The day after Thanksgiving, dubbed Black Friday because it traditionally marks the day when retailers finally move out of the red and into the black, shoppers rushed in their hordes into stores such as Toys "R" Us to grab gifts for their children this Christmas.
Samaya Gusteins, a mother of one, was carrying two big bags of toys and about to leave the store.
"I have bought 17 toys for my 4-year-old daughter and other kids, " she told Xinhua.
"The toys are many and affordable," she added.
Gusteins said she was not surprised when she found that all the17 items she purchased were made in China.
"In my eyes, most toys are made in China," she said.
According to the U.S. Toy Industry Association, 70 to 80 percent of the toys on sale in the United States were made in China.
Gao Hucheng, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce, said that among the 7 billion U.S. dollars worth of toys China exported globally last year, nearly half went to the United States. China exported 4.1 billion dollars' worth of toys in the first seven months of this year, 1.7 billion dollars' worth to the United States.
"ALL MANUFACTURED GOODS CAN HAVE TROUBLES"
Dick Kent, an IT professional in New Jersey told Xinhua on the same day that "even God makes mistakes, let alone human beings," while commenting on the recent recalls of China-made toys.
"Some Chinese toys have problems, so does my U.S.-made car," he said, adding that the car always gives him headaches.
"You can't say that the entire U.S. automobile industry has gone wrong simply because my car has some problems," he said, adding that "all manufactured things can have problems."
"Mere criticism doesn't help," he added.
Kent agreed that it is abnormal that the recalls made this year were a little bit "too many." "I must say I am trying to avoid painted toys, which might pose some threat to my son in case they have lead in them."
"But one thing is sure," he noted, "all the Chinese toys would have gone if the situation were as bad as the media said it was," he said.
"There are so many customers here buying Chinese toys," he said, "it speaks for itself."
"I ONLY BUY THE SAFEST FOR MY GRANDCHILD"
Dozens of millions of China-made toys have so far been recalled from the U.S. market because of design defects by U.S. companies side or other quality problems. As a result, some U.S. customers have become suspicious of the quality of Chinese toys, especially after watching or reading so many media reports.
Jessica Weinstein, an elderly lady who lives near the Northern Boulevard of Queens told Xinhua in the nearby KB Toys store that she only buys "the safest" toys for her seven-year-old grandson because the media has repeatedly said some Chinese toys contain lead paint or other problems.
"I only buy the safest for my grandchild," she said, adding that choices include those made by the United States and European countries.
"But it is not so easy to find a U.S.-made toy," she said.
Weinstein told Xinhua that she has learned that China is not to be blamed entirely for toy recalls, "but I am still worried that I might buy something that is not good."
"I must say that I have never bought any unsafe Chinese toys, I just want to be careful," she said.
"CHINESE PRODUCTS ARE A BARGAIN"
Sanjay Soojari, an immigrant from South America, was shopping at the KB Toys on 82nd Street on Dec. 8.
Chinese products are "a bargain" and are best for low-income families, he said.
If all stores only offered toys made by the United States and other rich nations, the kids would not be able to get so many good toys, he said.
"Chinese products are really a bargain," he said.
Victoria, a 10-year-old Polish girl living on 66th Street in Woodside, New York, has collected more than 20 Barbie dolls.
When she was asked whether she knew which country made the Barbies, she shook her head. "Mom said they are cheap and good," she said, "I like them dearly."
This New York-based Chinese journalist picked 20 toys at random from the shelves of Toys "R" Us in Manhattan, New York, and found that all of them were made in China, evidence perhaps that the presence of Chinese-made toys on the U.S. market in the Christmas shopping season has not been affected by the recent spate of recalls.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article