Saturday, February 28, 2009

Weighing Down the Thrift Shops

One has to wonder if an "unintended" consequence of regulations(!) is to get you into the Wal-Mart, 'eh?

Hey, look, no one wants kids' poisoned; however, when is government going to start looking out for YOUR WALLET? Remember, they gave corporations tax breaks to move overseas.


"Lead law puts thrift stores in lurch; Some stop selling children's clothes" by Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff | February 27, 2009

A federal law designed to protect children from lead products has caused several Massachusetts thrift stores to stop selling kids' clothing, shutting off an important shopping alternative for families struggling in this recession.

Yes, we are from the government and we are here to help -- with they approve psychotropic drugs for our kids' "disorders."

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which took effect Feb. 10, prohibits all shops from selling children's products that contain too much lead or potentially harmful chemicals. Congress passed the law in response to a series of recalls of toys and jewelry that had high lead content and were linked to several child deaths and illnesses. But the legislation applies to all children's products, including clothes, which could contain lead in metal zippers, buttons, or painted fabrics.

The sweeping nature of the law has been devastating for many resale shops nationwide, such as those run by Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. Unlike traditional merchants, thrift stores do not deal directly with manufacturers, which can provide proof that products meet safety standards. The regulation also applies retroactively to goods already in stores, and many thrift stores do not have funds to conduct the tests themselves....

Yeah, better head for Wal-Mart then, huh?

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Morgan Memorial Goodwill chief executive Joanne Hilferty:

"We expected that thrift stores would be exempt from the law for a period of time. But we're not. It's an interesting example of unintended consequences."

I don't think they are unintended. We are always told unintended consequences, but I think they are intended. The elite rulers and manipulators have had things work out just the way they've wanted, but they didn't intend it to be that way?

The fallout from the law is especially damaging for consumers who have increasingly visited thrift stores during the tough economic times.

Yeah, thanks Congress.

The National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops said members across the country reported, on average, a 35 percent increase in business in October and November, compared with the same period the previous year. Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries had a record $1 million in sales in October, a 30 percent increase from last year. This boom is in stark contrast to traditional retailers, which saw sales fall 2.8 percent in October - the largest percentage decline since 1992....

I TOLD YOU this was about getting you into the TRADITIONAL RETAILERS -- so they can MAKE PROFIT at YOUR EXPENSE, Americans!!!

--more--"

Too PROTECT YOUR KIDS, of course!!!!

That's why we've been told all the terror lies, right?

For our OWN GOOD?!!!