The True Cost of CPSIA Third Party Component Testing

I've telling everyone how expensive the third-party component testing required by the CPSIA is but I don't think I've sat down and actually ran the numbers. Yikes! The costs are truly frightening!

I calculated the costs based on my current Winter Collection and assuming that each component test cost between $75-$100. Not included in these costs are the cost of each test item (they are destroyed in the testing process) and the cost of shipping the items to China since that's where most of the testing facilities are located.

Materials used in Winter Collection: certified organic cotton fabric, certified organic terry cloth, certified organic cotton fleece, poly thread, velcro, cotton fabric, poly anti-pill fleece, cotton chenille

The numbers: $25325 - $29100 to test the Turtle Park Tots Winter Collection

THE BREAKDOWN:

1. Bibs: $700 (both organic and non organic)
-5 components (fabric, terry cloth, velcro, thread, fabric label)
-must be tested for both lead and phthalates (found in plastics)
-retail price of bibs = $11- $16

I currently offer 20 bibs = $14000 total cost of testing

2. Chenille Baby Blankets: $300-$400
-4 components (cotton fabric, cotton chenille, thread, fabric label)
-must be tested for lead
-retail price of blankets $38

I currently offer 8 blankets = $2400- $3200 total cost of testing

3. Organic Baby Blankets: $300-$400
-4 components (organic cotton fabric, organic cotton fleece, thread, fabric label)
-must be tested for lead
-retail price of blankets $48

I currently offer 4 blankets = $1200-$1600 total cost of testing certified organic blankets

4. Changing Pad: $375-$500
-5 components (cotton fabric, poly fleece, thread, velcro, label
-must be tested for lead
-retail price of changing pad: $21.50

I currently offer 6 changing pads = $2250 -$3000 total cost of testing changing pads

5. Organic Changing Pad: $375-$500
-5 components (organic cotton fabric, organic cotton fleece, thread, velcro, label
-must be tested for lead
-retail price of organic changing pad: $30.00

I currently offer 5 organic changing pads = $1875-$2500 total cost of testing organic changing pads

6. Burp Cloths (organic and non organic): $300-$400
-4 components (organic/nonorganic cotton fabric, organic Gerber diaper, thread, fabric label)
-must be tested for lead
-retail price of blankets $16.50-$18 (per set)

I currently offer 12 burp cloth = $3600- $4800 total cost of testing each burp cloth

TOTAL COST OF TESTING WINTER COLLECTION: $25325 - $29100