October 13, 2009

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By Sean Oberle, publisher, Product Safety Letter

Have the media been targeting scary stories at consumers about the CPSC, garage sales and huge fines? Yes they have. At the end of this piece are links to two of the more frightening. Many others articles are less strident but still give similar warnings, and a quick search of the blogosphere and other new-media sites finds more pieces running the gamut from mild warnings to doomsday predictions.

Why does this matter?

Product Safety Forum is a free service of Product Safety Letter. Its mission is twofold: to promote frank and open airing of product safety issues and to provide advice and guidance from top experts in the field. Do you have an idea or article you think would make a great piece for Product Safety Forum, including commentary or reaction to this one? Then email Publisher Sean Oberle to discuss it. To read more stories, see the archives.

Last and this Mondays, Product Safety Forum ran pieces by Inez Tenenbaum, CPSC Chairman, (Garage Sales and CPSC -- Sorting the Facts from the Myths) and Rob Wilson, President of Challenge and Fun and board member of the Handmade Toy Alliance (Consumer Confusion Comes From CPSC Guidance, Not the Media).

Tenenbaum's piece targeted media stories like those cited below. Wilson's asserted that Tenenbaum doesn't get it and that she misunderstands what is scaring people.

The fact is that there were sensationalist media stories clearly intended to scare consumers and Tenenbaum chose to address that fact. However, the fact that she did not choose to address other CPSIA issues in a particular article does not mean she is unaware of, disinterested in or not planning to address them.

My writing this should not be construed as a defense of Tenenbaum. That's not my job, and in any event, I'm officially neutral on CPSC issues.

It should be construed as a defense of accuracy and clarity. That's my job.

On the other hand, this article should not be construed as an attack on Wilson's piece. I'm not commenting on the overall merit of his opinion -- that CPSC needs to better address certain CPSIA issues that are confusing and scaring consumers and small business owners. Again, that's not my job, and, in any event, I'm officially neutral on CPSC issues.

This piece also is not prompted by anything Tenenbaum said or did in reaction to Wilson's piece. Indeed, I haven't spoken to her about it yet, so I still have no idea what she thinks or even if she cares. Again, it's about accuracy and clarity.

New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide
Fox News
Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign.

New Government Yard Sale Regulations Could Lead to Fines of $15 Million
The Examiner
People hauling their unwanted items to the yard early on a Saturday are hoping to bring in a few extra dollars. Now, due to new government regulations, setting out the wrong items could lead to fines of $100,000 or even up to $15 million for repeat offenses.