Archie McPhee’s warns that if Governor Christine Gregoire signs a new toy testing bill, the store will have to close its doors. The bill would require that toys contain only 90 parts per million of lead — well below the federal standard of 600 parts per million. “The new testing requirements would cost Archie McPhee’s, which stocks over 10,000 different types of toys and knick-knacks, an estimated $5,000,000 a year,” reports Seattlest. “The cost of the tests alone would force McPhee’s out of business.” We have an email into Archie McPhee’s to find out more. In the meantime, this WSJ story (free) provides some great background on the bill and its possible impact.
Update: The Seattle PI reports Governor Gregoire is troubled by the lack of an exemption for lead in electronic chips, which she fears would restrict educational games. Asked if she’ll sign the bill, she said: “I don’t know yet.”
Update: We just interviewed David Wahl at Archie McPhee’s right here.
7 responses so far ↓
1 joe // Mar 26, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Sunset Bowl and then Archie McPhees? What’s next, the Ballard Locks?
2 sky // Mar 26, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Maybe they’ll try to take our viking heritage after that!
3 Charlie // Mar 26, 2008 at 5:28 pm
The post at Seattlest also includes a couple of comments about why this might not be so. And even if it is, (and as much as I love Archie McPhee’s) an effort to reduce the amount of lead in kids’ toys is pretty dang important, wouldn’t you say?
4 Suthii // Mar 27, 2008 at 6:13 am
“is pretty dang important, wouldn’t you say?”
Even if there’s no science showing kids are being harmed by today’s toys? Yes, much better that we shut down stores, drive out business so we can all pretend to do something that may help, but no one really knows. Let’s feel good politics!
5 Suthii // Mar 27, 2008 at 6:17 am
Stupid is as stupid does:
“Last-minute changes included exemptions for pellet guns, model rockets, tricycles, athletic shoes, pocketknives, roller skates, sporting gear, sleds and skis.”
Here we go. Exempt are toys that I can tell you from personal experience of actually being a child once cause far more harm to kids than a Fed approved 600 parts per mill lead content.
How on earth did all us so-called current adults survive and prosper growing up sucking on lead brick toys and riding bikes without helmets? Must have been a miracle, but that god the nannies are here to help us take care of ourselves.
6 biff // Mar 27, 2008 at 8:16 am
Countdown to placing blame on developers..
3
2
7 Chelsea // Mar 27, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Personally, I buy products at Archie McPhee’s for adults - who I hope know better than to eat toys.
Sure, there’s party favors and the such, but those are so small.
Archie’s =! Target
Leave a Comment