When you look for bargains, how confident are you that what's for sale is safe?
Story Created:
May 8, 2008 at 8:59 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 8, 2008 at 10:51 PM CDT
Just this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled more than four-point-one million items meant for kids.
Most are toys, some are clothes, all considered dangerous by federal regulators.
While these recalls are effective if the items are on "store shelves", they may not be as effective if they're sold at a second hand store or garage sale.
The recalls happen so often, it's resulting in consumer confusion.
When Becky and Adam Weber shop for their one year old son Hudson, they don't know what to believe. Becky tells us, "I'm not sure if it's like them being too overly cautious or if it's just that there are that many things wrong."
On this day, The Webers try their luck at Sioux Falls garage sales, looking for slightly used clothing and toys for Hudson.
"You have to be picky and choosy about what you look for." Adam admits his level of caution is eyeball deep. He checks the toy or clothing for defects and dirtiness, but if there are other dangers there, he would not know it.
"We really want to reach consumers." The Consumer Product Safety Commission's Patty Davis cautions shoppers against buying certain things for their kids from garage sales.
Things like old cribs where kids could become trapped in a rail, clothing with drawstrings near the neck, kids could choke and old hair dryers that don't have this square safety plug: dryers without them could electrocute kids if they dropped the dryer into water. "It really can save their life of the life of a family member."
Davis adds bargain hunters might do better at second hand stores, where...hopefully...the merchandise for sale may be monitored more closely than it might be in someone's garage.
"Hopefully our consigners aren't bringing in items that are recalled." For 16 years, Wendy Haugen has owned and operated "Kids & Kaboodle", a second hand store for kids clothes, toys and furniture. She tells me over the last six months, the time she has spent on the internet researching recalls has skyrocketed. "But we also feel it's part of the consumers responsibility to be checking."
Haugen says her consigners know not to bring in anything in that's not safe and clean and ready to be used by a child. A rule haugen won't waiver on. "If something comes in that is recalled you know we won't take it."
Haugen cautions, if you shop at a second hand store, ask them point blank if they research their items to insure none are under a recall.
This brings us back to Becky and Adam Weber and son Hudson.
They continue looking for bargains, hoping their purchases won't be dangerous for Hudson. Adam is looking for a good buy. "Whether it be clothing just something that we can use second hand but it's in good shape or whether it be a toy that we find a good deal."
