Product Safety in Resale


And Why Recalls Are Worth Paying Attention To

Most of us got into resale because we love the hunt, the stories, the second chances. We like giving good things a new life and helping customers feel good about what they take home.  Safety does not always feel like part of that story. Until it is.

When an item is sold secondhand, customers are not thinking about who made it or how old it is.  They are thinking, “I found this at a store I trust.”  That trust is quiet, but it is powerful.

Recalls can show up years after a product was made. Items can look solid, clean, and perfectly usable, especially things like furniture, heaters, baby gear, or older household items.  Nothing about them screams problem.  That is what makes this tricky.  Knowing about recalls is not about catching mistakes. It is about being prepared.

How this helps your customers

  • It gives them peace of mind they did not know they needed.
  • It removes the burden of research from their shoulders.
  • It keeps them safe in ways they may never see.

How this helps your store

  • It gives your team clarity at intake.
  • It reduces awkward conversations later.
  • It protects the trust you have worked hard to build.

This is not about knowing everything.  It is about knowing where to look and when to pause AND about training your team.  The safety databases exist to support that moment.  They turn uncertainty into confidence and guesswork into policy.

Resale has grown and matured.  Customers are asking more thoughtful questions.  Standards are rising.  That is a good thing.

Paying attention to safety and recalls is simply part of caring well for the people who walk through your door.  It is another way of saying, “We thought about this for you.”

That kind of care does not shout.  It shows.

Consumer product safety in resale is about three things:

  1. What you are legally responsible for
  2. What you should never take, no exceptions
  3. Where to check when you are unsure

When you resell an item, even secondhand, you are considered part of the distribution chain.  That means you can be held responsible for selling items that have been recalled or are considered unsafe, especially items intended for children.  This is not about fear. It is about protecting customers, protecting your business, and sleeping at night.

 

 

  • Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC |  Recalls & Product Safety Warnings | CPSC.gov 
    • This is the main one.  Search by product name, brand, or category.  This should be your go to.
    • They issue recalls and safety warnings for most consumer products sold in the United States.
    • Furniture, toys, home goods, electronics, baby gear, seasonal items, and more.
       
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA |  Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA
    • This covers car seats and vehicle related items.
    • In resale, the rule is simple. Car seats should never be resold. Period.
  • SaferProducts.gov Public Search | Search Home - SaferProducts
    • This is the publicly searchable database of unsafe product reports that can also surface potential recall issues. Good for deeper research.

 

 

Now, the hard line list. These are the items that should never be taken in resale, recalled or not:

  • Car seats of any kind
  • Cribs that do not meet current safety standards or are missing hardware
  • Drop side cribs under any circumstance
  • Used helmets for bikes, motorcycles, sports
  • Mattresses without proper tagging or sanitation compliance
  • Recalled children’s products of any kind
  • Infant sleepers that do not meet current safe sleep standards
  • Inclined sleepers for babies
  • Baby walkers
  • Cedar chests with latch style locks
  • Any item with exposed lead paint risk intended for children
  • Used medical devices
  • Space heaters that are older or lack modern safety shutoffs

If you sell children’s items, the bar is higher. No gray area.