Numerous Chinese Toy Recalls, So Who Is Really To Blame.
Safety is a big priority for toy manufacturers, which is why the recalls have been such a hot topic lately. When companies are found to be producing unsafe toys, they're punished. One of the main issues here is that no single company wants to take responsibility for these recalls, even though they all produce toys that are sold in China.
We'll explore this complicated topic in more detail below and help you figure out who maybe at fault — but we're also going to look at how recent scandals can become opportunities on both an individual and institutional level.
The Danger of Chinese Imports: The Case of Mattel and Fisher Price
Just this last week, two major toy recalls were announced in the US market. The first affected Mattel and its subsidiary Fisher Price, and the second affected VTech. These cases are really good examples of what happens when factories try to cut corners to save money.
Mattel's recall was for defective toys that could include small parts that pose choking hazards for children. Similar problems were found in Fisher Price toys — some even included sharp points and clearly visible mold! These recalls alone represent around 2 million units and both have been costly for Mattel stockholders as well as parents who may have purchased these defective products.
VTech's recall was for about 300,000 defective toymobiles that pose choking hazards. VTech has received hundreds of complaints across the US, Canada, and Australia. The recall is significant to VTech because it's one of the only toys in its line to be dropped by the CPSC in the last 10 years.
Consumers React Against China-Made Toys
The Mattel and Fisher Price recalls have sparked outrage among consumers who are questioning why they need to be "forced" to buy American-made toys. Most people don't realize that these recalls were ordered by federal law and companies have no choice but to follow through for their own safety and legal liability if they do not comply with regulations. Mattel and Fisher Price have been labeled in the past as unreliable, but why should parents of toddlers be forced to assume the responsibility of buying toys that are potentially hazardous?
Since December 7th, Chinese factories have been recalled for selling dangerous or unsafe products. Products like firecrackers, power banks, and even toys for children including cribs have been recalled. The most well-known recall dates back to 1999 when Mattel took down over 280 million units recalled due to a potential choking hazard featuring small parts that could cause injury. However, the outcome of Mattel's recent recalls has stirred debate on how manufacturers can manage these issues successfully.
Fisher Price's Recall Is Leading the Way
In a way, Fisher Price has taken the hardest hit out of all these recalls. The company is a subsidiary of Mattel which means that many consumers associate Fisher Price with American-made safety standards. Fisher Price has been in the headlines today though for another reason. In early May, CEO Robert Eckert resigned due to declining sales and two other executives left as well. Some may say that this could be attributed to Mattel's recent recalls but it's hard to tell if this is the case since Eckert had been with Fisher Price for 22 years and 10 months.
So Why Are These Companies Being Labeled as Unreliable?
The question we should be asking is, who is really to blame? Companies like Mattel and Fisher Price can't be expected to take the fall for the entire Chinese toy industry — so what's really going on here? We've talked about how VTech has been heavily criticized for its handling of the recall. In fact, both VTech and Fisher Price have been named in a lawsuit filed by consumers who received replacement products that were also defective. However, there are no more updates provided by the court system on this case and we don't even know if it will go anywhere.
Mattel's Product Recalls Were Done Properly
Mattel has taken the brunt of the blame for these recalls but that doesn't mean that it's been proven that they did anything wrong. It's important to note that Mattel only produces its own toys and Fisher Price's products are manufactured by different companies, who then sell them to Mattel. This is why many people think Mattel shouldn't be held responsible for recalls on Fisher Price toys — if anything it should be the other way around. So here we have a situation where two brands made by one company are being held accountable for product recalls by third party manufacturers in China.
VTech Wasn't So Lucky
VTech has been heavily criticized for its handling of the recall. In fact, many customers have complained about receiving replacement toys that were also defective. VTech's actions during this recall have set a bad precedent for the industry and made it seem as though the company is not serious about customer safety. However, it's important to note that VTech outsources production to China so these issues came from a third party manufacturer other than VTech itself. While it may be handled differently in the future, VTech's response was not as effective as Fisher Price's.
There are still many questions to be answered about the Fisher Price and Mattel recalls — but it's obvious that both companies are taking the situation very seriously. Both companies have set up websites where customers can find more information about how to return their defective products, as well as updates on whether or not they plan on offering a full refund. They have also pledged to increase their focus on quality control and working with their suppliers so that these issues won't happen again in the future.
Although the situation is still unfolding, both companies have promised to work with their customers on this incident and make it as good as possible. It's hard to predict what will happen next, but if there ever was a time that the word "reliable" could be used, it would be when judging a company in regards to a recall. As parents, we also can't blame ourselves for not knowing how serious these recalls are. In the long run, both Mattel and Fisher Price handled their recalls correctly — but for now they are receiving public criticism because of their Chinese counterparts.
Do you own any Fisher Price or Mattel toys? Has this recall made you more wary of purchasing these companies' products in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Sources: Forbes, Fortune, The Huffington Post, Reuters US
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