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eBay Sells Recalled Items
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Smart Home, Toys,
According to a recent study in Injury Prevention Journal, many recalled products that are never returned end up in thrift stores, garage sales, and on eBay. Researchers randomly picked 141 items for children recalled between 1992 and 2004, including baby walkers, furniture and riding toys. The items were found on 190 different auctions. The company says that it doesn’t permit listing of U.S. CPSC recalled items and suggests that buyers check their “security and resolution” page.
We suggest they do more than that. With a mimimal effort we found an Elmo Guitar and Sesame Street Tub, Pots, and Pans, both up for sale on the site. Until eBay gets a clue, if you suspect that one of the items you want to purchase has been recalled, check with Mattel before you purchase.
Read More 
| MSNBC
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How Mattel Can Pay for Its Carelessness
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Science, Toys,
It is nearly impossible to ignore the fact Mattel is seemingly paying for their manufacturing sins as another recall was announced yesterday by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It includes 9.3 million play sets that have small magnets that are can be swallowed by toddlers in Barbie, Polly Pocket, and Tanner Playsets, as well as Batman and One Piece toys. The company is also recalling their die-cast “Sarge” Jeeps from the movie “Cars” that contain lead paint. For a list of recalled items in question, you can visit their website or call 888-597-6597 for information about the recalled toys with magnets, or 800-916-4997 for information about the recalled cars.
Two weeks ago, items from Mattel’s Fisher Price line were also recalled. What bothers us, aside from the negligence and finger pointing between the overseas companies involved, is that so far Mattel’s CEO Bob Eckert has only issued an apology. After reading about the effects of lead poisoning and noting that Mattel has set up a Children’s Foundation as a means of funding for health-related issues, we suggest that they take this money to offer free testing and/or treatment for any of the kids that owned the recalled toys.
Read More | Mattel
Barbie Girls: MP3 Players for the Pink Set
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Portable Audio / Video, Toys,
Remember when Barbie was all about playhouses, clothing, and Ken? Well now she’s gone all high-tech on us! Barbie manufacturer Mattel now has a new “Barbie Girls” online community, where young girls can chat and play games together, with a companion Barbie Girl MP3 player coming soon. The device plays music stored on 512 mb internal memory with an expansion slot for an miniSD card. Plus, BFF’s can sync their players with each other’s desktops—and engage in super-private “Secret B Chat”, which faintly reminds us of another chatting device for girls, also from Mattel. The Barbie Girls will be available for $60 USD in July.
Read More | BusinessWire via engadget
Mattel’s IM-ME Protects Girls from Online Predators
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Internet, Toys, Wireless / WiFi,
A booming trend is high-tech gadgets for kids, as seen at New York’s American International Toy Fair this week. One such item is Mattel’s Girl Tech IM-ME, a wireless text-messaging device for young girls, that allows them to chat while keeping them safe from anonymous online predators. The two-piece IM-ME set is a small, colorful text device and an RF dongle with antenna. Plug the dongle into a parent-monitored PC connected to the internet, and your little one can chat away. However they can only chat with other IM-ME users who are in her address book—and within her dongle range. Interesting idea, we just wonder why this product is targeted solely to young girls…and not to all kids. Look for IM-Me this summer, retailing for $64.99 USD.
Read More | Wired
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