Thrift Store Dangers
By Amy E. Feldman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Think you're finding a treasure at a Thrift Shop? Here are some government statistics that may be of interest.
A Concord, New Hampshire woman who bought two ugly paintings for $10 at Goodwill with plans to paint over them first did some research. You guessed it - they are worth about $20,000 each and will soon be auctioned at Sothebys.
Most people who go to thrift shops, though, not only don't wind up with treasures but actually with products that should go in the trash. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, many of the approximately 300 products that get recalled every year wind up in thrift stores.
So, this is what you need to know:
- 51% of thrift shops sell children's outerwear with a drawstring at the hood or neck which can lead to strangulation. Avoid those.
- 20% of thriftshops sell hair dryers without protection against electrocution. Only buy those with large rectangular-shaped safety plugs.
- 12% of thrift stores sell cribs that don't meet federal safety standards. Whenever you buy children's equipment like cribs, carriers, or playpens, check the CPSC website to make sure it wasn't recalled.
As for ugly art, happy hunting.
