Check inventory for recalls before it hits the shelf
Federal law makes it illegal to sell a recalled product, even used, even once. Search any item here before you accept it or list it. Free, no account needed.
The CPSC’s Resellers Guide states: “It is unlawful to offer recalled products for sale under Section 19 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. § 2068), so having the recalled product in inventory is a violation of federal law.” The guide is written for thrift stores, consignment stores, charities, and individuals holding yard sales and flea markets. The law does not carve out online sales, so the same rule applies to listings on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Mercari.
How to do the check
- Check at intake, not at the register.Search before you accept a donation or consignment. The CPSC says to check recalls before taking a product into inventory or selling it. An item that never enters inventory is never a violation.
- Sell repaired items only with proof.A recalled product can be sold only if it has been repaired in accordance with the recall. Keep the repair documentation with the item.
- Destroy what cannot be fixed.The CPSC says hazardous or recalled products should be destroyed, not sold or given away. Donating a recalled item passes the hazard along and is still unlawful.
Check these first
The CPSC's guide names these as products resellers should check first.
- Cribs (especially drop-side), bassinets, and play yards
- Car seats and infant carriers
- Infant walkers, bath seats, and bed rails
- Toy chests, storage chests, and toys with magnets
- Mattresses and upholstered furniture
- Hair dryers, extension cords, and seasonal lights
- Bicycle helmets and hoverboards
- ATVs and other powered ride-ons
Track what you carry
Add the brands and models you regularly stock to My products. When a recall hits something on your shelf, you get an email the same week, before a customer or an inspector finds it first.
Save my products, freeCommon questions
Can I sell a recalled item if I fix it?
Yes, if it has been repaired in accordance with the recall. Follow the recall instructions exactly and keep the documentation. If the remedy is a refund or replacement rather than a repair, the item cannot be resold.
Can I donate recalled items instead of selling them?
No. The CPSC says recalled and hazardous products should be destroyed and not sold or given away to others.
Do I have to report dangerous products?
Sellers can report potentially defective or hazardous products at SaferProducts.gov or by calling (800) 638-2772. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers have a reporting duty under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act.