just an issue of not selling jewelry that clearly violates law by being 90% lead or having lead paint. It refers to anything at all on the garment or toy or book. No matter how unlikely it is that it would pose a credible danger to a child. There is a lot of talk about how this will affect children's bicycles (it has already hit kids ATVs and motorbikes). The ball point pen industry says it would take at least two years to develop a ball point that is in compliance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 My understanding is that , it's not that the law is not in effect, it's that they have decided not to enforce it for a year. However, it could still come back to "bite" someone, is the concern some have. So some businesses are choosing to refrain from selling items beginning now, that they think the law may pertain to.I've heard this law is a mess to interpret, and lawyers are divided on how they believe it should be interpreted. Yep, that is the problem. It could come back to bite us (anyone that sells 'tainted' items even at yard sales or resale shops) if someone can prove that there was indeed lead in an item that was sold to them. Our local resale and goodwills will not take toys or clothing with 'bling' or zippers for fear of a lawsuit. I am tired of this lead law too, however with sue happy people around I am not taking any chances *sigh*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 My understanding is that , it's not that the law is not in effect, it's that they have decided not to enforce it for a year. However, it could still come back to "bite" someone, is the concern some have. So some businesses are choosing to refrain from selling items beginning now, that they think the law may pertain to.I've heard this law is a mess to interpret, and lawyers are divided on how they believe it should be interpreted. Thanks for the clarification/correction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I just spent quite a lot of time today worrying about this. I'm thinking of sewing some things to sell on Etsy this summer, but can I do that if they're toys or otherwise for children? Etsy is full of kids' stuff, so I suppose I can, but it seems like we're all just trusting to luck and hoping none of it comes back to bite us. I hear that cotton cloth is just fine, but do things like vinyl snaps have phthalates in them? Do I get in horrible trouble for that? Argh! :willy_nilly::ack2::blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 we need a Yard Sale forum :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 we need a Yard Sale forum :D Like an international Craig's List, cool! I just donated some bigger toys to Salvation Army. I went after hours and dropped them in their box. They didn't have a sign stating they weren't accepting toys, thankfully. Seriously, I'd hate to throw away perfectly good toys, these were boys things like Big trucks and hot wheel carriers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 The way they are regulating everything "harmful" these days makes me wonder how all of us older folks ever managed to get to adulthood. Ain't that the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 It's just ridiculous. Stupid government trying to legislate common sense.:glare: They did it with motorcycle parts, too. My boys are majorly bummed, 'cause you know, 12 and 13 year old boys frequently put the lead pieces of their motorcycles into their mouth to gnaw on them.:001_huh: :lol::lol::lol: I can still drop anything off at Goodwill here in the frozen north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnieB Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Just a suggestion for anyone else that runs into the same situation of a thrift store refusing to take a donation because of fear and the lead law (and I'm not bashing them, they have to protect their business, I guess, so it's certainly their right). Daycare centers, church Sunday schools, even some public elementary schools would have probably been thrilled to get those puzzles and games. Since they aren't re-selling the items, they aren't required to concern themselves with the lead law.....and common sense hopefully would prevail that cardboard/paper puzzles, even plastic toys aren't likely to be any more harmful to their students than the items they already have in their classroom! I'm sure after a long day of garage selling you will be too tired to want to find one of these places, so maybe keep it in mind now before your sale and inquire about whether they're interested in any leftovers. I know our church even put a notice in their bulletin that they'd appreciate being thought of for donations of items refused by the local Goodwill. They run a preschool so they can always use stuff, and they store a lot to rotate every couple of months so the kids don't get bored. If you have just a few items, even check with your doctor/dentist office, as they may be thrilled to have a few more items to entertain their patients (ok, maybe not the cardboard/paper items which couldn't be cleaned for the next day.....ahhhh, my first job as a tween was sterilizing my uncle's waiting room toys each evening). I totally love the idea of keeping lead items away from children.....but I have some real concerns about the stupidity of this new law. I've never in my life read a report that paper could contain lead......or fabric clothing without metal buttons/zippers/etc. I hope that some level headed non-government overreactors get involved in revising this law to protect our children without unnecessarily filling our landfills and raising prices because we can no longer buy safe things used! Ok, climbing off the high horse here, but our local used stores are dying a slow death, where last year I was probably up for selection as best customer, now I find myself leaving empty handed. And at this point I'm still too cheap (and broke) to buy new, my kids don't have any new toys to play with, and by summer will likely be required to stay in the house instead of appearing in public naked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I continue to wonder why the government worries so much about what is in the NON-edible items. I wish they'd put that much thought and consideration into our pharmaceuticals and food supply!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 ConnieB, I completely agree with you. I have donated to the local preschool, girl's shelter and even the elementary public school. We were exhausted after the yard sale, and my husband desperately needed his garage back to sharpen mowers and finish building the table he is making for the boys. I felt bad for him after hauling a van-full of stuff, carrying it in, etc. only to be told that they couldn't take this and that -- even CD towers that were in a bag of containers that they wouldn't take! He was totally over it when he got home -- so sick of looking at the stuff that he asked if he could just pitch them. We even had perfectly good curtain rods which they wouldn't take because the rods weren't in bags. How many people donate curtain rods which are brand new in sealed bags? I am even over freecycle because of the emails flooding in, the requirement that I wait 24 hours before making my decision, then trying to follow up on people to see if they are even going to come. I may take the games and puzzles to the preschool tomorrow since some are still in bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 This whole thing is just beyond stupidity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellyndria Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I continue to wonder why the government worries so much about what is in the NON-edible items. I wish they'd put that much thought and consideration into our pharmaceuticals and food supply!! :iagree: :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) I should just be quite lol. Edited March 8, 2009 by dwkilburn1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenS Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 The law covers both lead and phthalates (something in plastic). Ideally this would protect us from all the stuff that is made overseas and not tested properly. Unfortunately, it's hitting the wrong end of the problem. Technically you can't even donate or give the stuff away, either, which is where libraries started getting concerned. Sigh, rant, and sigh some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 The law covers both lead and phthalates (something in plastic). Ideally this would protect us from all the stuff that is made overseas and not tested properly. Unfortunately, it's hitting the wrong end of the problem. Technically you can't even donate or give the stuff away, either, which is where libraries started getting concerned. Sigh, rant, and sigh some more. Our base library has a rather small children's section that is heavily stocked with older books. American Heritage Junior Library, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, all sorts of older biographies. I even found some C. W. Anderson books that I'd missed as a kid (Billy and Blaze). It has all the Marguerite Henry books that I remember pouring over. They are moving into a new building in the late spring and I'm so afraid that these books will just disappear during the move. Especially since they don't do book sales so they would either get boxed up for sale as government surplus or get thrown away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I couldn't bear it! I took the bags out and sorted them into two bags. One for the preschool down the street and one for the girl's shelter a little farther down the street. Perhaps they'll take them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I couldn't bear it! I took the bags out and sorted them into two bags. One for the preschool down the street and one for the girl's shelter a little farther down the street. Perhaps they'll take them. Good for you. That makes me smile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 That was very nice of you, Dawn! Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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