Consumer Warning: Buying Secondhand Toys Comes With A Risk
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -Parents often think they're getting a good deal when buying toys and other kid items secondhand at flea markets or online.
But, some of those products could be dangerous.
For example, an early model "Bumbo" seat was recalled because children were seriously injured or killed after falling out and it's just one of thousands of dangerous, even deadly, kids products sold secondhand after they were recalled.
While eBay and Amazon use technology that blocks people from selling recalled items, sites like Craigslist only have policies in place and recalled items often slip through the cracks, even though it's illegal to sell them.
Amanda Bower weeds out unsafe items for the consignment event, Just Between Friends.
"Some of the most recalled items are actually things children sit, sleep or play on," she said.
Here's a list of things to consider before buying anything secondhand:
1) Expiration dates (for car seats) or manufacture dates (for cribs)
2) Choking/strangulation hazards (small parts/strings)
3) Falling hazards (things with no straps)
4) Car seats (Think twice about buying secondhand because you don't know if they've already been through a car accident.)
For everything else, head to CPSC website to check before every secondhand purchase.
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