As they say, one person’s trash is another’s treasure, and these days, every little bit helps. Yard sales have exploded in popularity, and the Wall Street Journal noted that yard sale listings on Craigslist are up 60 percent in recent months.
But selling your stuff is not as simple as it seems.
The complicated federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act holds yard sale hosts legally responsible for selling items that have been recalled. Anyone selling products, either new or used, which have been recalled or banned by the act is effectively breaking the law.
Based on the 28-page handbook released by the Consumer Protection and Safety Commission in 2008, avoid selling the following products:
• Commonly recalled products such as cribs, playpens, bunk beds, and baby walkers.
• Toys, children's products, or furniture with paint containing more than the legal limit of lead. Common items cited by the CSPC include cheap children's metal jewelry and clothes with metal decorations or snaps.
• Toys or children’s products containing more than the legal limit of phthalates. The handbook states “Be wary of certain products: very soft vinyl or plastic toys (excluding latex or silicone), or other children’s products where the plastic is soft enough to enable an infant to grasp it more readily, may contain phthalates.” Typical products of this kind include, but are not limited to, bath and pool toys, dolls, and pacifiers.
• Books geared toward children, which may contain lead or phthalates.
The CPSC believes it is the merchant or seller’s responsibility to ensure their merchandise meets proper criteria.
For more information, visit Recalls.gov.
Hilary A
08:56:15 AM on Thu Aug 13 2009
Car seats should also be on this list. Many people sell expired car seats at tag sales, or ones that have been in accidents. Or, the car seats have not been taken car of in the proper manner (straps cleaned in a washing machine - big no no). Only buy a car seat from someone you know and can learn the history of the seat.