Recalls - again
Over on my personal blog, I mentioned my frustration with the fact that there is yet another toy recall.
Sometimes mistakes happen and it’s nice to know that the companies let us know about it so we can take the products back. But lately it seems like every week some toy is being recalled, for lead paint, choking hazards, or now magnets.
The toys are all being manufactured in China; according to the BBC article, it’s a subcontracted company named Hong Li Da and it’s using paint that comes from unauthorized suppliers. This, to me, is unacceptable. I don’t know why other nations aren’t using proper safety standards, but why are North American companies still using factories that don’t keep to the same safety standards that we use over here?
The obvious answer is always money. If a company can subcontract to make one toy for $5 and then sell it for $35 then it’s a huge profit margin. From a business standpoint, that makes sense, even if it’s appalling from a moral standpoint (hello, child labor).
But with the sheer number of recalls, even finances don’t make sense as an excuse anymore. They make their profits, but then they have to refund everyone who buys the toys and they risk losing money if trust is shattered and parents start refusing to buy their toys in the future. Wouldn’t it make more sense now to insist on standards, profit margins be damned?
It’s so frustrating. At this point I’m ready to stop buying plastic toys altogether.
What are your feelings about these constant recalls?
Technorati Tags: toy recall, mattel recall, toy safety standards, lead paint
2 opinions for Recalls - again
Kate
Aug 15, 2007 at 1:11 am
Yes, yes, yes. I may stop buying all toys. Especially since my kids seem to prefer sticks and dirt or a notebook and pens.
I find it ridiculous that companies expect brand loyalty and trust from us, when they have betrayed working people by shutting down factories and subcontracting to what is, essentially, slave labour.
Mathias
Aug 18, 2007 at 6:39 pm
hi i enjoyed the read
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