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Today Action 13 Consumer Reporter Jeff Ehling told us about a Consumer Reports lead test. The group found lead in toys not recalled. They also looked at lead testing kits for the home. CR recommends two kinds of kits, here are there web sites:
- www.leadinspector.com
- www.leadcheck.com
We also have a link to help parents learn more about the dangers of lead:
http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/lead.htm
A friend of mine sent this article from the UK's Guardian to me. Would you GPS out your kid's clothes?:
The asset's coordinates are longitude -0.098610, latitude 51.519699. At least that's what the read-out on my computer screen says. I've never heard my son, Robbie, described as an asset before, but I guess there's a first time for anything. Two minutes later, I get an update. He's barely moved, since he's walking at an unbelievable 1.1 mph. It's definitely him. No one else can dawdle like that. I switch the screen over to a Google Earth satellite map and follow his return to the building.
Robbie is wearing one of the first GPS tracker jackets, launched this week in the UK by Blade Runner, the clothing manufacturer that specialises in equipment for the police and security services and which recently brought out the first school uniform in slash-proof Kevlar, in partnership with Asset Monitoring Solutions (AMS), a market leader in tracking and security technologies.
And he's impressed. Not so much with my ability to know where he's been, but with the jacket itself. He'd been decidedly sniffy when I'd shown him the promotional picture of a three-year-old wrapped up in a twee puffa jacket.
"I'm not wearing that," he announced. When you're nearly 12, street cred counts for a great deal. But the jacket that turns up is black, urban and edgy, with a sewn-in iPod holder. He nods: "Nice."
The Associated Press is reporting that federal health advisers have recommended that cold and cough medicines not be used in children under 6.
I've talked to parents who say this is not right and they will still give their kids the medicines.
Do you agree?
By Jeff Ehling
(10/06/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - While Halloween is still a few weeks away, you might want to start thinking about Christmas.
If you're not careful, the toys your kids want could be gone long before you start looking.
It's one of the hottest toys this year, the Wii game system from Nintendo. If your kid wants one, it will not be easy to find. From Wal-Mart, to Target, to Circuit City, to Best Buy, the stores sell out as soon as supplies arrive.
The Wii system is so hard to find, that we could only find one console. It was a display model at Best Buy and it was not for sale.
If you want one of the $250 game systems, the best advice is to call the store every day. Supplies usually come in at night, so call first thing in the morning.
If you have not started your shopping yet, you are not alone.
"Oh, my goodness, heavens no," said Ret Ekdah. "I don't start until two days before Christmas."
"It's October, I don't start until the 23rd of December if I am lucky," said Marina Houghtaling.
But parents may want to rethink that strategy. Retailers are cutting prices now on popular toys and that could mean supplies will dry up before December.
Wal-Mart is leading the way, cutting the cost of:
Fisher-Price Kid Tough Digital Camera to $54.88 -- down from $64.88 "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" game for $10, down from $18.96 Razor Ripstik Caster Board, $77.77 instead of $93.93.
Some parents say the price reductions and the ever expanding recall list are forcing them into the stores now.
Other retailers have not followed Wal-Mart's cost cutting lead. That means toys that sell out in that store may be available elsewhere, but you'll pay more for them.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)
We haven't even made it to Halloween yet and the hot toy list is already out. At least one of MANY hot toy lists.
Toy Wishes magazine seems to the be the first out with the 2007 Holiday Hot Dozen. Here are a few hot ones on the list:
AMERICAN IDOL TALENT CHALLENGE
(Tech2Go/Ages 8 & up/Approximate Retail Price: $49.99)
Think you've got what it takes to make it on American Idol? Well, now you can give it a try without ever leaving your home. Connect the unit to your TV, pop in the DVD and give it a whirl. The unit comes with a working microphone and mixer and 12 songs to test your talent. Use it in Karaoke mode. Try the echo effects. Compete with friends who'll rate you using the DVD remote. And then face the judges. You'll hear reactions to your performance from Randy, Paula and Simon.
AQUA DOTS SUPER STUDIO
(Spin Master/Ages 4 & up/Approximate Retail Price: $24.99)
This is one of the most innovative activity sets we've seen in a long time! Use the translucent, multicolored beads to create all kinds of cool designs. Follow the included templates, or create your own. When your creation is picture perfect, give it a spray with water, and the dots magically adhere. Make all kinds of decorations, light catchers and almost anything you can imagine.
EYE-CLOPS
(JAKKS Pacific/Ages 6 & up/Approximate Retail Price: $49.99)
Ever wondered what a bug looks like magnified 200 times? How about a hair, or a dollar bill? Well, wonder no more. The Eye-Clops is the ultimate electronic magnifier that plugs into your TV and gives you a whole new perspective on virtually anything you want to explore.
GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK
(Red Octane/Approximate Retail Price: $99.99)
The latest in the series of hard-rocking video games that were among the first to use established video game platforms in a whole new way. Hook up the guitar peripheral to your PlayStation, Xbox or Wii and get rocking. The new version includes tracks from Alice Cooper, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Heart, Kiss and many more.
HANNAH MONTANA SINGING DOLLS AND POP STAR STAGE
(Play Along/Ages 6 & up/Approximate Retail Price: Doll: $19.99, Pop Star Stage: $59.99)
She's just about the hottest act out there, and kids can't get enough of Hannah Montana. Now they can bring all the fun to life right at home. The Hannah doll really sings actual songs from the teen sensation, and when it's time to put on a concert, the fold-out Pop Star Stage is the perfect setting. Hook up any music player, and the whole place starts rocking!
We were sent this list of top Halloween costumes:
From Yahoo! Shopping, here are the top 10 little characters likely to come trick or treating in your neighborhood this year:
1. Pirate
2. Star Wars character
3. Hannah Montana
4. High School Musical character
5. Wizard of Oz character
6. Fairy
7. Alice In Wonderland character
8. Tinkerbell
9. Minnie Mouse
10. Harry Potter character
SOURCE: Yahoo! ShoppingThe adult top 10 costume choices are dominated by female choices indicating that women are already planning their look for the upcoming parties and festivities:
1. Pirate
2. School Girl
3. Nurse
4. Cheerleader
5. Renaissance costume
6. French Maid
7. Playboy Bunny
8. Vampire
9. Spartan 300
10. Marie Antoinette
SOURCE: Yahoo! Shopping
Let's face it, our pets are like family. That also means the amount we spend on them has increased too. Angie Hicks of Angie's List talked with the Consumer Blog about ways to cut down the costs of pet grooming.
Mike McGuff: What are some things a pet owner can do themselves concerning
their pet that can end up saving a lot of money?
Angie Hicks: These days, pets are more a part of the family than ever.
In fact, in a recent Angie's List poll, 75 percent of respondents consider their
pets a member of the family and more than a third spend $50 or more on grooming
each month. While not everyone is comfortable grooming their pet at home, routine
brushing and teeth cleaning can cut down on the number of visits to the groomer.
Mike McGuff: Grooming is a big industry, what should a consumer look for
when trying to decide on the right place to take their pet?
Angie Hicks: Finding a groomer your pet can feel comfortable with begins
with finding one you are comfortable with. Shop around. Ask potential groomers
about the services they offer, pricing, and hours. Before settling on a shop,
take a tour. The facilities should look and smell clean. Ask where the animals
are kept and observe how the staff handles the pets.
Mike McGuff: What are some complaints Angie's List has received concerning
pet groomers?
Angie Hicks: Common complaints are that the grooming process took longer
than expected and dissatisfaction with the way the grooming turned out. Communication
before the appointment can help alleviate these problems. Talk with your groomer
about any special requests you have.
Mike McGuff: Talk about mobile groomers, is that an easier option on the
pet? Does it cost more? Do you have to be more careful since they come to your
home?
Angie Hicks: Mobile groomers are a great option for nervous pets or pet-owners.
They come right to your door and can ease the stress of the grooming process.
Only six percent of Angie's List poll respondents use a mobile groomer, but
they aren't necessarily more expensive than any other groomer. Regardless of
what type of groomer you decide on, do your research and meet the person before
the first appointment.
Mike McGuff: Anything else you want to add?
Angie Hicks: Angie's List sees the most requests for animal grooming
during September and October than any other time during the year. Proper grooming
is an important part of maintaining your pet's health.
By Jeff Ehling(9/28/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - It's one of the hottest tickets in town -- the November 11th Hannah Montana concert at Toyota Center. Demand is so high, some parents are willing to do anything to get tickets, and that's bringing out the less than honest.
One Katy woman found that out the hard way. Now Action 13 has a warning for the rest of us. These tickets are so hard to come by that only a handful are available online. That's why you have to be very careful when it comes to buying Hannah Montana tickets from anyone online.
For two weeks Heather Malek has been trying to find tickets to the Houston Hannah Montana show for her son.
She said, "He really wanted to go see Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers who are opening for her, so it's very important for me to make him happy."
Her quest took Malek to Craig's List. The website allows people to buy and sell all sorts of things, including concert tickets.
"Actually there was a very reasonable offer online so I emailed and asked the person if the tickets were still available," Malek explained.
The seller emailed back saying his boss had just been transferred to London and needed to get rid of four Hannah Montana tickets for $75 dollars each, for a total of $300.
Malek recalled, "So I said, 'This is perfect, I'll take them.' And that's where the trouble started."
Malek says the seller wanted her to pay for the tickets by Western Union, and to reassure her things were legitimate, the seller told Malek the purchase was guaranteed by a website called Square Trade. It turns out Square Trade is a real website that offers warranties for things bought on eBay. So Malek called the site herself.
"They said, 'We are not affiliated with Western Union and we certainly do not warranty any kind of tickets,'" she explained.
It was enough for Malek to walk away from the deal. When we called, Square Trade officials confirmed the site does not back ticket sales and never deals with Western Union payments.
Todd Quattlebaum runs an eBay drop off store. He says if you pay someone by Western Union you have no way to recoup your expenses if something goes wrong. He advises using a credit card for online purchases.
Quattlebuam said, "You should not make a payment to people you do not know without using a credit card."
Here's
something to keep in mind -- there are only about 60 eBay listings for
the Houston Hannah Montana show. So if you are trying to buy them, it
is extremely important to know the seller and make sure to use PayPal
or a credit card if buying online.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)
The boy was inside the company's Sesame Beginnings Travel Play Yard and the restraint strap from the elevated changing table hung down into the main play area and strangled him, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The company is now recalling twelve different play yards with changing table attachments that have that type of restraint strap.
"These play areas have a serious design flaw that poses a strangulation hazard," CPSC spokeswoman Patty Davis said. "A 10-month-old boy died after strangling on one of the recalled Kolcraft play yards' restraint straps. We don't want that to happen to any other children."
Kolcraft spokeswoman Diane Steed noted that the changing tables did have warnings on them telling parents not to put a child in the play area when this attachment is on top.
"We would stress to parents again:`Do not put your child in the play yard when the changing table is on top,"' she said.
The play yards were manufactured in China.
One of the play yards, Contours 3-in-1, also features a rocking cradle attachment that sits on the top of the main play area. A child who rolls all the way to the side in the cradle could get stuck between the cradle and the mesh wall of the play yard. If there is a blanket or another material thrown over this wall, it could block the child's mouth or nose and pose a suffocation hazard. The company has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side and getting stuck in this manner, but no reports of injuries.
The play yards were sold around the country between January 2001 and September 2007. To receive a free replacement strap for the changing tables and a free kit to secure the rocking cradle, call Kolcraft at 888-655-8484. In the meantime, consumers should cut the existing restraining straps from the changing tables.
For more information, visit http://www.cpsc.gov or http://www.kolcraft.com.
The recall includes various models of the following play yards:
Kolcraft Travelin
Kolcraft Travelin
Kolcraft Travelin
Kolcraft Travelin
Carter
"Sesame Beginnings" by Kolcraft Travel Play Yard
Jeep Sahara SE Play Yard
Jeep Sahara Limited Play Yard
Jeep Sahara XT Play Yard
Jeep Sahara Limited SE Play Yard
Jeep Sahara Limited XT Play Yard
Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
RC2 Corp.'s "Knights of the Sword" series toys and some of its Thomas and Friends items, along with floor puppet theaters and gardening tools and chairs for children, were among the more than 601,000 toys and children's jewelry announced in the recall by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recalled toys contain high levels of lead in their surface paint, and the necklaces and jewelry sets contain excessive lead in some of their metal parts, the agency said.
Under current regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall. The government warned parents to make sure children are not playing with or using any of the recalled products.
This is the second recall from the Thomas & Friends product line after RC2 Corp. on June 13 announced a recall of 1.5 million wooden railway toys. The company is recalling five product items, totaling about 200,000 toys in all, of Thomas & Friends toys not included in the first recall.
Julie Vallese, a spokeswoman for the CPSC, said the latest recalls were a result of both pressure from her agency and the toy industry's own initiative.
"There's been a very concentrated, concerted effort by both the CPSC and the industry to do a top-to-bottom investigation of the products to make sure they are not in violation with any toy safety standards," said Vallese. "The agency overall has been pushing and strongly suggesting to industry, whether it's RC2 or anybody else, to do a systematic inventory. Today's recall is a result of that work."
"I don't think consumers have seen the end to lead paint recalls," she said.
The CPSC announced seven product recalls in all: -Target, the importer of Happy Giddy gardening tools and children's Sunny Patch chairs, recalled about 350,000 items of the product. The children's gardening tools and chairs, manufactured by Starite International Ltd., were sold nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007.
-RC2 recalled about 200,000 Thomas and Friends Wood Railway Toys and 800 Britain's "Knights of the Sword" series toys. The five recalled Thomas and Friends items, sold nationwide from March 2003 through September 2007, include the all-black cargo car, toad vehicle, olive green cargo box and all-green maple tree top and signal base accessories.
-The "Knights of the Sword" recalled toys products include three items: a mounted silver knight on a red horse with an ax; a mounted silver knight on a red horse with two hands on a raised weapon; and a mounted silver knight on a red horse with a lance.
The products were sold at specialty toy stores nationwide from April 2004 through March 2006.
-Jo-Ann Stores Inc. recalled about 16,000 children's toy rakes.
The rakes, each about 24 inches long with a yellow duck head attached to the green handle, were sold only at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores from January 2007 to September 2007.
-Guidecraft Inc. recalled about 10,000 floor puppet theaters.
The recalled puppet theaters, each with a chalkboard surface on the front and colored side panels, were sold nationwide in specialty toy stores, gift shops, catalogs and Web sites from June 2006 through August 2007.
-TOBY N.Y.C. expanded its recall of TOBY & ME jewelry sets to include 23,500 more. The company recalled about 14,000 jewelry sets Aug. 22, also due to high levels of lead in the metal jewelry.
This recall was expanded to include two additional styles: a pink crystal and wood bead necklace and bracelet set with a monkey pendant as well as a pink and clear crystal bead necklace and bracelet set with a heart pendant. The recalled products were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, A.J. Wright, Cracker Barrel and Shopko stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007.
-Rhode Island Novelty recalled about 850 children's spinning wheel metal necklaces because the clasp on the necklaces contain high levels of lead. This recall includes necklaces with a spinning wheel pendant, which has rhinestones attached to the front and a silver base. They were sold nationwide from November 2006 through May 2007.
You can find more information on the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
If you have ever bought a puppy on the side of the road, you won't be able to do that anymore:
The unlicensed sale of animals on public property was voted down Tuesday by the Harris County Commissioners Court.
The court said the ruling is to discourage irresponsible pet breeding and deter the overpopulation of animals.
Outlawed is the sale any type of animal on public property or public rights-of-way in unincorporated Harris County, including shopping center parking lots.
If caught selling, you could be punished with a fine.
Today Action 13 consumer reporter Jeff Ehling took a look at car seats. Here is a list of places you can go to check out a car seat to see if it is safe for your child.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/CPSFittingStations/SouthCentral_%20Texas.xls
About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs are being recalled after three children became entrapped in their cribs and died of suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.
Commission spokesman Ed Kang would not comment on when or where the children died. Simplicity spokesman Joe Householder said the company will not release further details about the deaths out of respect for the families.
In all three deaths, the consumer had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the CPSC said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate.
Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs' drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib.
Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is listed as manufacturer of all the cribs, which were made in China. The recalled cribs were sold nationwide, under the Simplicity or Graco brands, from January 1998 through May 2007. The recall involves multiple models and model numbers.
"Simplicity strives to make safe products, that is our number one priority. That's why we worked with the CPSC to take this action," Simplicity president Ken Waldman said in a statement.
In a separate recall in June, the commission recalled about 40,000 Nursery-in-a-Box cribs, manufactured by Simplicity, because the assembly instructions incorrectly explain how to attach the drop side.
None of the cribs that Simplicity currently supplies to stores is included in a recall, the company said in a statement.
The commission, however, cautioned consumers who have the newer versions not covered by the recall to check to make sure the drop side is installed right side up and securely attached. The newer hardware has a flexible tab at the top of the lower track and a permanent stop at the bottom. The older hardware has a flexible tab at the bottom of the lower tracks.
In an earlier Simplicity recall, a 19-month-old child in Myrtle Creek, Ore., died Jan. 6, 2006, in a crib that carried the Graco logo, the CPSC said in February 2006. Mattress support slats came out of the crib, and the child suffocated after getting trapped between the mattress and the footboard. That type of crib had been included in a December 2005 recall of about 104,000 Aspen 3 in 1 Cribs.
The company is offering free repairs for cribs with older hardware. For more information, consumers can contact Simplicity at 888-593-9274.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov Simplicity: http://www.simplicityforchildren.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
At rail stations and shopping malls around the world, reports are popping up of people, particularly young children, getting their toes caught in escalators. The one common theme seems to be the clunky soft-soled clogs known by the name of the most popular brand, Crocs.
One of the nation's largest subway systems -- the Washington Metro -- has even posted ads warning riders about wearing such shoes on its moving stairways. The ads feature a photo of a crocodile, though they don't mention Crocs by name.
Four-year-old Rory McDermott got a Croc-clad foot caught in an escalator last month at a mall in northern Virginia. His mother managed to yank him free, but the nail on his big toe was almost completely ripped off, causing heavy bleeding.
At first, Rory's mother had no idea what caused the boy's foot to get caught. It was only later, when someone at the hospital remarked on Rory's shoes, that she began to suspect the Crocs and did an Internet search.
"I came home and typed in 'Croc' and 'escalator,' and all these stories came up," said Jodi McDermott, of Vienna, Va. "If I had known, those would never have been worn."
According to reports appearing across the United States and as far away as Singapore and Japan, entrapments occur because of two of the biggest selling points of shoes like Crocs: their flexibility and grip. Some report the shoes get caught in the "teeth" at the bottom or top of the escalator, or in the crack between the steps and the side of the escalator.
The reports of serious injuries have all involved young children. Crocs are commonly worn by children as young as 2. The company introduced shoes in its smallest size, 4/5, this past spring.
Niwot, Colo.-based Crocs Inc. said it does not keep records of the reasons for customer-service calls. But the company said it is aware of "very few" problems relating to accidents involving the shoes, which are made of a soft, synthetic resin.
"Thankfully, escalator accidents like the one in Virginia are rare," the company said in a statement.
In Japan, the government warned consumers last week that it has received 39 reports of sandals -- mostly Crocs or similar products -- getting stuck in escalators from late August through early September. Most of the reports appear to have involved small children, some as young as two years old.
Kazuo Motoya of Japan's National Institute of Technology and Evaluation said children may have more escalator accidents in part because they "bounce around when they stand on escalators, instead of watching where they place their feet."
In Singapore, a 2-year-old girl wearing rubber clogs -- it's unclear what brand -- had her big toe completely ripped off in an escalator accident last year, according to local media reports.
And at the Atlanta airport, a 3-year-old boy wearing Crocs suffered a deep gash across the top of his toes in June. That was one of seven shoe entrapments at the airport since May 1, and all but two of them involved Crocs, said Roy Springer, operations manager for the company that runs the airport terminal.
One U.S. retailer that caters to children, Mattel subsidiary American Girl, has posted signs in three locations directing customers wearing Crocs or flip-flop sandals to use elevators instead of escalators.
During the past two years, so-called "shoe entrapments" in the Washington subway have gone from being relatively rare to happening four or five times a week in the summer, though none has caused serious injuries, said Dave Lacosse, who oversees the subway's 588 escalators, the most of any U.S. transit system.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said escalator accidents caused more than 10,000 injuries last year, but the agency has few records of specific shoe problems. Only two shoe entrapments have been reported by consumers since the beginning of 2006. One reported in May involved "rubber footwear."
Agency spokesman Ed Kang urged people who have had problems to report them on the commission's Web site.
Crocs officials said they were working with the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation on public education initiatives. But the group's executive director, Barbara Allen, said that's not true.
Allen said a Crocs official called her in September 2006 about possible cooperation, even suggesting the company might put a tag in its shoes with the foundation's Web address. But since that first contact, Crocs has not called, and nobody from the company will return Allen's calls, she said.
Washington Metro's Lacosse and other escalator experts say the best way to prevent shoe entrapments is to face the direction the stairs are moving, keep feet away from the sides and step over the teeth at the end.
Lacosse, of the Washington subway system, said he is personally skittish of Crocs and other soft-soled shoes.
"Would I wear them? No," he said. "And I tell my children not to wear them either."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
American consumers will be bearing the cost of safer toys, but not until after this year's Christmas season.
Shoppers can expect price increases up to 10 percent next year to pay for increased vigilance by toy makers and stores after more than 3 million lead-tainted toys from China were recalled worldwide since June. That means a $6.99 Barbie doll could go up to about $7.70, or a $70 child friendly digital camera could retail next year for almost $80 A 10 percent average increase would be the biggest one-time price hike in toys in several years, analysts say. And it's more than twice the government's measure of consumer inflation of 4.7 percent during the first seven months of this year.
Consumers could also see higher prices on other Chinese imports like fish and children's apparel, but the big price gains in toys could be more jolting.
Shoppers have become accustomed to cheap playthings from China because Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other discounters have waged cost-cutting campaigns. Critics say real safeguards were sacrificed to keep prices low, however.
Analysts said the price increases are unlikely to hit until at least January because manufacturers and sellers already ordered the toys for Christmas. That's no consolation for parents, though.
"I will pay more (for toys) because I know it will ensure safety," said Lisa Sallese, a Wilton, Conn., mother of a 7-month-old boy and a 2-year-old daughter. "But it stinks. It should have been safe to begin with."
Most of the rising costs come from emergency third-party testing in the U.S. by both makers and sellers as they aim to root out any unsafe products, analysts say.
Mattel Inc.'s three high profile recalls of lead painted toys since the beginning of August have pushed product testing to a frenzied pace. Companies are removing playthings from shelves and sending them to independent laboratories to be examined. The price of labor, overtime and testing will drive up costs in the short term, analysts said, but increased regulation will likely keep them higher.
The U.S. Toy Industry Association supports a federal requirement to make safety testing and inspection mandatory and is working with the American National Standards Institute to develop industrywide safety procedures. But during Wednesday's Congressional hearing on toy safety, senators urged even more stringent measures including stepping up fines for selling or failing to report dangerous items.
This year, "both retailers and manufacturers will share the costs," said Eric Johnson, professor of operations management at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. "But in the longer term, costs will have to go somewhere. And consumers will see it."
Johnson estimated toy prices will rise by 10 percent next year.
He said that the most vulnerable are mass-market toys including die-cast vehicles which run the risk of containing lead.
Anita Frazier, toy analyst at market research firm NPD Group Inc., added that higher prices will stick around because some toy makers will shift a portion of their production from China to the U.S. or Europe, where labor is more expensive.
This week, Toys "R" Us Inc., the nation's second-largest toy seller behind Wal-Mart, said it would be using an independent laboratory to test every branded product, according to Kathleen Waugh, a company spokeswoman. The retailer will be absorbing the extra costs this year, but Waugh said that she believes next year "pricing could increase."
The Walt Disney Co. - hit by Mattel's recall of 436,000 cars based on "Sarge," a character in the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," that were believed to contain lead paint - will independently test toys featuring its characters. The tests will begin in the next two weeks and will include all categories of products from about 2,000 licensees, including Mattel, which is the largest maker of Disney-related toys.
Disney consumer products spokesman Gary Foster said Disney will absorb the additional costs which he estimated to be about several million dollars this year. It's unclear whether future costs will be shared by licensees, he said.
Price wars led by Wal-Mart have put financial pressure on toy manufacturers, though they have been able to push through price increases in recent years as they face higher resin and other related costs. In particular, makers have been wrangling over prices with their Chinese suppliers, which have struggled with higher labor costs amid a shrinking pool of workers in the country's southern region, according to Pat Furey, senior category consultant at Ariba Inc., a global sourcing and procurement management company.
NPD's Frazier also noted that average toy prices have been creeping up because of the industry's increasing focus on higher-priced electronic gadgets like child friendly digital cameras and cellphones which retail for about $70.
The average toy price remains relatively cheap because the bulk of toys sold involve $1 items such as cardgames and miniature cars - impulse purchases that can be picked up in the local supermarket.
According to NPD, which tracks prices of specific toys and categories, the average selling price of a toy increased to $7.53 in 2006, compared to $7.17 in 2005 and $6.97 in 2004.
Chris Byrne, a New York-based toy consultant, said shoppers can still expect price wars this holiday season, led by Wal-Mart.
Some shoppers say they are postponing toy buying until they are comfortable that the toys are safe.
"I am open to price increases as long as they are going to do their job," said Jenny McMorow of Buffalo, N.Y."We've been spoiled enough by the low prices."
For her twin sons' birthday next month, McMorow will be avoiding traditional toys and looking at playswings or a sand box. "Nothing they can chew on or swallow," she said.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
China signed an agreement Tuesday to prohibit the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States.
Unveiled at the second joint U.S-China summit on consumer product safety, the pact was negotiated in the wake of the recalls of millions of playthings decorated with paint containing the toxic metal.
China has faced stiff pressure this year after an array of its exports, including toys, pet food ingredients, fish and jewelry, have been recalled over health and safety concerns.
In the pact, Beijing also pledged to step up inspections of its exports and take other steps to ensure that those products meet U.S. standards, said Nancy Nord, acting head of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. That will include joint efforts by the two countries to increase understanding of those standards among manufacturers and exporters.
The absence of such an understanding allowed paint suppliers to provide lead paint to companies making toys sold by Mattel Inc. and other companies, said Chuanzhong Wei, vice minister of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Lead paint has been banned on toys made in the U.S. since 1978.
"That's why we decided we should intensify the exchanges between importers and exporters in the field of standards," Wei said, speaking through a translator.
U.S. and Chinese regulators also agreed to hold regular product safety talks, including monthly discussions of recall activity and trends, Nord said. China also will help the CPSC trace products to their source when problems do arise.
The United States and China also agreed to cooperate on improving the overall safety of the latter country's toy exports, as well as fireworks, cigarette lighters and electrical products.
"This is an important signal from the Chinese government that it is serious about working with CPSC to keep dangerous products out of American homes," Nord said.
But Wei stressed that most Chinese exports are safe, echoing a line that Beijing repeatedly has used in defending the quality of its products. While acknowledging more could be done, Wei said that 100 percent safety was impossible and warned against overemphasizing what he characterized as limited problems.
"We should not over-propagandize the problem," Wei said.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Last year I was told by some folks that college kids don't use cell phones. They were right and wrong. Of course college kids use cell phones, but we should also look down a few grades where even elementary school kids are using them.
That's why AT&T has put out a new service called Smart Limits for Wireless that lets you:
-Limit the number of minutes that their children can use a wireless phone.
-Set limits on text and instant messages.
-Establish a dollar amount for download purchases, such as ringtones and games.
-Control the time of day and days of the week that the phone can be used.
-Block calls and text messages to/from numbers they don’t approve.
Filter access to Internet content that is inappropriate for children.
This will help with safety and budget concerns. We have done many stories where kids signed up for some stupid texting program or just plain texted too much and caused the parents to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it all!
AT&T shared some of the audio messages your child could get when they attempt to do something you have restricted. A pleasant female voice tells them they cannon call this restricted number or make a call during a blocked time.
I understand that many Houston area school districts allow students to have cell phones in backpacks, but if they are being used on campus, there is trouble. Looks like this service could render the phone useless during school hours.
Smart Limits is available for $4.99 a month for each line for AT&T wireless consumers who subscribe to a new or existing postpaid rate plan. No special handset is required.
Mattel Inc., whose reputation has been battered by two high-profile toy recalls this summer, will announce on Wednesday the recall of a third batch of Chinese-made toys because they may contain excessive amounts of lead paint, The Associated Press has learned.
Mattel officials did not immediately return phone calls on Tuesday.
Mattel's last recall, announced on Aug. 14, covered about 19 million toys worldwide. They included Chinese-made toys that either had excessive amounts of lead paint or had small magnets that could easily be swallowed by children.
On Aug. 1, Mattel's Fisher-Price division said it was recalling 1.5 million preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo because of lead paint. That action included 967,000 toys sold in the United States between May and August.
Lead can cause brain damage when ingested by young children. Under current regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
Robert Eckert, chairman and CEO of El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel, warned at a press conference last month that there may be more recalls of tainted toys as the company steps up its investigations into its Chinese factories and retests products.
Still, the latest action would be yet another blow to Mattel, which had cultivated an image of tightly controlling production in China. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also said Tuesday it was considering a possible investigation of whether Mattel notified authorities as quickly as it should have in connection with the Aug. 14 recall.
With more than 80 percent of toys sold worldwide made in China, toy sellers are nervous that shoppers will shy away from their products in this year's critical holiday season.
Late last month, Toys "R" Us announced it was recalling thousands of art sets made in China due to excessive levels of lead in some black watercolor paints.
In June, toy maker RC2 Corp. voluntarily recalled 1.5 million wooden railroad toys and set parts from its Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway product line. The company said that the surface paint on certain toys and parts made in China between January 2005 and April 2006 contain lead, affecting 26 components and 23 retailers.
In July, Hasbro Inc. recalled faulty Chinese-made Easy Bake ovens, marking the second time the iconic toy had been recalled this year.
Last month, Mattel vowed that it would tighten its controls at its factories in China. About 65 percent of Mattel's toys are made in China, where about 50 percent of Mattel's production is produced in company-owned plants. But apparently, the controls were not strict enough, particularly when it came to overseeing Mattel's subcontractors.
Until recently, Mattel had focused testing on materials that went into the toys and had factories do sample testing of its products.
Now, the company is increasing its vigilance at the beginning of production and during production. Factories are now being forced to test every batch of products before they are released to stores. Mattel has also stepping up unannounced random testing of its Chinese suppliers and is tightening enforcement of rules that suppliers use certified paint.
The Aug. 14 worldwide recall covered more than 400,000 die-cast cars modeled after the cartoon movie character "Sarge" that contained excessive amounts of lead paint. Eckert told reporters the correct paint was sent to a subcontractor, who apparently chose not to use it.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
August 20, 2007 (CINCINNATI) - Toys and other children's products recalled because of safety concerns are often resold through online auction sites, putting children at risk, according to a recent study.
EBay Inc.'s Web site prohibits the sale of recalled products, but enforcement efforts don't seem to be succeeding, said Keri Brown Kirschman, the study's lead author and an assistant psychology professor at the University of Dayton.
Kirschman, who specializes in child psychology and pediatric injury prevention, said she searched for 141 recalled items on eBay for 30 consecutive days and found them offered in at least 144 online auctions. The products included play yards, baby walkers, bassinets and safety devices.
About 70 percent of recalled items tracked were sold, she said.
Even sophisticated eBay users appear to be unaware or uncooperative of policies intended to keep recalled products from being exchanged, the study said.
The study was conducted in 2004 at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Hospital and reported this month in the peer-reviewed journal Injury Prevention.
Last week, Mattel Inc. announced a worldwide recall of almost 19 million items, including dolls, cars and action figures. Some of the items were contaminated with lead paint. Others had small magnets that children might swallow.
"I hope this study raises awareness on all levels about the problem and about the need to do more to prevent recalled items from getting to children even long after a recall," Kirschman said Monday.
The study recommends that parents check government recall sites before purchasing items on auction Web sites. It said sellers should be required to electronically sign a statement indicating the items they're selling have not been recalled.
Nichola Sharpe, a spokeswoman for eBay, said the online auction site works constantly to enforce its policy and does not permit the listing of items identified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as hazardous and subject to a recall.
"We have been working very closely with the CPSC for a number of years now to educate buyers and sellers about recalls and to enforce this policy," Sharpe said.
Julie Vallese, a spokeswoman for the CPSC, said the agency itself has found recalled products listed at online auction sites. The agency has worked closely with eBay and is confident that it is finding recalled products and removing them from the Web site as often as possible, she said.
The Dayton Daily News published the results of the study in its weekend editions.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Some might disagree with me, but college kids do seem to take a lot of high tech gear to school these days.
Houstonian Paul Stamatiou is one of those students. I met him at BarCamp Houston last year and have been reading his technology blog ever since.
Paul is a student at Georgia Tech and had written a 'realistic' guide to affordable tech gear for college students:
Every year around this time some large gadget or tech website makes a back to school post. Unfortunately, they are under the preposterous assumption that college students can afford very expensive gear. Containing items such as a 55-inch plasma TV, CrunchGear’s Back to School Cheat Sheet published last year was met with mess of comments stating the list was absurd. Not to be outdone, Wired Magazine published a similarly hopeless article including a $700 monitor and a professional-grade BlackBerry 8800. It’s about time someone set them straight. I’ve been in college long enough to know what works and what doesn’t, so here is my advice to any incoming college freshman.
(Image courtesy of http://paulstamatiou.com)
This is a consumer blog so you will see posts about toy recalls from time to time. One person who can talk intelligently on the subject is Malcolm Denniss, aka "Mr. Toy Safety." For the past 30 years, Denniss worked as one of the industry's safety experts. He recently retired from a large toy company after 26 years in quality assurance and signed on as technical director for toys with a testing, certification and inspection firm. Denniss takes time to speak with The Consumer Blog.
How do the toys of today compare to the toys when you first started your
career in terms of safety?
Malcolm Denniss: To respond properly to this question it should be clear
that the toys of today are quite different than the toys of 30 years ago, they
are more sophisticated, many contain electronics and therefore batteries and
all the wizardry that electronics can provide. Given the change in sophistication
the toys of today are much safer than those of thirty years ago, however the
industry and public have a higher expectation of toy safety than they did 30
years ago. Changes in the types of toys have occurred from changes in manufacturing,
for instance there are few toys made of metal sheeting and therefore fewer opportunities
for cuts, there are far fewer toys with or that produce small parts that could
be a choking hazard. The awareness of the safety regulations and standards are
also much wider than before. All major and mid size Brands and Retailers require
that their products be tested before they are put on the shelves.
Were there trends over the years that lead to a toy being safer or more
likely to be recalled?
Malcolm Denniss: There were certainly trends that led to safer toys as
indicated above, changes in materials used (metal to plastic), changes in awareness
of safety standards and the need to ensure products are tested before being
sold. The CPSC's recall programs have also made industry, retailers and the
public more aware of the expectation for safety. The growth of free call in
phone numbers for consumers to notify manufacturers of problems has provided
better and earlier feedback on any issues and helps manufacturers and CPSC focus
on emerging hazards. The Toy Industry has been proactive in holding toy safety
seminars both in the USA and in China as manufacturing has moved abroad. The
requirements of many retailers and Brands to have their toys tested has also
provided greater assurance that products comply with regulatory and industry
standards.
On the other hand the more stringent expectations, more complex toys and improved standards also lead to more opportunities for products to fail. However while there are still recalls for toys that fail established standards there are also a large percentage of recalls for reasons other than failure to meet standards. This often occurs due to innovation in new toys that produce potential hazards not recognized by existing standards and are not identified during product development and design. The toy industry is very much a fashion business and requires constant change and new ideas, consequently products require careful analysis and evaluation during the development process to ensure there are no new potential for hazards that did not exist previously. If the new product design reviews are not sufficiently robust then these problems may not be caught in traditional testing and result in injuries and recalls. While the skills to conduct these types of product reviews are available in many companies there some that need to subcontract to consulting or specialized firms who can provide the necessary expertise.
What can toy companies do to prevent a recall?
Malcolm Denniss: Companies need to address all the aspects of toy development
and manufacture, including appropriate instructions and warnings for use. The
development process is most critical as this is where new and innovative changes
take place and requires rigorous review to ensure that new and previously unknown
hazards are not caused. Companies must include a detailed design analysis during
the development process and if they do not have the resources internally then
outsourcing this skill is just as critical as testing the products to known
standards. Once a product in developed and put into production then rigorous
quality assurance and control must be maintained. The requirements of a good
Quality system are well documented and identified and can be implemented but
it is always necessary to audit the process and results through internal and/or
external sources. Good product evaluations are harder implement as it requires
similar skills in looking for new problems as the designers use in thinking
of new products, when these skills are not available internally then it is critical
that they be outsourced.
The summer heat may have you seeking the cool confines of your home, but there are summer toys that will keep your kids outside.
One is The Wave Skateboard. It only has two wheels and the platform is in two pieces, but the $110 device is hard to find on store shelves. Skateboarders we spoke with say the wave is an interesting substitute.
Another hot toy, the PlasmaCar can hold up to 200 pounds, but little kids seem to like it. It will set you back $70.
It's expensive to be a parent, but we know a way Houston area moms and dads can save money when it comes to
feeding the little ones. (READ FULL STORY)
A Harris County mom has put together a list of all the places where kids can eat free. Some of the places are national chains, others are locally owned. Either way it can save you big bucks!
It's summer and now you have to find things for the kids to do. Don't worry, About.com has some tips:
One of my fondest memories as a child was what my mother would call, the “what to do” boxes. These were two boxes, one for outside, and one for inside, that contained index cards with various activities written on them. Each morning, my sisters and I would take turns, pulling from the box, and whatever was on the index card, would be our activity for the day. It was not only a fun way to wake up but it also kept us very busy and rarely bored, rain or shine, over the hot summer months.
The amazing thing was that my mother always seemed to have whatever supplies were needed to actually do the activity that we pulled out of the box. In later years I asked her how she ever managed this and she said it was very simple. While we were at school, she would begin planning the summer boxes and would keep an ongoing list of things she needed, handy in her purse.
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