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Wal-Mart steps up toy testing
By Marcus Kabel
Associated Press
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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is stepping up testing and safety reviews of the toys it sells to reassure consumers ahead of the critical holiday season after a series of recalls of Chinese-made toys over hazards to children.

Wal-Mart's top toy executive said Thursday the retailer will ask manufacturers to resubmit testing documentation for toys already on the shelves or in shipment, so that Wal-Mart can double-check the results.

The world's largest retailer is also increasing the number of toys tested at independent labs by about 25 to 50 percent, or an average of 200 additional items daily.

"Reassurance is really our key point," Laura Phillips, Wal-Mart's merchandise manager of toys, told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

"We've heard parents' concerns over recent recalls and we're working hard to be their advocate, ensuring everyone involved in the toy business plays their part in improving standards," she said.

Phillips said she does not expect the stepped-up testing or the review of documentation on testing already done to delay or reduce inventory for the holiday season.

The toy industry has been shaken by several high-profile recalls of Chinese-made products, from Hasbro Inc.'s faulty Easy Bake Ovens to the worldwide recall of 1.5 million preschool toys from Fisher-Price, a division of Mattel, the nation's largest toy maker.

The actions are part of a slew of recalls of Chinese-made products that range from faulty tires to poisoned pet food.

Phillips said shoppers are interested in seeing more toys made in countries other than China and that Wal-Mart is looking at producers in the United States, Mexico and Europe.

"We're hearing that customers are interested in products from lots of different places," she said.

But Phillips said any shift would be incremental and would not have a major impact on the assortment on the shelves for the holiday season.

"A lot of the pipeline is filled, as you would imagine, since it is already almost September," Phillips said.

"We feel honestly that there will be great product from China that we know is safe because they've been a great supplier to us for many years, and with increased testing we know that product will be safe for our customers," she said.

As part of its stepped up effort, Wal-Mart said it will share the results of its new tests and reviews with the toy industry and other retailers.

"Wal-Mart also stands ready to help leaders in China who are implementing new testing procedures to ensure the highest safety standards for toy products," the company said in a statement.

Analysts said Wal-Mart is taking the right steps to reassure rattled consumers.

"Restoring confidence in toys made in China is necessary. China is an established part of the toy industry infrastructure and people are not going to move production (out of China)," said Chris Byrne, an independent toy consultant based in New York.

Sean McGowan, associate director of research at Wedbush Morgan Securities, said it is important that the world's largest retailer is improving toy testing.

"These efforts should complement the stepped-up actions of the leading toy suppliers, and increase consumer confidence that the products on shelves are safe," McGowan said.

Take a look
Customers look at Fisher-Price toys in a department store in Beijing Wednesday Aug. 22, 2007. A Chinese official said Wednesday that manufacturers in China and American toy giant Mattel Inc. are both responsible for recent recalls of millions of lead-tainted toys worldwide. Li Zhuoming, executive vice chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Toy Industry Association, said blame "cannot be pushed to either side" in this summer's recalls, which included popular Sesame Street, Barbie and Polly Pocket products made in the province. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

To: No Name wrote on Aug 25, 2007 9:16 AM:

" So, will you go to K-Mart, Meijer or Target? Those are just as bad as Wal-Mart. Meijer is probably worse than Wal-Mart. "

/////////////// wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:23 AM:

" only after kids get injured will we do anything about it.this might make our big profits go down "

A face in the crowd wrote on Aug 24, 2007 4:08 PM:

" It's not like testing will help. Recalled items are usually seen hiding on the store shelves. I especially love it when something gets marked down for clearance, and then shows up at the register that its sale is declined. You know that the new price had to be entered into the computer system somehow, and that system is the one that runs the register. "

No Name wrote on Aug 24, 2007 1:38 PM:

" I have a much better ideal, get rid of ALL the Wal-Mart stores. They are putting way to many small stores out of business. I for one will drive that extra mile to shop anywhere other then a Wal-Mart. "
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