Don't buy american or chinese products.

They have little respect for human life.

Used to be that "If it's Mattel, it's swell" Now, I guess, If it's Mattel, It's He**. Now, we watch where our grandsons' toys are made with a hawk eye, and so should you. P.S., All you vet posters, what does it mean when there's a large pink boarder around your comment? Am I about to be banned?

#2. Never seen that before. You sure it's pink??

Yep. wierd it is.

#2
It's lead paint leaking out of your Chinese built computer.

Just would like to ask Suck.-.McCrunchie what is it about US made products that lead you to make a comment like that and comparing them to Chinese made products? I am not picking a fight here, I am actually curious as to your experiences and what you have observed that I may not be aware of?
What say you?

#5 Scullion,
maintaining your laugh record, yet again! :)

Naw, Scullion, it's in the monitor, not the computer.

Jeez, it's way past my bedtime...Hey, where's GC? Don't recall seeing old "Shroom Head" around lately. Dudes ;)

I believe that EU is right about it. As a customer buying a product from the market, I see the brand, like " Mattel " being responsible for the product safety and quality, not the contract manufacturers or sub-contract manufacturers. Mattel has enjoyed the lower cost for producing in China. Many foreign manufacturers in China get away and probably not responsible for poluting the environment in China, then globally, while sub-contracting its production in China. All the big brand companies, whereever you are, however you produce
for the market, you must be resposible to the product safety, environment, disposal and salvage, and not just the good quality and competitive price. At a cost of non-recoverable later to generation to come.

It's really shocking how many lead recalls there are that you never even hear about. I found a site that tracks all of them and sends me emails whenever there are new ones.

http://www.leadtoyrecalls.com

It's time for the US to get serious about inferior toys being imported. We need to protect our children.

ALASTAIR JAMIESON

You mentioned that in New Zealand scientists found high levels of formaldehyde in clothes imported from China.

If you're referring to the tests conducted by TV3's "Target" program - these tests were found to have been botched earlier this week.

Further independent testing (by three centres - AgResearch in NZ and SGS Textile in Shanghai and Intertek in Hong Kong) has proven this to be the case - and formaldehyde were within acceptable levels.

TV3 is in damage control claiming "at the time [the testing was completed] there no guidelines in place for this country [New Zealand]".

So while we're on the topic of "recalls" - will the Scotsman be issuing a retraction for this one? ;)

What has Mattel included in the plan for market recall, after collecting all the stained toys,
how to get the lead out and dispose the waste plastics?
Is interesting to know ! The world wants to know !

Well what the Brits should do now when faced with a massive trade imbalance is sell them drugs, just like the last time there was this problem. After all why have they created the surplus of production in Afghanistan.

China didn't want their baubles then and don't want them now!

They ended up with Hong Kng from their first foray into drug smuggling and the companies who lead the drug trade are still making millions. All famous names ,still trading today. I'll leave it up to you to find out who they are.

#14 You mean people like Jardine and Matheson. The latter built Stornoway castle with his drug money.

However, what has that got to do with the likes of Mattel trying to profiteer on the backs of low paid Chinese workers? Or why Mattel and similar don't test their goods before marketing them to the public?

[2] I've seen the border too. It seems to be present on the most recent post that you make, but only occasionally.

I also suspect that the post might be 'in quarantine' until a moderator approves it. I base this on the experience of a contentious post that no one reacted to, therefore giving rise to the idea that no one else can see it. On the other hand what is contentious for one person is dross for another.

However, you should see an optician; it's not pink, it's red.

This 'war' over toys is misplaced. The better issue to address is that of lead in paint. No one need leaded paints these days, so who persists in making the stuff?

Good point #17 also what other chinese manufacturers are also using this dodgy paint ?

#18

Because it's cheap.

The whole made in China brand is cheap and shoddy.

I wouldn't so much as buy a set of chopsticks made in China, if I wanted them to last, and didn't want to poison myself with the chemicals they use to coat them leaking out of the wood.

#15
The point is that I take all this with a big question mark??

The coincidence is that the imbalance of trade is the biggest problem faced by the west, primarily the States.

While there is a question of quality I am not convinced that it is as major as what is being made out.

I could be a move to bring China into line. I am a cynic - but a healthy one!

Either the toys are safe or they are not?

Is it worth risking the health and wellbeing of your child with cheap toy from China?

I have three Grandchildren and I would never buy them cheap toys, now it seems I won't be buying them Matel toys either. Does Matel make Fisher Price toys or are they still safe?

#19 The Daleks

Just where exactly was your computer made? Any idea at all?

#23 Mec - There are some fisher price toys affected too - When I contacted Mattel about sending back some of the toys with dodgy magnets they sent out a form which had a whole list of the lead paint toys & there were quite a number of Fisher Price ones in the list. probably best to check on the websites.

Give yer weans some sticks to play with. They might poke their eye out, every noo and then, but they'll no get lead poisoning.

I work for a Chinese company, all of our porducts are stringently tested by Notified Bodies, testing houses and our main customers - Global Energy compnaies, carry out full annual technical and ethical audits on our factories. There is no doubt that there are many poor quality manufcturers in China but there are many more with much higher qualirty and to tar all Chinese compnaies with the same brush is a bit of a disservice.

Why do IBM, Dell, Sony, BMW, Ford etc etc all manufcture in china if it's so bad? It is down to the customer in the west (who wants the advantage of lower cost product) to test the products beofre they get onto the market and keep testing, as they would if they came for Europe or the US.

They manufacture in China, Ming, because it is so cheap. That way they can make massive profits and don't need to worry about paying a living wage in the West when they can pay a tiny fraction of that to their Chinese workers.

I wonder how many toy manufacturers do not have Made In China on their items? Playmobil? I know they have the factory in Germany but perhaps others elsewhere?

Long gone are the days when a shoe polish tin filled with "chucky stanes" would keep us playing for hours on end!

THE 'MADE IN CHINA' THAT BLEW MY BOLTS IS THE CROSS PEN COMPANY-LONG A RHODE ISLAND STAPLE-SAD-WHO IS GOING TO PAY $150.00 FOR A PEN "MADE IN CHINA"

I cannot speak for Toy Manufcturers, mine is a more technical market but we have to by European law, to state country of manufcture on our products.

I worked for many years for Italian and French companies, the testing and quality controls in our factories are much higher than they were in the European ones.

The population of China is just over 1.3 billion, it is very true that their wage is well well below that of Europe but in general they now have a much greater standrad of living than ever before and this is improving all the time.

Sorry if I come across as a bit of an apologist for China but my concern is this idea of everything comng out of China being low quality and danagerous.

China has poisoned our pets.
China is now poisoning our CHILDREN!
WARNING: Do not buy any food produced and/or packaged in CHINA!
READ YOUR LABELS!!!!

"figures had too much lead in their paint." There should be no lead whatsoever in paint nowadays.

Let us not blame the Chinese..Put the blame where it belongs..The greedy manufacturers who want to pay as little as possible for goods and while getting the highest return..And while we are about it we can blame ourselves for letting this happen - also for buying the rubbish

I am a Chinese student.I have seen the news recently many many times but i think it is not exactly fair to China's companies and total Chinese's reputation in the international wide.
I have question about the matter. Why the import companies did not has safety inspection at the many years ago. what the inspection organization have been doing during the products have imported? If they did it the products wouldn't have been in the shop, the toys quality would improved at the beginning of the business deal. I think in the news there should mention that as well, I think the import company should bear half of responsibility for this matter.
although i would say some business were done by individual, the government can not handle it, so the business man have their responsibility too.people know that there have good business men also have bad business men too.also it is common knowledge is that the cheaper things might have potential problem, especially the products bought from individual companies or small businesses.
Of course i looking forward many good companies and industries (in fact there is too many) to make safety and good quality products for our self also for others.
This opinion always in my mind when i was seeing the news i really can not keep quiet.

#28 Paula-
Manufacturing moves to where it is less expensive (not necessarily cheap - there is a difference) and it's more often about being able to offer a lower cost product that is competitive in the marketplace than it is about massive profits label you tar everyone with. Like it or not the marketplace rules (eventually) and your competitor can go to the same supplier you use and get the same product, then sell for a slightly less "massive profit" and you're out of business. You can vote with your pounds, dollars or euros and buy elsewhere, but if you'll look around you'll find your friends and neighbors most often buy on price not principal. And there is more of them than you, even if they do give lip service to your argument.

I don't think there is something only about product,
i guess it is related politics.

12. Brent H, Australia
The tests weren't botched. They just used a different test.
Target tested for the chemical in the clothing and found a certain level.
The Retailers Association used a different test which tested for "free" chemical.
This means that the garment has to be soaked in water for an hour then test the water.
They (Retailers Association ) seem to believe if a chemical doesn't come out of clothes when soaked in water then its not there. They did say that the remaining chemicals would come out in the presence of sweat and sunlight.
I would say "there is no evidence" to say that garments will not be worn in conditions where there is neither sunlight or sweat.
I would say the retailers assn are in damage control and not TV3

Keep in mind that the Chinese or for that matter any manufacture could send a 100% pure, safe product for acceptance and when a company accepts the product the manufacture changes the material (paint, etc.) to much cheaper materials (more dangerous) in hopes that it will not be caught. For that matter if periodical testing is required a "ringer box" of safe stuff will be sent and a safe employee (ie. one the mfg. is paying big bucks to) will just happen to pick that box for testing.
By the way lead paint is used because it goes on smoothly, has a good sheen and dries with little shrinkage or wrinkles. To have these expensive qualities in a much, much cheaper product is why lead paint is their paint of choice.

I find it very sad that Mr Zhang found it necessary to take his own life for a crime no worse than thousands of unscrupulous businessmen have committed in all areas of manufacturing..
There have been many cases of faulty, dangerous goods being recalled - some of which have caused deaths - and I have not yet heard of a child dying as a result of playing with Mattel toys.
He was very much in the wrong but sentenced himself to death. He was either very honourable or mentally unsound when he took this action. The Americans are much more to blame for the inadequate testing of these goods before cashing in on the cheap goods churned out in Chinese sweat shops.

6# i do not think he was specifically saying american made good are not good the man never said that!

what he did say is that america has little regard for human life if any at all even for their own citizens unless they are from the exclusive rulling elite and with america's track record who can argue with that?

from american prisons, to Panama, guantanamo, agfanistan, iraq, (the tip of an iceburg) name me a country america invaded and hasn't destroyed? just one,

as for chinese products who really make the billions? many in the "free" trade zones? are the majority not american n european companies?

this reminds me of a famous sports company that said they are against slave labour in India But they insisted that their $100 trainers in the US where produced for $5 by the indians try producing that without child/slave labour,

they know they have the upper hand n they can squezz blood out of them n then wash their hands

take america as an example the billions they make from iraqi oil!! the war cost nothing ZERO they had the army they paid the army (weather is fought in iraq or stayed at home) they fed the army they had so much stockpile of amunision is either use it or lay 1000s off work,

so use them against defenseless people to keep the pockets of the top republican arms manufarturers and oil barrons overfilling with bilions,

over a million innocent iraqis are dead and over 3000 mostly innocent american kids dead for the sake of the american elite that never changes whoever gets in power EVER

your politicians lie to you your news media is totally controlled you do not have a clue what is been done in YOUR name,

55 million americans have No medical insurance 20 million living bellow the poverty line all is Not rosy in the usa and any immigrants that want to enter the US is mainly from countries been "liberated" of all their natural resousers by the usa and had a very "d

We should our view from a different angle, it's not about the geological location, country where the product is made. Over the years, you must have enjoyed the high quality, and less expensive product made in China, without problem. Think, you have one or two, stained one in specific cases. You cry foul.

No one dare says that other than China, any goods/products made in countries other than China, have been perfect all this while.

It's one or two specific case to solve, but let's not been taken advantage by politicians, traders & economists for their hidden agenda's. Their fear of big debts to China and the ability of self-military financing by China. That's is the whole truth.

China is a country that has done a lot less harm to the world, than one, that has gone around policing the world, causing innocent people to die in unnecessary wars. It's own, men and women, supposely full of lifes and future, to die young age in wars. Fools, which one of the top politicians has had their own children participating in wars?

To "Just Chat", Post # 41: You say "Name me a country America has invaded and not destroyed - just one." How about Germany, (we invaded along with Great Britain and Russia). Yes, we helped Russia and Great Britain destroy Germany, (and a few other countries) - then we rebuilt them. Just being able to type your reply to the article doesn't make it true.
You are right when you say our government is straight out of Hell They are down right evil and will sell their own mother down the river if they see some profit in it. Today they stabbed us in the back by allowing Mexican trucks to start driving anywhere in the US - border to border. Their trucks are US company trucks that are 20 to 60 years old and thoroughly worn out,(no brakes, blown engines, etc.). All to save some money. The Mexican trucks even have cow-catchers on the front since they travel on dirt highways in Mexico and hit lots of wild animals.

#41 - Don't do that.
Totally. Never. Ever. Pessimistic focus. Other countries' politicians don't lie to their constituents? Other countries' news media aren't controlled or biased by their parent company? Your bulb must be turned down to low watt if you imagine we don't have a clue to what's happening. You equate the 'people' with the 'government'. I think of 'America' as myself, friends, relatives, neighbors, the next town or state over. Lots of people immigrate to take advantage of what we can offer. With our size and wild mix of persons, we have regard for human life as much as any other country. Many contribute as we can for our neighbors and those round the world.
We've had some great administrations. Not perfect.
You need to read some history concerning post WWll, Red Cross, Save the Children, Peace Corps, forgiven debt, etc. - on the offense, how about Britain, France re Morrocco, India, Russia - Poland, China - Taiwan, etc. The U.S. is the only bad boy ever been out there!??
Everyone's exonerated, it's all the U.S's fault.
True, I've been deeply ashamed for America at times, and here at home, Outsourcing, Corporate greed and power, Union-busting, the ludicrous complexity- private control of the health care system, distillation of media, and other subjects really flame me. But other countries have their own crosses put upon them by their elected officials, and I empathize with the people. I don't blanket stamp the whole country as a bunch of turnip heads, nor do I ignore the good they've done.
An important issue comes up and instead of having a reasonable, helpful, clear eyed discussion, many fall back on that 'America's Rotten Deeds' rant, as though we're all of a mind, no good deeds.
We have a struggle here demanding that companys follow the same OSHA, labor standards, & minimum wage rules when outsourcing, as they'd have to in the U.S. As we've not managed this, Mattel should

#44, I agree with your view about governments and countries, well said!
But don't pull of from IrQ, making one more mistake over the other. Invading was the 1st !!!

But as for quality, haven't it the US companies and European companies product high quality product in China and then export these goods to other countries. Ikea, IBM, Nokia, & many more big brands .... ??
These product labelled as, " made in China " & the brands represent quality.

Quality is a relative term to cost. If you have paid for something cheap and you believe the quality/value is above the cost you paid for, it's good-high quality. You have a choice to pay for Quality !!!
You really have a choice ! Try buying all made in USA. RCA vs Sony !!???

#24 Vinegar Joe.

Yes mate, it was made in a factory.