New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide

Friday, September 18, 2009 By Diane Macedo
Anyone who has children or anyone who has garage sales, should read this story found on Fox News.
Just when you think it can't get any more bizarre with how our government interfears (pardon the pun) in matters that they should best leave alone, they come up with a method to fine people who violate selling used goods. If the used good is on any recall list you could be fined up to $15 million if you are caught selling it at your yard sale. This all came about after a large number of brand new Chinese toys were recalled for not meeting the Consumer Product Safety Standards. Then someone came up with the brilliant idea to apply the same standards to used items.


I can just imagine the sting operations of the yardsale police as they wait patiently for the exchange of 25 cents handed over to the toy peddler dealing illegal hotwheel cars made of supposed lead paint. Now don't get me wrong I am all for child safety, and I am glad this news is being reported as I would not want to cause harm to anyone unknowingly, so now that I know this I would patiently go through the commissions information handout before my next rummage sale and destroy my illegal contraband.

My first impression of this article left me in agreement with the statement made by one person interviewed saying, "It is scary to think that there could be such hefty fines imposed on unsuspecting households," another garage sale organizer, Patti Lombardi, told FOXNews.com. "I think I speak for many people when I say that the government spends too much time interfering in the individual citizen's personal life and this is almost bordering on the ridiculous ... what if it opens up a Pandora's box of litigation brought by the purchasers of items at garage sales?" I am well aware that I would not buy an old infant car seat without first checking to see if it was up to standard and I would want the Product Safety Commision to inform me of problems with potentially unsafe toys. I just think it is a little crazy to make it a criminal offense to tell people what they can not sell. Hey no crime committed for giving it away though. What are they going to do about that? I'm dismayed that most people will not even know about this law unless they just happen on to a newstory like this one. Makes you wonder what other suprises are out there. Apparently gone are the days to just inform you of problems one found and hope you do the right thing. Now as indicated in this article no one is accountable unless they place astronomical punitive fines to prevent wrong doing. This law would be ok if I thought it would do some good in protecting children but it won't. It will only make it harder on the consumer of goods at the household level. When something is sold to me brand new from the manufacture or importer, you bet I expect that it should be held up to safety standards, but if I buy something used I already know I'm taking a risk and it is my responsibility to get what I pay for if I choose to buy from a resaler. I don't think they should be punished in the same way the large seller of new products especially childrens toys should be.


I liked the way the writer of this article included a few critics view of the Resale Round-up as it is called. One critic said, "It's absurd when nanny-state bureaucrats want to regulate things we buy at mom-and-pop shops or second-hand stores," Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian National Committee, told FOXNews.com. "Consumer product safety is best left to a free market where suppliers can compete based on reputation and track records. American grown-ups aren't stupid, and they know they need to be careful about what they buy for their children from complete strangers at no-name stores." Other critics point out there has never been any harm from lead found on toys but mostly harm from misuse of the toy. I think from this article alone I am in total favor of education and not legislation. That's my take.