When shopping for toys, parents often want to find fun and affordable options for their kids. This is especially true today when the cost of living and housing is high.
Websites like Temu and Shein sell toys that can seem like great deals. In fact, they offer a wide range of colorful and exciting toys at low prices. But before you add toys to your cart, it's important to think about safety. Not all toys meet the same safety standards.
Here's everything parents need to know before ordering from these online platforms.
What is Temu and Shein?
Temu and Shein are popular e-commerce and online shopping websites that sell many different products at affordable prices. Many items on the platforms are priced under $50. That, in addition to constant promotions, discounts, and flash deals, makes Temu and Shein some of the top go-to platforms for parents and individuals looking for cheap items.
These websites ship items from different countries and often carry everything from stuffed animals to puzzles and art supplies.
Why Should Parents Be Wary of Imported Toys?
A new report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) indicated that toys purchased online are often shipped directly to the buyer from the seller. This means the contents of the package are unlikely to get inspected before it reaches your doorstep. This, in turn, means the toys may not meet safety standards.
In fact, a recent investigation by an Australian consumer advocacy organization tested 15 toys and novelty items sold by Temu. All products failed to meet at least one Australian safety standard requirement. They also had unsafe battery compartments that failed to secure button and coin batteries, which can cause severe injuries or death if ingested by children.
There have also been reports of lead and cadmium in baby clothes, pacifiers, and toys sold on Shein.
Additionally, toys sold by online retailers are not subject to the same laws as those offered in brick-and-mortar stores. Furthermore, online retailers can sell recalled toys online, per a separate report.
"There's a reason those companies sell a toy for $4 when the exact same toy would cost $25 in the United States," Deirdre Cummings, consumer program director for MASSPIRG Education Fund, told Parents.
