Will you ever trust , and buy, toys made in China again?

[MoonRiver]

Personally, I doubt China will actually fix the lead paint issue unless forced to do so by US. Will we do that?? Highly doubtful. But maybe, if we sweep the Congress and take the presidency.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I don't see why not.

I eat spinach that's grown in America, despite the recall last year after several people died from American spinach.

[MoonRiver]

3. I think there is a much higher percentage of tainted toys than spinach. eom

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Really? What are the numbers?

Several people died from the spinach, any deaths from toy? And then there were the firestone tires a few years ago.

Are Chinese products really more likely to get recalled than American products?

[MoonRiver]

10. I don't have any numbers, but the toy recall seems massive.

There were just one or two companies, if I am recalling correctly, that had tainted spinach. Even then it was just a few batches. It's terrible that people died. I don't think there are currently statistics about how much brain damage may have resulted from the lead in Chinese made toys.

You certainly have a right to your opinions. I will never buy Chinese made toys for my kids, however. And, btw, I wasn't making an analogy between Chinese made toys and spinach.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Are you going to feed your kids crops grown in the U.S.?

Are you going to drive your kids around on American tires?

[MoonRiver]

25. When I hear that certain products are dangerous, I don't buy them.

I didn't say I would only buy American toys. I just said I doubt I'll trust Chinese made toys again. I guess you have a problem with that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. I've got a problem with sinophobia.

And I think that's what this boils down to.

[MoonRiver]

31. What is sinophobia?

:shrug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Racism/nationalism against Chinese.

[MoonRiver]

33. Well, I can guarantee you that has nothing to do with my feelings.

I only buy Asian cars (Toyota, Honda, Subaru, etc). By your logic that would mean I'm phobic against Americans, because I don't buy American cars?

:wtf:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. You do understand there's a difference between Japanese and Chinese, right?

Just checking.

[MoonRiver]

36. Of course! It's idiotic for you to make the HUGE leap to thinking that I am phobic

against the Chinese because I worry about their toy production!!!!

I was making an analogy to help you understand. GET IT???

:eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. You really don't leave me with any other conclusion to choose.

Given your inconsistencies.

[Deja Q]

39. What if they have yankophobia?

:hide:

[Zookeeper]

18. Actually, there was a little boy in Mpls. who recently died...

after swallowing a small piece of cheap jewelry from China, that, like most of that junk, was lead-based.

Apparently, lead is a common ingredient in dollar store jewelry from China, but has also been found in more expensive, name-brand costume jewelry.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/Opinion05/703080405/-1/OPINION/CAT=Opinion05

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB42S4B93F.html

"Federal agencies and retailers are aware of the danger of lead jewelry. During the past three years, a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy who swallowed a lead-tainted Reebok bracelet charm has died, and a 4-year-old in Oregon who swallowed a vending machine trinket developed near-fatal poisoning."

That unknown danger is what one Tampa couple suspect caused their son's severe lead poisoning and a possible misdiagnosis of autism.

"A year ago, Rob and Lisa Breakiron felt trapped in their home with their young son. Noah was unable to speak or interact with another child without triggering painful, piercing screams and tantrums.

A blood test seven months ago revealed that the 4-year-old was carrying 32 micrograms of lead in his system — triple the acceptable level.

Noah has responded dramatically to treatment that leaches lead from his system. He has started speaking, is potty trained and enjoys playing with other children. Leaching lead from a child's system can sometimes take years and may reduce the presence of lead only to nondangerous levels, health experts say.

As happens in many cases, the Breakirons and the boy's pediatrician are unable to pinpoint the source of lead. The family's Tampa home, soil, toys and other environmental factors tested lead-free. They now suspect a bath toy discarded long ago was the source.

'It's very disheartening to think we may have purchased something for him. It might have been a gift from somebody," Rob Breakiron said. "You never know what you're buying. … You just can't see lead. I would have never thought of it.'"

[Vilis Veritas]

27. From a very early age I taught my son that only food

goes in his mouth. It was hard, since it is a natural thing for small children to want to mouth their toys.

Peace.

[Vilis Veritas]

26. 19 million. This is the beginning.

It will go higher or get covered up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/business/worldbusiness/15imports.html?ex=1344830400&en=18d9c72ca47523c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Edit: Granted that not all toys were tainted with lead most have design flaws...

edited for clarity...

Peace.

[katsy]

15. Comparing apples and oranges.

http://www.nsc.org/issues/lead/healtheffects.htm

Unlike bushco* political appointees, a Democrtic administration will enforce food safety laws here at home. JMO.

I suspect the problems associated with manufacturing in china can be laid at the feet of corporations fattening their profits by sacrificing safety and circumventing inspections.

Not buying toys from Mattel would be a prudent consumer response and would hopefully change corporate policy.

[mike_c]

2. lol, I didn't buy toys from china or anywhere else before the recent recalls...

...so I don't think I'll start now! I didn't vote-- I guess your poll is intended for folks who might actually be in the market for childrens' toys....

[Buzz Clik]

4. Good luck with buying shit not made in China.

Damned near everything in my kitchen has a "Made in China" label on the bottom. Even the most expensive small appliances.

I'd love to have a house free of their crap, but is it even a choice?

[Critters2]

13. I don't buy anything made in China

Name anything you thought you had to buy from China, and I can find an American, Canadian, or EU manufacturer. It takes work, but I do it.


www.boycottmadeinchina.org

[Buzz Clik]

16. Okay, that's easy: A crockpot. A coffeemaker.

[Critters2]

20. Slow cooker made in Canada

http://www.carolinarustica.com/cart/product.php?productid=74381&cat=0&page=1

[Critters2]

21. Coffeemakers made in Canada

http://toastess.com/product_info.asp?category=COFFEE%20MAKERS&id=2

Oh, and another way to avoid sending money to China is by visiting secondhand stores and thrift shops. I buy all my clothes this way. I refuse to give money to those who manufacture in China. I might purchase a Chinese made product at a thrift shop, but the manufacturer doesn't benefit. And often, a charity does!!

[Buzz Clik]

22. Ok -- nicely done.

(I wish this wasn't a challenge)

[Critters2]

23. Thanks...

and I wish it weren't either.

[Buzz Clik]

24. Oh... and nice avatar.

:evilgrin:

[Critters2]

29. Thanks!! You too!

:evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

38. To an extent, yes...

It may be inevitable, but save up and buy the more expensive stuff and scream at the top of your lungs if it is found to be suspect.

Offshoring started as a promise to lower costs for Americans, if I recall correctly. Yet prices haven't gone down, plus long term quality is clearly plummeting.

But other countries, including America, make most sorts of products too.

And the countries that source to Chinese markets can easily go elsewhere if they wanted.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

5. Instead, I've been orderin gmy neice the vintage, made in the usa fisher price toys

the old ones were cooler, anyway. and unlike today's they don't poison your kids

[snacker]

9. I'm so glad that I saved many of our children's toys....

they are cooler. It's such a shame because, in the past, I generally thought of Fisher-Price toys as being some of the best.

[sandnsea]

6. I choose my retailer

I probably won't choose Mattel and Fisher-Price as frequently as smaller companies who have their own quality control in place.

Besides, I think anybody who only cares about Chinese products because of the minute possibility of harm to *us* - while igoring the horrendous consequences to the Chinese environment and workers - is just another self-centered greedy dolt anyway.

[Hosnon]

8. In the near future: probably not. Long term: probably. NT.

[Kelly Rupert]

11. Probably.

China has a lot of inertia, and a centuries-long history of lower-ranking officials fabricating documents, so turning around China's image will take a while. However, every developing industrial power goes through "growing pains" like this. China's will take a while to sort out, but I believe they see there's too much to lose by not establishing an effective national consumer protection agency.

[gollygee]

14. No more junk!

We have some good stuff and some junk. What does my daughter like best these days? Some stilts we made out of two old coffee cans and some rope. Or a big box to play in. We also have a ton of Legos, lots of Play-Doh, lots of art stuff, and lots of books. But we've got cheap plastic crap too, including some stuff that's been recalled.

I have become much more picky about where food, drink, toys, etc. come from lately.

[ContraBass Black]

17. I'm much too old to put them in my mouth,

So the paint and magnet issues aren't likely a danger to me.

[DaveJ]

19. No... I'll only buy American

Americans would never do such a thing. With our incarceration rate being the highest in the world, we're to scared to do anything wrong. We've got 5% of the world population and 25 percent of the world's incarcerated population. That works wonders for keeping us in line.

[slackmaster]

30. On Saturday I bought a freaking paper shredder that was made in China

It didn't last through the weekend. Had to return it to Fry's for a refund.

:argh:

[Deja Q]

37. I bought one on clearance... For 3 months it worked great*

* of light use.

It still shreds envelopes and papers great (just less than the 12 promised on the box) and its CD shredder became useless after shredding 10 CDs.

I haven't filled its internal waste bin 3 times before problems occurred, and I only shredded 15 discs over that time.

[slackmaster]

41. Next one I buy will have an optical sensor rather than the mechanical switch doohickie

That is definitely a weak spot.

Or maybe I'll just be environmentally irresponsible and burn my sensitive stuff.

[OhioChick]

35. No. n/t