Thrifty parents, say 'bye-bye' to bargains thanks to CPSIA

I can't remember the last clothing I bought for any of my three little boys from a regular retail store. I (and my wallet) prefer to stock their closets with a funky variety of clothes picked up at thrift stores, garage sales, and the Goodwill outlet. Same with the majority of our toys and kids' room bedding. What I don't buy used, I buy (as much as possible) from small local crafters or other small toymakers.

I was already ranting and raving about how the CPSIA -- the bill that requires toys and children's products (from clothing to bicycles to sippy cups) be tested for lead and phthalates before they can be sold -- will put most small toymakers out of business in the U.S. entirely. Then tonight one of my friends brought it to my attention that these same restrictions will virtually end all resale business in children's products. While the phthalates testing is only required on products manufactured after the act goes into effect on February 10, 2009, the lead testing is required on all products sold in the country, including resale. This means no thrift stores, no Goodwill, no garage sales, no rummage sales, no eBay, no toys or baby clothes or cute children's t-shirts at craft bazaars, no nothing that hasn't been passed through the CPSC with its enormously expensive testing requirements.

Update: As of January 8th, CPSC issued a bulletin that essentially said it would not require resellers to test for lead and phthalates, though they still should not sell items with levels of lead that are too high, or recalled products.