Always Check for Recalls When Buying Secondhand to Avoid Dangerous Products https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
As the Secondhand Market Continues to Grow, Consumers Should Take Important Steps to Avoid Dangerous and Recalled Products
Secretary Mosley: “As affordability is becoming a priority for many families, the number of New Yorkers looking to lower costs is increasing and thrift shopping is on the rise. Keep these NYS Division of Consumer Protection tips in mind so your good deal doesn’t put you or your family’s safety and health at risk.”
The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection today provided consumers with tips for safe secondhand and thrift shopping. Thrifting has become a regular part of many consumers’ shopping habits in recent years. This practice can help save money and the environment, but consumers should take important steps to avoid dangerous and recalled products.
“Many New York consumers shop secondhand for bargains, unique vintage or antique wares, to keep products out of landfills, and even for the simple thrill of the hunt,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “As affordability is becoming a priority for many families, the number of New Yorkers looking to lower costs is increasing and thrift shopping is on the rise. Keep these NYS Division of Consumer Protection tips in mind so your good deal doesn’t put you or your family’s safety and health at risk.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Secondhand shopping can be a great way to save money, yet we do need to be vigilant regarding any safety concerns. Items like cribs, car seats and children’s products can look perfectly fine but no longer meet current safety standards or may have been recalled altogether. Before you buy, take a few minutes to check for recalls and inspect items closely — it’s a small step that can prevent a serious injury.”
New York State Office of Children and Family Services Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, “As families and individuals grapple with inflation and competing priorities for spending, thrift shops offer opportunities to purchase affordable items that meet their basic needs. Yet, it is critically important to make sure that anything purchased, whether new or secondhand, meets current health and safety guidelines to avoid any risk of injury or death. We thank Governor Hochul and the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection for educating New Yorkers on the risks of “thrifting,” particularly when consumers are looking to buy items like cribs, changing tables, car seats, and strollers for babies and children. Families who are struggling to secure basic needs may call the OCFS HEARS Family Line at 1-888-55HEARS for assistance from caring specialists who will connect individuals and families to services including food pantries, clothing closets, housing assistance, medical and behavioral health care services, parenting education, and child care.”
Economic reports indicate that the resale market has been increasing significantly in the last few years, with economic pressures cited as the primary driver of that increase. It only takes a few minutes to check for key safety risks that ensure your “new-to-you” purchases are safe and functional. Here are some tips:
AVOID PURCHASING THESE ITEMS SECONDHAND
· Infant sleep products: cribs, basinets, mattresses and toddler beds pose critical safety risks due to wear and tear and outdated safety regulations. If you must use a secondhand crib, ensure it was made after June 2011 to meet current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines.
· Infant loungers and nursing pillows: New safety regulations were enacted by the CPSC to ban soft, sloped, or contoured surfaces in newly manufactured loungers. Older second-hand models lack these updated designs and may have sagging fabric or softened foam, further increasing the risk of suffocation or positional asphyxiation.
· Durable infant or toddler products, including play yards, walkers, highchairs, toddler bed rails and bath seats
· Helmets
· Car seats, booster seats and strollers
· Smoke detectors, surge protectors and lithium-ion batteries
· Non-stick cookware.
Many products have expiration dates and many no longer meet federal safety standards. Used products can potentially cause injury or death depending on the type, age, and quality of the product. Always research a product before buying secondhand, because there is no safety guarantee for used products.
TIPS FOR SAFELY SHOPPING SECONDHAND
· Check for recalls: Recalled items can cause injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website www.cpsc.gov/Recalls provides information on recalls and safety warnings. Never buy or use any item with an active recall or CPSC product safety warning.
· Watch out for counterfeits: Fakes or replicas of brand-name products could mean you overpay for lower quality. Depending on the product, the lower quality material and construction could also create safety risks.
· Carefully examine hard to clean products: Items that have small, difficult to clean parts or that cannot be properly cleaned and disinfected, like plush furniture or woven or porous items, should be carefully examined before purchasing to ensure that they are in reasonably good condition.
· Keep kids safe when shopping for clothes:
o Check children’s clothes for secure drawstrings: Long drawstrings can become choking hazards or cause other injuries if the string gets caught on the child’s surroundings. See the Division’s drawstring safety guide for more information to ensure clothes use drawstrings safely.
o Pay attention to damage: Check for any loose buttons, claps, or decorations that can detach and become a choking hazard. Be wary of set-in stains or other signs of damage that you might not be able to fix.
o Properly clean, sanitize and inspect: Check the garment label and either machine wash, hand wash or steam clothing to disinfect and remove any allergens from the fabric.
· Anchor furniture for safety: Secondhand furniture can be heavy and may be unsteady. Prevent dangerous tip-overs by securing free-standing furniture pieces like bookcases, dressers, TV stands, and shelving units to the wall with anchoring hardware. Most secondhand furniture will not include an anchoring kit, but you can purchase your own for under $15. See www.anchorit.gov/ for more tips on anchoring furniture.
· Watch out for lead: There were no federal regulations on lead before 1971, so be wary of vintage furniture, glassware, and ceramics over 50 years old. Not all vintage items contain lead paint, but the safest strategy is to assume painted items that appear to be more than 50 years old contain lead unless they have been tested.
· Choose electronics safely: Appliances and devices with faulty electronic parts can cause fires. Make sure all wires and outlet plugs are fully intact without any fraying, cracking, or other damage. Never buy lithium-ion batteries secondhand.
· Avoid damaged kitchenware: Carefully check for cracks, chips, peeling, or damaged coatings. These are signs that the item is not food safe. Avoid items with small, difficult to clean parts if you plan to cook or eat with them.
· Check for bed bugs: Inspect nooks and crannies of all furniture you’re interested in. Bed bugs can be found in both hard and soft furniture. When shopping in-store, ask what treatment is being done to prevent bedbugs.
· Toys to avoid or examine closely:
o Avoid vintage plastics: Products manufactured before the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act restrictions in 2008 often contain high levels of lead or toxic heavy metals which can leach out or be ingested.
o Avoid teething items, pacifiers, or bath toys: Babies learn by putting objects in their mouth. Many of these items can trap moisture, mold, and bacteria, exposing children to unwanted pathogens.
o Avoid water beads: Water beads were a popular children’s toy for many years, but they pose a danger to young children and can be deadly if ingested. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC recently banned most water beads from being sold as toys and strongly warns against keeping them in homes with kids under five years old, as swallowing them can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages that require surgery.
o Avoid choking hazards and loose parts: Check over toys to make sure all attached pieces are securely in place and not at risk of falling off. Any loose parts can become choking hazards for children.
o Be careful with magnets: Never buy a toy with loose or missing magnetic pieces. Magnets are severely dangerous if ingested and have caused internal injuries and deaths. Avoid buying magnetic jewelry secondhand as they may have been manufactured before key safety standards went into effect in 2022.
o Skip items that cannot be easily sanitized. It is critical to consider hygiene and safety when shopping for secondhand toys. Don’t thrift for toys that can’t be thoroughly washed or sanitized.
· If shopping online, only buy from reputable reseller sites: Be careful when buying secondhand from online marketplaces and social media to avoid scams and fake listings. See the Division’s alert on online shopping AI scams for more tips on avoiding scam sellers.
· Pay attention to return policies: When shopping in a brick-and-mortar store, check the retailer’s return policy before buying. When shopping online, be aware that some online resale platforms have sitewide policies on returns, refunds, payments, delivery, and other issues, while others allow the seller to determine all terms of purchase themselves. Different websites have different protections and policies for buyers, so read through these policy pages before making any purchase.
The U.S. Census Bureau (Consumer Expenditure Survey) estimates that used merchandise stores made $24.3 billion in sales in 2022, compared with $14.7 billion in 2012 and $5.6 billion in 1992.23 .The market includes about 25,000 consignment stores in the United States.
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The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.
