Although hundreds of toys have been recalled this year due to lead paint concerns or choking hazards, the shelves in retail and specialty toy stores remain full. But one never knows when a toy will be recalled for one reason or another, and no one knows this better than Statesboro resident Deanna Hughes.
Hughes' young daughter had a birthday in April. However, most of her gifts ended up on the recall list, and Hughes was at a loss for a simple solution.
She still has the toys, but they are out of her four-year-old's reach.
"They are still in the play room, but hidden," she said.
An effort to return some toys were met with a request for a receipt. A local store also told Hughes that in order to return the item, the "original packaging had to be returned as well," she said.
Like most gifts after they are given, original packages and receipts were not kept, she said.
"There were Polly Pockets, Barbies, and accessories," she said. Her daughter "knows they are gone, and we just try to divert her attention." When a four-year-old is given a gift and it disappears, there are questions, she said.
The trouble over returning the toys for a refund or exchange is frustrating, but the main concern is "she could have been injured," Hughes said.
Going online, Hughes found a toy recall list and confirmed the toys her daughter received were indeed on the list. Fortunately, one store in Savannah told her to bring the toy back with no problems.
Another issue that concerns Hughes is all the accessories she "wouldn't have purchased if we hadn't bought the recalled items," she said. "Those are nonreturnable."
The list of toys includes all kinds, for all ages, and from many different retailers. A list of recalls is available online at Internet web site wwww.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html.
The list includes Curious George plush toys that may have been exposed to lead; Dollar General toy cars with lead paint dangers; numerous Fisher Price toys with both lead paint and choking hazards; JC Penny Winnie the Pooh play sets; Mattel's Barbie and Polly Pocket toys and wooden toys from many suppliers.
Several magnetic toys were recalled due to choking hazards. Wal-Mart pulled Easy Bake Ovens due to a child's finger being nearly amputated. Kmart pulled Pool Pump water guns , wooden toys vehicles and some baby rattles from its shelves.
But the toys on the recall list shouldn't be missed this holiday, said Kim Freely, Kmart corporate spokesperson.
"The toy recalls are a small percentage of toys on the market," she said. "We still have a large variety of toys available."
The recall list, although lengthy, " will not have an effect on business," she said.
A spokesman for another large retailer echoed her statement.
"As America's number one retailer, Wal-Mart takes customer safety very seriously.," said Wal-Mart Corporation's Demand Media Manager Kory Lundberg.
The retailer has taken additional steps to ensure the toys it sells are safe,. he said.
"While safety and testing has been an on-going process for us, this summer we launched a Toy Safety Net Program to include additional testing of toy products and more work with industry and government leaders on safety standards," he said.
"We know its concerning to hear about additional recalls before the holidays," Lundberg said. "Through more testing and the recall process, retailers and manufactures are working hard to make this a safe holiday season. Through this new effort Wal-Mart has tested more than 12,000 toys since August, starting with those that a child could easily placed in their mouth, concentrating on testing for lead in surface coating and removable magnets."
Not only are the dangerous toys pulled from shelves, but an immediate block is placed at registers to prevent inadvertent sales of those items, he said. " We also allow the return of any recall product we sold to our stores without receipt."
He recommended consumers also access Internet web site www.toyinfo.org "for further details on toy safety measures and industry actions."
Hughes' young daughter had a birthday in April. However, most of her gifts ended up on the recall list, and Hughes was at a loss for a simple solution.
She still has the toys, but they are out of her four-year-old's reach.
"They are still in the play room, but hidden," she said.
An effort to return some toys were met with a request for a receipt. A local store also told Hughes that in order to return the item, the "original packaging had to be returned as well," she said.
Like most gifts after they are given, original packages and receipts were not kept, she said.
"There were Polly Pockets, Barbies, and accessories," she said. Her daughter "knows they are gone, and we just try to divert her attention." When a four-year-old is given a gift and it disappears, there are questions, she said.
The trouble over returning the toys for a refund or exchange is frustrating, but the main concern is "she could have been injured," Hughes said.
Going online, Hughes found a toy recall list and confirmed the toys her daughter received were indeed on the list. Fortunately, one store in Savannah told her to bring the toy back with no problems.
Another issue that concerns Hughes is all the accessories she "wouldn't have purchased if we hadn't bought the recalled items," she said. "Those are nonreturnable."
The list of toys includes all kinds, for all ages, and from many different retailers. A list of recalls is available online at Internet web site wwww.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html.
The list includes Curious George plush toys that may have been exposed to lead; Dollar General toy cars with lead paint dangers; numerous Fisher Price toys with both lead paint and choking hazards; JC Penny Winnie the Pooh play sets; Mattel's Barbie and Polly Pocket toys and wooden toys from many suppliers.
Several magnetic toys were recalled due to choking hazards. Wal-Mart pulled Easy Bake Ovens due to a child's finger being nearly amputated. Kmart pulled Pool Pump water guns , wooden toys vehicles and some baby rattles from its shelves.
But the toys on the recall list shouldn't be missed this holiday, said Kim Freely, Kmart corporate spokesperson.
"The toy recalls are a small percentage of toys on the market," she said. "We still have a large variety of toys available."
The recall list, although lengthy, " will not have an effect on business," she said.
A spokesman for another large retailer echoed her statement.
"As America's number one retailer, Wal-Mart takes customer safety very seriously.," said Wal-Mart Corporation's Demand Media Manager Kory Lundberg.
The retailer has taken additional steps to ensure the toys it sells are safe,. he said.
"While safety and testing has been an on-going process for us, this summer we launched a Toy Safety Net Program to include additional testing of toy products and more work with industry and government leaders on safety standards," he said.
"We know its concerning to hear about additional recalls before the holidays," Lundberg said. "Through more testing and the recall process, retailers and manufactures are working hard to make this a safe holiday season. Through this new effort Wal-Mart has tested more than 12,000 toys since August, starting with those that a child could easily placed in their mouth, concentrating on testing for lead in surface coating and removable magnets."
Not only are the dangerous toys pulled from shelves, but an immediate block is placed at registers to prevent inadvertent sales of those items, he said. " We also allow the return of any recall product we sold to our stores without receipt."
He recommended consumers also access Internet web site www.toyinfo.org "for further details on toy safety measures and industry actions."