Combing garage sales for a sought-after item or a surprise find is a common pastime for everyone from university students looking to furnish their apartments to new parents hoping to save a little money — but alongside great bargains, there can be pitfalls.
On Aug. 7, 2007, 11-month-old Euan Artus-Elston of Richmond, B.C., died when the playpen he was napping in collapsed on his neck. His grandmother had bought the playpen months earlier at a garage sale in Winnipeg. She didn't know it was one of the models of the Century Fold-N-Go playpen that had been recalled in 1996 because the locks that held down the sides could fail, causing the sides to collapse.
That recall was updated in May 2004 after an 18-month-old boy in Virginia died when his playpen collapsed. Consumers were warned not to use the playpens anymore and destroy them, because they were deemed unsafe.
While it's a well-known fact that it's buyer beware when it comes to purchasing used goods at garage sales and online classifieds or auctions, it may be surprising to find out that sellers bear responsibility as well.
In Canada, many items sold at garage sales or online — especially children's products — fall under the jurisdiction of The Hazardous Products Act. Under the law, you cannot import, sell or even give away products that do not meet the act's requirements.
If you sell an item that poses a hazard, you could find yourself facing a lawsuit.
Read the in depth
How careful are you when hunting for second-hand bargains or offering items for sale?
More...
On Aug. 7, 2007, 11-month-old Euan Artus-Elston of Richmond, B.C., died when the playpen he was napping in collapsed on his neck. His grandmother had bought the playpen months earlier at a garage sale in Winnipeg. She didn't know it was one of the models of the Century Fold-N-Go playpen that had been recalled in 1996 because the locks that held down the sides could fail, causing the sides to collapse.
That recall was updated in May 2004 after an 18-month-old boy in Virginia died when his playpen collapsed. Consumers were warned not to use the playpens anymore and destroy them, because they were deemed unsafe.
While it's a well-known fact that it's buyer beware when it comes to purchasing used goods at garage sales and online classifieds or auctions, it may be surprising to find out that sellers bear responsibility as well.
In Canada, many items sold at garage sales or online — especially children's products — fall under the jurisdiction of The Hazardous Products Act. Under the law, you cannot import, sell or even give away products that do not meet the act's requirements.
If you sell an item that poses a hazard, you could find yourself facing a lawsuit.
Read the in depth
How careful are you when hunting for second-hand bargains or offering items for sale?
More...
