I was recently at a garage sale. The woman was selling a very nice carseat - from 2002. I gently pointed out to her that it was expired, that the local toy store would give a discount for recycling it, and that it was very unsafe, so perhaps it would be better to dispose of it. She agreed. I paid for the winter boots I was buying and walked Bug back to the car.
I looked back as I was driving away. The carseat was still there. The woman was walking in the other direction. Because, you see, the $30 she would get for it was far more important than a child's safety! People who shop at garage sales don't count!
I am tempted to start bringing a scissors and, very politely, forcing them to cut the straps.
This is why, when Husband suggested we buy a used carseat, I said Absolutely Not! I know that they expire, so that would be something I'm capable of checking, but you have no idea if that car seat had been in an accident at some point and no idea if the seller is telling the truth when you ask them about it. I'm willing to buy just about everything else used, but the carseat will be new.
ReplyDeleteI have actually bought one used carseat, but it wasn't from someone in a half-million dollar house. Out here people are pretty honest (also, a half million will buy you a seven-bedroom McMansion) so I did, in fact, trust the woman. But anyhow, people who live in McMansions are going straight to Hell.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think carseats expire (I mean besides the obvious that manufacturers tell you so)? This is something that makes no sense to me. I understand that perhaps newer generation carseats are safer because of enhanced technology or something, but I cannot imagine what could possibly happen to a carseat that hasn't been in an accident that could cause it to suddenly not be able to protect a child.
ReplyDeleteWell, the theory is that material fatigue could cause the plastic to crack more easily, especially since they sit in the hot car/sun all day. And, having left elastic in a hot attic for years only to see it die a crunchy death, I can believe it. Probably the margins are exaggerated though: if they say 7 years, I'd guess the truth is more like 10 + liability.
ReplyDeleteFunny, in the boston area $500,000 gets you a 1280 sq ft dilapidate, 3 bed room, 1 bathroom 1952 ranch that I bought less than a year ago. As an added delight- that single bathroom and the kitchen have never been updated! Although I love living 'round here, I would also loooovvvvveeee the space and luxuries 500K would buy elsewhere in the country!
ReplyDeleteHopefully the carseat was leftover at the end of the day....
Anon: Well do I know. Also: why I will never live in the Northeast again.
ReplyDelete(Also, as I'm sure you've deduced, this was a 7-bedroom McMansion, not a run-down 50s ranch.)
ReplyDeleteOk - that makes sense I guess. But yeah, I'd give it more than 7 years. Especially the infant ones that get carried into the house and not left to bake in the car.
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