Comments on: CPSIA: the countable costs

By: Tristan Benz

Tristan Benz — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:52:19 +0000

Thank you for continuing this unique coverage; for pointing out the incredibly diverse range of negative impact CPSIA has caused in America. It is not limited to the woes of those of us in the children’s industry (big or small). I liken CPSIA to a tsunami that is still on its way in – the rest of society will only realize what we already know (having been hit first), once the wave hits them and recedes.

CPSIA impacts every parent out there – every family – every child. I have started posting my notes to customers on one of my blogs for Maiden America – I am hoping it helps people (beyond our customers) “connect” with this experience and realize that CPSIA has effectively torn their choices / rights / authority away from them.

I’m sorry but, when you have to tell a customer you cannot even GIVE them a spare part for something as basic as a hair barrette (and you’re giving them ideas as to how to creatively find a solution when you have a bin full of perfectly good parts and could send one for the price of a stamp!), you realize you really are NOT living in AMERICA anymore. Nope – you’re living like those in other countries – in places where people have no choice but to Jimmy-rig and fix just about everything, because they’re not allowed access to things we [used to] take for granted – “everyday” basic replacement parts or other alternatives.

This whole affair really is an episode of the “Twilight Zone.”

Great post.

By: Vivian Zabel

Vivian Zabel — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:43:48 +0000

I know when I contacted one member of Congress, the junior representative, about my displeasure with the CPSIA, she sent me a letter so proud that she had supported the law and still did. She never addresses the problems I mentioned nor address the fact that I found her wrong.

When I called her office in Washington, needless to say, I was not happy. Not that expressing my horror at her lack of sense did any good.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:34:40 +0000

None of these costs matter. The only thing that matters is the vanity of the Senators and Representatives who can’t bear to admit that, maybe, they made a mistake. So all of you who are losing your businesses, or jobs, or thousands or millions of dollars’ worth of inventory, you just have to suck it up so that some creep in Congress doesn’t have to lose face.

I guess this is the change we can believe in.