Selecta exits U.S. market over cost concerns
By Staff -- Playthings,12/05/2008
COSTA MESA, Calif.—Citing the increased cost of doing business under the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, German wooden toy maker Selecta Spielzeug will end distribution of its playthings in the U.S. effective Dec. 31, 2008.
According to a statement released by Europlay Corp., U.S. distributor for both Selecta Spielzeug and doll maker Käthe Kruse, meeting CPSIA’s new standards would necessitate an increase in Selecta’s product prices “by at least 50 percent, which would price these products out of the market.”
Selecta currently ensures its products comply with European EN71 and ASTM standards. Its decision to exit the U.S. market, the company stressed, “is based solely on costs; there have not been any issues with successfully completing the testing and certification process.”
“Selecta would like to thank the 1,200 US retailers carrying Selecta products and regrets the necessity of this decision,” said Matthias Menzel, Selecta Spielzeug’s managing director, in a statement released today.
Among the higher costs Selecta said were associated with meeting the CPSIA’s new guidelines were those related to testing procedures for products shipped to the U.S. that are “different than the testing procedures required for the rest of the world, resulting in separate testing for each product destined for the USA”; new shipment labeling regulations that “significantly increases the labor associated with shipping”; and product liability insurance increases "due to changing regulations and their varied interpretations."
Europlay will continue to distribute Käthe Kruse products in the U.S.
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| Submitted by: | c m (jcmnet.z@gmail.com) 4/28/2009 10:33:36 AM PT |
| Location: | on the web |
| Occupation: | shopper of fine toys |
Ugh.
I hate the cheap ugly plastic crap sold at toys r us and others.
It I remember correctly it was Fisher and Mattel and learning curve's Thomas the tank products, that contained Lead. cheap plastic crap with the exception of some Thomas cars, expensive crap, containing lead.
Not one German manufactured toys, where found with Lead.
I love Selecta and Haba toys.
please don't go.
| Submitted by: | Mike G (mdotgrant@yahoo.com) 1/5/2009 8:13:03 AM PT |
| Location: | USA |
| Occupation: | entrepreneur |
This is further proof that politicians wreck everything they touch in their zeal to get reelected. Soundbite politics always invokes the rule of unintended consequences,and sadly good, small manufacturers are the losers.
I haven''t followed this one closely, but I suspect retailers and small manufacturers should be directing their ire not just at the bone-headed politicians who authored this legislation but also at the TIA, ASTRA, and other industry groups. These trade groups failed us. The TIA, in particular, is a weak organization funded largely by the big manufacturers, and it is those same large manufacturers that shape its agenda.
It was a few of the large, lowest-common-denominator manufacturers that got the industry into this regulatory pickle (RC2, Mattel), but it will be the small, honest, and ethical companies (Selecta) that get clobbered. RC2 and Mattel can easily afford to test their cheap Chinese imports (and they could have afforded to do so before they were caught), but the small manufacturers don''t have that scale. Presumably, lawyers at RC2 and Mattel informed this legislation either directly or through their pawn, the TIA.
A more intelligent environment would be the adoption of a unified global high standard - the European standard.
| Submitted by: | Anne Marie 12/9/2008 11:01:47 PM PT |
| Location: | Durango, Colorado |
| Occupation: | architect |
Please, e-mail your representatives!
Look up a Mothering magazine article related to this which has all the info to contact your representatives. This legislation makes absolutely no favors to business or our children's imaginations!
| Submitted by: | Rob 12/5/2008 9:32:10 PM PT |
Despite being one of our competitors, we have always respected this company and valued their products and high quality. In our retailing days, we sold some of their products, and were proud to do so.
Is this the canary in the mine shaft? I think it is a clear sign of things to come. Is this really the road that we want to take? Is this really what the consumers were screaming for last year? Do we really want our best toy companies to close down operations? Now is the time to speak up. Contact your Congressman and the CPSC today.
Learn more at:
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
www.cpsia-central.ning.com
www.nationalbankruptcyday.com
| Submitted by: | Slinkynerf 12/5/2008 9:15:07 PM PT |
| Location: | USA |
| Occupation: | Manufacturer of toys |
Absolute shame. These regulations will be the death to a lot of good manufacturers or heavily deny kids and retailers some cool, classic toys.
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