Especially in these products:- Video games (Xbox, PS3, Nintendo)- Digital cameras- Laptops- DVD or BlueRay movies- Books- Mobile Phones- Music CDsin the United States or in Europe...
      Answer1:black market

This law is scheduled to take effect in July of 09.What if a small contractor just works on an hourly (pay as you go) basis for customers. Can he avoid all this red tape which is geared toward regulating "contracts".Seems like alot of restrictive red tape for the small contractor.Thanks for your input.
      Answer1:Yea, Tom Corbett, The Attorney General of Pennsylvania? Great, meaning not so good.I dont really deal with these kinds of things, but I think it has to do with the "time and material jobs" The AGs office is more concerned with contractors that get paid and do not do the jobs they are contracted to do?But, to be safe alot of contractors that do work need to be Bonded & Insured. The problem with friends helping friends is it pissed off the contractors association, Unions and the Licensed Independent Contractors out there?Lets say you put up a ceiling fan in an apartment building and it falls off, splitting a 5 year olds head open. Whos fault is it now? Pennsylvania has the clause "Buyer Beware" It is the problem of the person that paid for the job to make sure the contractor was or is insured and bonded? Not anymore! "at least thats the way it sounds"With all the complaint out their and filed at the Attorney Generals office, New and more demanding rules are going to be applied?I know it sounds stupid?Even if you change a lite bulb and the house burns down at a later date, you as a home owner or a landlord could be trouble in the past?The new rules would make the IC or the worker become liable? If in fact the investigation pointed it in that direction?

I am a Work-At-Home-Mom. I make custom baby carriers and sell them. Each of my carriers is one-of-a-kind. I buy my fabric from nationally trusted retailers such as JoAnn Fabrics, etc. I do not buy loads of fabric since I make them on an order-by-order basis (so I can customize for my buyer). How is the CPSIA going to affect me in particular? I am not the one importing the fabric or thread. Shouldnt my supplies be tested before I buy them? Also, even if they are tested, I usually only buy fabric remnants instead of whole reels. It would be ridiculous for me to ask for certificates for 1 yard of fabric. I feel like this whole thing is going to put me, and a whole bunch of others like me, out of business. How can I possibly afford to have each and every one of my baby carriers tested for lead?BACKGROUND INFO:Congress passed a law in August 2008 called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This law came about because of the numerous recalls of childrens toys in the past two years and specifically the issue of lead in the toys. While I applaud the attempt at making childrens products safer, the law as stands, will actually remove many of the products that we have turned to in place of those made in China.As of February 10th, 2009, ALL childrens products sold in the United States will need to be certified to be lead free and many products will need additional testing. To be certified, the final product sold needs to have each component on it tested for lead. This sounds wonderful when you think of all of the "Made in China" childrens products that are out there and all of the childrens items that are mass produced (mostly imported). HOWEVER, think of the handcrafted items sold within the US. Think of any childrens item that is a ready made item that has been personalized with a childs name (it would need to be retested because it is the final sold product that needs to be certified). Think of the childrens items that are sold at craft shows, garage sales, ebay, consignment shops and fundraisers. As of February 10th, it will be illegal to sell any childrens products without certification, no matter when it was produced. Collectible vintage toys and trains? A "banned substance". You will not be able to donate items for charity because they are a "banned substance" since they are not certified. This applies not only to toys, but all products such as books, shoes, clothing, school supplies, sporting equipment, jewelry, etc. that are possibly intended for children 12 and under..--Answer1:Write to your congress person and your states senators. Ask them to sponsor a bill exempting domestic craft products from testing provided that the components are lead free. Then contact everyone you know and know of involved in making and selling domestic craft products and ask them to do the same thing.If enough people write enough members of congress corrective action will be taken.Hope this helpsJerry-the-bookkeeper