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Toy recalls and your holiday shopping list
Filed under: Places To Go, Health & Safety: Babies, In The News, Going Green, Shopping and recalls
According to a new report the recent massive toy recalls have some in the industry very worried with regard to this holiday season. The fear is that all the recalls will (rightly) keep skeptical parents from buying traditional toys.
This means the worst for kids: CLOTHES instead of toys for the holidays! I'm kidding a bit, but the fear is real, at least on the part of retailers and manufacturers of toys that lately have been recalled for containing lead or having flaws in their design.
The main issue with the toy recalls at this time of year, from the toymakers' perspectives, is that there is little to no time left for offering replacements. When the toys come from places like China, where shipment can take even longer, the chances of replacement are basically none.
Aqua Dots in particular are a big example in this article. They were listed on everyone's To Buy list and have now been recalled. While some retailers will feel the crunch after having to pull such items they were counting on as big sellers for the holidays, others such as Target believe that they will still be able to meet customer demand with other options given their toy inventory.
The constant recalls certainly have me thinking. My son is relatively young to be excited by opening toy presents on Christmas, but I am overly cautious when it comes to buying him any toy these days for fear that it could be pulled off the shelves moments later.
It's too bad that once again people seem more worried about money than they do about the safety of our children. I am sure the concern is there, but it's still being expressed as the loss of a dollar.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-09-2007 @ 11:00AM
meredith said...What it has done for me is this: Instead of buying a cart full of toys just because they have my daughter's favorite characters on them, I have researched and found toys made in the US and the UK. I am looking for toys that are more educational, made of natural products (preferably organic) and can be used long term.
Since I won't be buying as many things, I am able to spend a little more on a few quality items.
Indiscriminate retailers should be scared, because I am not alone.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 11:33AM
BHcolin said...I went shopping the other day for my niece and nephew (almost 2, almost 5), it was so difficult. It seems that about everything is made in China. My nephew really wants a remote control car -- but everyone I saw is from China. It will certainly keep me from buying some toys. I do find in speciality stores toys made in US and UK, and I do buy educational toys too -- but sometimes they have their mind set on certain toy.
And what's confusing is on the news they showed the Geo Trax train engine that was recalled, but it also showed the tracks in the background. Now I'm all worried about the Geo Trax (and I've got containers full of them at the house)
So yeah my nephew's Birthday (in Dec. ) and their Christmas will certainly be different that last year. Cause for their health I have to think differently. Plus the hassle -- and who wants to take a toy away a kid loves.
Reply
11-14-2007 @ 1:03AM
Millie said...I'm shopping for the children in my family at http://safetoyinfo.blogspot.com. They have good companies on a safe toy list and I can check the recalls every morning right there. I'm not buying as much but I'm buying good, safe presents that'll last. No junk.
Millie
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11-24-2007 @ 4:44AM
Lisa said...China can kill all of us and never fire a shot. Just keep poisoning our food, dog food and our children like they have been and they will have a country with no living life ready for them to just move in and take over in a couple years. I just heard tonight they are now poisoning us in the clothes we get from China. I don't want anything from China any more.
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11-25-2007 @ 2:07AM
Cheri said...I am a worried parent. I sit here with rubbermaid containers full of polly pocket and hand made items made from Aquadots from my children. What a shame!
I too am looking for quality items this yr. The kids are making up their list and I have told them, Santa cannot deliver anything from China this yr. It got me to thinking about what toy makers do not have items made in China. So, I asked at the hair dresser today. What an uneducated flock of people there. I had one woman, from across the room say "Mattel, they are a wonderful American company based out of Ca." she said. Hello! Tell that to my daughter that cannot play with her favorite polly sets anymore. Everyone is so big on what's not safe, what is? I will spend two times longer shopping to see what it's made of, where it's made this yr. Give me an AMERICAN made list, instead of a recall list for a change and I will be so happy!
I contacted a Tupperware agent and asked her where tupperware makes their toys and she couldn't answer me. Safe and fun alternatives are what I am shopping for. I am thinking on the lines of crafty items for the kids this yr. It should be an interesting Cmas for sure.
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