Why does CPSIA affect thrift stores?
Many of CPSIA’s requirements, particularly the lead content and phthalate content, apply retroactively to goods that have already been manufactured. Because it is illegal to sell any item that doesn’t meet the standards, thrift store owners must make sure their items meet the standards.
Some types of items (e.g. cloth) usually meet the standards, but other types (e.g. zippers) sometimes do not. Thrift store owners are not required to test their items, but with many common items it is impossible to know if they meet the standard without testing.
Some thrift store owners find they cannot make enough money selling only items that are known to meet the standards, and that the cost of testing for other items is too high, so they are choosing not to sell children’s items.
In video #11 of the CPSIA and Small Business briefing, there is a good explanation of the the pain and troubles this law is causing resellers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PNeDY0sAbs
Thanks for the link! That will be really helpful!