CPSC Finds Hazardous Products Being Sold in Thrift Stores

November 17, 1999
Release # 00-018

Source

Forums

Related Articles

For Immediate Release;
Contact: Kim Dulic or Jane Francis
(301) 504-0580

69 percent of thrift stores sell products presenting a risk of death or injury

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today kicks off a national campaign to alert the public that many thrift stores are selling hazardous products that have been recalled, banned or do not meet current safety standards. From May through September 1999, CPSC visited 301 randomly selected thrift stores nationwide. CPSC's study found that 69 percent were selling at least one hazardous product.

The top three products found were children's jackets and sweatshirts with drawstrings presenting a strangulation hazard, hairdryers that do not protect against electrocution and cribs that do not meet current safety standards.

Each year, CPSC recalls 250 to 300 hazardous products. CPSC gets recalled products off retail shelves, but cannot go into consumers' homes and remove them. Recalled products end up being donated or sold in the second-hand goods market, including thrift stores.

"The products found pose a danger of death or serious injury to consumers," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Many consumers and thrift store operators may be unaware of recalls, bans and current safety standards of products offered for sale in the stores."

CPSC found that thrift stores nationwide, including those run by national organizations and local and independent stores, sell the following hazardous products:

• 51 percent sell children's jackets and sweatshirts with drawstrings, presenting a strangulation hazard.
• 20 percent sell hair dryers without protection against electrocution.
• 12 percent sell cribs that do not meet current federal and voluntary safety standards, presenting risks including entrapment and strangulation.
• 10 percent sell recalled halogen torchiere floor lamps without wire or glass guards, presenting a fire hazard.
• 7 percent sell recalled play yards and playpens with protruding hardware or collapsible top rails, presenting a strangulation hazard.
• 4 percent sell recalled car seat carriers with handles that can unexpectedly disengage, causing the seat to flip forward and injure infants.
• 3 percent sell recalled toy basketball sets with nets that present a strangulation hazard to children.
• About 1 percent sell other hazardous products including banned lawn darts, recalled cedar chests and recalled bean bag chairs, all of which present injury and death hazards to children.

CPSC is seeking a commitment from thrift stores to stop selling hazardous products. To help accomplish this, CPSC has prepared a Thrift Store Checklist for thrift stores and shoppers, and model legislation for state governments.

The checklist includes information on how to contact CPSC to check on product recalls, bans and current safety standards. The checklist can be

used as a guide when shopping at thrift stores. Thrift store owners and managers should use the checklist before accepting donations, consignments or purchasing inventory for the store. CPSC is distributing

this checklist to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops (NARTS) and national organizations, including the Salvation Army and Goodwill. CPSC also is giving this information to state and local governments for distribution to area stores. To get a free copy of the checklist, visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov or send a postcard to Thrift Store Checklist, CPSC, Washington, DC 20207. CPSC is encouraging states to adopt model legislation prohibiting thrift

stores from selling certain banned or recalled products. CPSC will distribute this model legislation to organizations such as the National Association of Attorneys General and the National Governors Association.

Anyone who purchases a second-hand product should check with CPSC to determine if it has been banned, recalled or violates current safety standards, and to get information on the appropriate remedy. To receive recall notices directly, sign up for instant email notices at our web site www.cpsc.gov or send a fax with your name and fax number to (301) 504-0399.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.