stan wrote:

Staffers for the federal agency are fanning out across the country to
conduct training seminars on the regulations at dozens of thrift shops.

"Even before this law, we had good mechanisms in place for pulling
recalled products," said Jim Gibbons, the chief executive of Goodwill.
"The law just kicks it up a notch, so Goodwills around the country will
continue to improve our process."

Interesting because when you first buy thing something in some
countries they have 'Fitness for use ' legislation.
This makes sure that if you buy, say, a toaster or any other appliance
or service, but it burns out after too short a time or doesn't work as
it should, regardless of what warranty is offered, the supplier/
manufacturer MUST ether replace or repair.

USA and Canada don't have that legislation; which is designed to
ensure sale of products 'Fit for the use intended' and fit to be used
safely and for a suitable period of time. In other words to ensure
'you get your money's worth'!

What's idea of this USA check on used goods? To force more goods out
of the market in order to import more stuff
from ....................... ???? Or to try and collect sales tax,
again. on items that were retailed years ago!

Maybe Canada is different, but in every US State with which I am
familiar, sales tax is payable on used items sold by a business (not at
a garage sale).

One supposes there is always some risk (may not work properly) when
buying at a flea market or fundraising church-basement sale. That's
where judgement comes into play. We bought an electric drill for a few
bucks, once. It failed quite quickly but was happy to take some parts
off it to fix another older and broken one. And old light fixtures and
table lamps can sometimes be rebuilt more artistically and fitted with
modern bulbs.
And gee; a large percentage of our furniture was bought second hand
and or fixed/up.
And a used dartboard or fishing pole, or model train set or old books/
magazines are just 'previously used items'. Whether we bought them at
a yard sale for a buck or two or they were given to us by uncle Joe!

It's not just a question of items being unserviceable. Some are unsafe:
a house in our community burned down when the tenant went to collect
other items after plugging in the used refrigerator she had just bought.
Perhaps the compressor had seized up and the motor overheated and caused
the fire -- I don't know the details. (To further complicate matters,
the house is in the "Historic District," so the Historical Commission
wants it restored to period-appropriate condition, while the owner's
insurance policy covers only normal "replacement cost"; there is a
significant difference.)

I could not give any of my late parents' electrical appliances to their
church in the UK for the thrift shop because they were not allowed to
resell them without having them inspected by an electrician and
certified safe. This would have cost more than they could have sold them
for.

Perce