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May 27, 2009
Big Brother Cracks Down on Second-Hand Sales
If you're planning a garage sale or want to make a few bucks selling stuff you don't want on eBay, make sure to hire a lawyer first:
Just like megasize toy manufacturers and stores that sell products from China, the notoriously broad and confusing federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act applies to you and your front yard.
Anyone selling products, even used ones, that have been recalled or banned by the act is in violation. …
Besides people holding yard sales, the law applies to thrift or consignment stores, charities, flea markets and people who sell on auction Web sites, the [Consumer Product Safety Commission resellers'] handbook says.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse, so you'd better memorize the blizzard of regulations blowing out of Washington. If you're already a reseller, you're probably guilty, so report to the Castle at once.
The commission studied thrift stores nationwide in 1999 and found that 69 percent were selling products that had been recalled, banned or failed to meet safety standards, according to the handbook.
The problem is, resellers don't have any juice in the District of Criminals, because they can't afford lobbyists or big campaign donations. Here's how it works:
As the safety act's Feb. 10 compliance date loomed, frustrated manufacturers and retailers — including book publishers, toothbrush makers and bicycle suppliers — lobbied to have their products excluded from the act, or to be granted stays of enforcement until they could figure out how to comply.
Some succeeded. Others, including the resale industry, did not.
Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, said member stores are now doing the best they can to follow the law.
"It's just the way it was written, it's almost impossible to abide by this law," Meyer said.
Some stores, to avoid any risk, quit accepting children's products altogether, she said.
Those who dare to hold garage sales are advised to avoid selling a long list of common items, including most anything a child might use, largely due to the menace of phthalates and trace elements of lead.
But the government will still let you sell many items made entirely of wood, so long as there is no paint or hardware, and items made entirely of yarn or certain approved textiles. Needless to say, threads, elastic, and closures should not be metallic. Also, traditional books printed after 1985 are not yet restricted.
Everything else should stay piled up in your garage until the Reign of Moonbattery is over, lest you violate garbage disposal regulations.
On a tip from Wiggins.
Posted by Van Helsing at May 27, 2009 9:14 AM
Comments
Yes the garage sale police are coming! All you PWT republicans better watch out, they're going to take away your livelihood of selling crap Chinese toys in front of your double wide!
Posted by: Anonymous at May 27, 2009 9:34 AM
(I'm reposting this from the huge open thread below, for fear it would get lost in the shuffle)
It's a new day, so naturally there has to be a new initiative from the Obama Administration to interfere in our lives.
Energy Secretary Chu wants everyone to paint their roofs an energy-reflecting white.
Posted by: mega at May 27, 2009 9:38 AM
Say what? first you want to paint our roofs white!!
Next you will want to paint us white!!!
Posted by: Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton at May 27, 2009 9:41 AM
does white paint have lead in it?????
Posted by: blue at May 27, 2009 9:42 AM
"Everything else should stay piled up in your garage until the Reign of Moonbattery is over"
Which moonbat president signed this into law again?
Posted by: brs at May 27, 2009 9:45 AM
Next step:
If you OWN or POSESS any of these "recalled" items, you are GUILTY!!!!!
Posted by: We Are So Screwed at May 27, 2009 9:45 AM
Would like to add:
More probable plan:
Paint white paint on the roofs of WHITE people.
Posted by: We Are So Screwed at May 27, 2009 9:48 AM
sorry to go OT here, but I really want to make sure the maximum number of people see this post.
Tonight on ABC at 9:00, "The Goode Family", about a family that tries to live by the motto "What would Al Gore do?" The preview in WaPo this morning is effing hysterical. Total moonbattery destruction, on network TV!!!! Do not miss.
Posted by: mega at May 27, 2009 9:50 AM
Fudge 'em!
They'll have to come to my garage sale to find out what I'm selling. They better have a warrant if it's not in plain sight; it's going to be very hard to get a warrant without probable cause, and that probable cause would most likely be derived from seeing what I am selling, but they can't see that without a warrant...
Posted by: Henry at May 27, 2009 9:52 AM
Not only that, but I think they are still looking at second hand stores.. which is great for parents who have growing kids. I can get my kid 4 or 5 good outfits and a stuffed toy for just about 20 bucks at a consignment store, and no doubt the liberal bureaucrats wanna get their hands in controlling that.
Posted by: Atomic Lib Smasher at May 27, 2009 9:54 AM
Yes Henry, exactly my point. More huffing and puffing over nothing.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 27, 2009 9:55 AM
It's on the DVR, mega.
Posted by: Henry at May 27, 2009 9:59 AM
Moonbats are big on buying used stuff from 2nd hand stores (including socks and underwear!) and flea markets to keep the stuff from going to land fills and reducing CO2 by reducing the need to produce new products. So much for that idea! Parts of LA huge flea markets and swap meets - better send in the jackbooted feds to shut em down! Do instead of reusing products put them in the trash - off to the landfill they go! People dont have the time to waste figuring out which products are legal and which arent. WHEN IT DOUBT - THROW IT OUT!
Posted by: Ghost of Stalin at May 27, 2009 10:27 AM
To brs above: Yes, indeed, GWB signed this into law. BUT, it was overwhelmingly endorsed by the moonbat House (424-1) and the moonbat Senate (89-3); and was therefore able to override a veto.
For the record, Ron Paul was the lone dissenter. The bill was co-sponsored by WAXMAN (barf) and bobby RUSH (puke), who continue to ignore pleas of commonsense.
Its victims will include not only very small businesses, but also POOR people who can only afford used clothes and toys, and LANDFILLS.
Posted by: Karin at May 27, 2009 10:27 AM
Not being a licensed reseller, and not giving a recipt implies that any product or service purchased at a 'garage sale' is specifically deemed 'as is' with no warranty, guarantee, or return policy, even if it is defective, dangerous, or not safe for any reason. You can't be held liable. In fact, I remember years ago, people began putting signs in the yard that they weren't responsible for any accident you had on the property, for some silly law in the past.
The looters want the goods and they will stop at nothing to get it.
Interesting story on the white roofs, I'll wait for that thread.
Posted by: Eric at May 27, 2009 10:54 AM
The same geniuses who insist they can run the banking, auto, health care, and energy sectors of the economy better than private enterprise came up with this legislation.
Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at May 27, 2009 10:58 AM
Our local area is planning a big valley wide yard sale event will they be here with their snooping noses?
Posted by: SPURWING PLOVER at May 27, 2009 11:46 AM
Karin:
I'm not a fan of the law either, but that's besides my point.
This site regularly refers to Obama et al. as presiding over some sort of totalitarian, communistic, Nazi regime. "Reign of Moonbattery". But this is of course BS.
It's not overheated rhetoric and exageration (though it is those): its lies that put political party/movement before country.
The irony that this particular instance talks about "moonbattery" that was signed into law by the previous president - w/o mentioning that fact - just shows how dishonest those that run this site really are. I'm simply pointing this out.
Posted by: brs at May 27, 2009 2:05 PM
"brs at May 27, 2009 2:05 PM"
We calls 'em like we sees 'em!
There's nothing "ironic" about it. This is NOT a "Republican" site, or a "racist" site; we hate idiots of all kinds.
Posted by: KHarn at May 27, 2009 2:21 PM
"We calls 'em like we sees 'em!"
And you really think that Hitler and Stalin are good historical comparisons for Oabama. Is that really how you "sees 'em" ?
I think that some of the Obama/Dem poicies could indeed be hurtful to the country, and that we need real and reasoned opposition. Instead we too often get historically and factually bankrupt nonsense about private Obama youth armies, domestic concentration camps, Nazi comparisons, etc.
Posted by: brs at May 27, 2009 2:59 PM
"Yes, indeed, GWB signed this into law. BUT, it was overwhelmingly endorsed by the moonbat House (424-1) and the moonbat Senate (89-3)"
So there are only three republicans in the senate and one in the house?
Posted by: Anonymous at May 27, 2009 3:13 PM
I don't personally think the nazi/stalinist comparisons are too far out for this idiot.
Posted by: Mr Evilwrench at May 27, 2009 3:20 PM
"I don't personally think the nazi/stalinist comparisons are too far out for this idiot."
Please elaborate as to
1. the basis for this
2. tell us where he goes next
Posted by: brs at May 27, 2009 3:32 PM
Just wanted to say a big huge CONGRATS on the book! I look forward to reading it, and I love your blog and your column. Can't wait for the new blog
Posted by: runescape money at May 28, 2009 1:08 AM
Barack Obama is the devils son
Posted by: Flu-Bird at May 28, 2009 7:28 AM
