Click to read an article featuring Lynn from the April 11, 2005 "National Enquirer," "11 things you should never buy used." This article got her noticed as a consumer advocate.
The Enquirer article led to a television appearance on Inside Edition that aired on May 24th. Her section was about exposing unsafe items readily purchased used.
Click logo above to watch Lynn's Inside Edition Clip.
Here is some of Lynn's research done for the Inside Edition piece on buying and selling used items and public safety:
BICYCLE HELMETS
Bicycle Helmets for Children—must have CPSC sticker inside if made after 1999 and foam to fit tightly and securely. For more information:
http://www.bhsi.org/mustibuy.htm
CAR SEATS
Car Seat Recalls
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm#PARTA
http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
D.O.T. Auto Seat Safety Hotline—Run by the US Government— 1-800-424-9393 Mon-Fri 8-10 pm Eastern
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting
ALL RECALLS
Government Recalls
Consumer Product Safety Commission
CRIBS
Antique Cribs are on the CPSC Most Wanted List
Old cribs can pose a number of dangers to babies and toddlers. Old mattresses may be too soft and pose a suffocation risk, or may not fit the crib frame, allowing a baby to slip between the frame and mattress. Corner posts can pose a risk to babies who are able to stand up, as loose clothing could become caught on the posts. Slats that are too far apart or decorative holes in the headboards can trap small heads.
Use the following list of CPSC guidelines to determine whether your old crib is safe to use.
- The mattress should be firm and tight-fitting.
- There should be no missing or broken hardware or slats.
- Slats should be no more than 23/8" apart (about the width of a soda can).
- Corner posts should not be higher than 1/16".
- There should be no design cutouts in the headboard or footboard.
Though an old crib may be beautiful and sentimental, if it doesn't meet modern safety standards, it should not be used. Cribs that don't meet safety standards should be destroyed or used for decorative purposes only.
Mattresses
Bedding can be expensive. It's important to know what you're buying. The easiest way to tell if you're buying new or used is to look at the label attached to the mattress. In most cases, new mattresses will include a white tag or label that indicates that the mattress contains "all new materials, consisting of...." Depending on the state, used mattresses may contain a tag, sometimes red or yellow in color, that warns that the mattress contains used materials. Federal law requires that any mattress that contains used stuffing bear a tag or label with that information. If you don't see any tag, consider doing business with another retailer. Otherwise, you simply don't know what you're buying.
Not all states have labeling requirements for the sale of used mattresses, and for those that do, the requirements can vary. For example, in many places, old mattresses that have been recovered with new ticking (strong, tightly woven cotton or linen fabric) can be sold as long as they are sanitized or disinfected in some way before sale. In other states, only certain parts of mattresses, such as the springs, can be reused. These rules apply to traditional retailers as well as to thrift, secondhand and consignment shops.
The agency that regulates mattress labeling varies by state. To find out what the bedding laws are in your state, you may have to contact the State Departments of Health, Consumer Affairs, Agriculture or Licensing.
CALIFORNIA USED BEDDING LAWS
http://www.sterifab.com/ca_news.html
The California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (BHFTI) Chief Karen Hatchel approved an alternative method of sanitizing used/secondhand or renovated bedding products which, according to Hatchel, is to better meet consumer protection needs.
Effective Jan. 1, 1998, BHFTI allows the use of the spray chemical disinfectant Steri-fab as an additional, approved method for the disinfection of mattresses, with any type of ticking or plastic covering, and box springs.
According to John McCormack, BHFTI technical coordinator for research and development, the new method provides an option to - not a substitute for -the common dry-heat method of sanitization in California. California law required that used/secondhand or renovated bedding be dry-heated in ovens, a sanitization process which takes two or three hours for each mattress, limiting the volume of used bedding that can be disinfected in a day.
Unlike the dry-heat method, the chemical disinfectant permits a tracing method to enforce compliance with the state's sanitization laws. Steri-fab contains a fluorescent crystal suspension which, when exposed to ultra-violet light, can be seen, thus permitting inspectors to determine whether products have been properly disinfected.
With the alternative method the Bureau hopes that the less-than-honest renovators and businesses dealing in used/secondhand bedding will actually start sanitizing their products, rather than saying they had used the dry-heat process when in fact they had never done so.
"We see a lot of non-compliance," said Hatchel, "and we are constantly moving to stronger compliance [with state regulations]. The tracer chemical gives us greater tools to aggressively enforce the laws."
Hatchel explained that the Bureau does spot inspections and looks to make sure that the Bureau's strict guidelines for the use of Steri-fab are followed.
eBay RULES Regarding Recalls
eBay strongly supports the efforts of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to protect consumers against potentially hazardous goods. The CPSC, an independent federal regulatory agency, protects consumers by issuing warnings about goods that might be hazardous, and even issuing recalls of certain products. Items that have been the subject of CPSC action include lawn darts, baby products (such as defective cribs, infant carriers, and car seats), propane heaters, and thousands of other products.
If you're a seller on eBay, you should take a few minutes to check with the CPSC and ensure that the products you're selling have not been the subjects of a CPSC recall. And if you're a buyer, educate yourself about recalled products in areas that you might be doing some buying. Take a look at the CPSC's About Me page created specifically to alert eBayers about potentially hazardous items that might inadvertently get listed on eBay. It also has a link to the CPSC Web site that's loaded with helpful safety tips and a searchable database of recalled products.
All child safety seats that are not authorized for sale in the U.S. are strictly prohibited on eBay. Get more information on car seats from SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
Also consider consulting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website to learn information about recalled motor vehicles, child safety seats, vehicle equipment and tires.
eBay RULES Regarding Cosmetics and Used Clothing
Used clothing may be listed on eBay, so long as the clothing has been thoroughly cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Listings that contain inappropriate or extraneous descriptions will be ended. Additionally, used underwear, including but not limited to, boxer shorts, panties, briefs, and athletic supporters will not be permitted.
Used cosmetics are not permitted for sale on eBay. Opened, but unused, cosmetics will generally be allowed. For more information, please visit The U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
