I read chamellion’s post and thought I’d blog about this as well, but with my own special spin. 

I own a Tickle me Elmo. Thank god this didn’t happen to Tyco at Christmas time 1996 when the Tickle me Elmo fad was at its height.  My Elmo dates back to that Christmas.  My mother had to stand in line for 4 hours and fight off a crazed grandmother and a church group to get it for me.  (She still has the scar on her shin from the battle.)  Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating, but only a little.

To tell you the truth, this recall was only a matter of time.  I read an article in the June 2007 issue of National Geographic that I felt foretold the coming of this Fisher-price toys recall.

Basically, what is happening in China is a city like Wenzhou promotes the growth of family manufacturing businesses that focus on low-tech industries and dominates them.  For example, 70% of the world’s cigarette lighters are made in Wenzhou; there is an area of the city known for making the fabric that lines the waste bands of cheap trousers; another for tennis table paddles; one for umbrellas; you get the picture.  Once an area is opened up for “development” the cheap factories and housing go up with in months.

Before building.  The next picture was taken five months later. (Photos by Mark Leong NG June 2007)

There is no infrastructure in these makeshift cities.  However, after the land is cleared off and made habitable, the middle class moves in forcing the poor, low-tech businesses out to another area that has “opened up.”

To give you an idea of how quickly this happens, Wang Aiguo and Gao Xiaomeng want to build a factory that manufactures the strap adjusters on bras.  Nothing else, just the bra strap adjusters; previously they made the underwire, but other factories moved in on this and were able to make a cheaper product, so, the profits dropped from 50% to 10% Thank god the bra has 12 components!

Within an hour, Wang and Gao with their contractor drawing on a napkin, designed three floors and an office, three living rooms for managers and a workers’ dormitory on the third floor.  There are no permits, no inspections of the buildings themselves, why would the products be any different? 

When other businesses get in on the action and the business becomes less profitable, they move on to another place and product.  Most likely the companies that manufactured the lead tainted toy parts involved in current recall are no longer in operation or they have moved, changed names and/or products.

I strongly urge you to read the article “China’s Instant Cities” by Peter Hessler and photographs by Mark Leong.  He tells this story much better then I ever could.

After reading it, you will understand that this Fisher-Price Toy debacle was only a matter of when.  It’s just too bad it had to be children’s toys.

I wonder if anyone’s ever tested the paint of the strap adjusters on my bra for lead?