Buckyballs vs The Consumer Products Safety Commission

"We are the first compay in 11 years who has said no to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission," says Craig Zucker, co-founder and CEO of Maxfeild and Oberton, creators of the popular magnetic desktoy Buckyballs. Citing roughly two dozen instances in which these magnets were swallowed by children and teenagers, the Consumer Products Safety Commission recently filled a lawsuit to recall and stop their sale. Zucker, however, is not backing down. "We are not going to recall the product....We'll fight it and we'll fight vigorously."

"Our packaging has five warnings on it, we don't sell to stores that sell only children's products, and we don't sell to toy stores," Zucker explained. "There is a level of personal responsibility that comes into play when it comes to consumer product safety."

Zucker sat down with Reason TV's Kennedy to discuss the recall, the bullying tactics employed by the CPSC, and how they are pushing back with their "Save Our Balls" campaign.

Shot by Jim Epstein and Anthony Fisher. Edited by Joshua Swain.

Approx. 4 minutes.

[wolf]

It's cases like these that make it clear that bureaucracies are unthinking, mechanical, number crunchers. They operate with strict guidelines and protocol as a poor replacement for reasoning. Just think if scientists had to work under such conditions as bureaucrats.

[GregoryTheGrster]

The government should at least force them to change the name of the product. "Buckyballs" sounds like it is meant to appeal to kids, especially little kids who are totally innocent and who do not deserve to be harmed by small magnets.

[kevd]

When as a society are we going to ban everything that is heavy, fast, hot, harmful or fatal if swallowed, flammable, slippery, wears over time, carries germs, full of water, conducts electricity, awkwardly shaped, unrecyclable, fossil fuel dependent, made in a foreign country, too small, too big, too shiny, too attractive, too flimsy, too high, too hard, too flimsy and too sharp? Save us dear Nanny!

[MilwaukeeFC]

The CPSC should be shut down. Let companies be successful or fail based on the reputation of their products. Let companies voluntarily submit their products for certification by private industry trade groups.

[ChuteBoxe]

I thought that was Ted Mosby for a second.

[ThisIsUnrealReality]

This business is for ADULTS only. It's the parent's fault.

[MilwaukeeFC]

This isn't parental responsibility issue. If you are older than about three years old, and have typical cognitive abilities, it is your own responsibility not to swallow shit. I remember being that age, and was personally repulsed by the few but not many of my peers who put stuff in their mouth. I avoided those little dumbasses and anything they touched. I would never feel regret about giving magnets to a kid. Give them some credit. Treating kids like babies encourages defiance, rightly so.

[mikemat]

Bottom line: Does his company have liability insurance? That should be all that really matters. If there is a company that is willing to put their own asses on the line, then who is the government to say otherwise?

[empacae]

After you win, I hope you sue the federal government for your court costs and any punitive costs.

[adamhansen]

Infantilizing. They're taking sufficient precautions. Consumers need some accountability. Nanny-state ridiculousness.

[Kittamaru]

Are you KIDDING? This is absurd on SO many levels... it's like trying to recall a Chainsaw because a bunch of kids got hurt trying to eat one... seriously, what do ya'll EXPECT will happen if you eat one of these things?

[ryanmajor]

C'mon parents, its YOUR fault your kids got them. Do you let them drink gasoline and blame OPEC?

[RickeyRamone]

Hey Feds! Leave this poor guy and his consumers alone!

[sharontony]

I bought two sets when all this started to show my support.

[Foreseeable]

Sell them in Israel, Russia and China.

[or]

The feds are really breaking their balls on this one.

[hob]

So they're going to spend their money fighting the federal government in court (...heroically, I might add...) and it makes me sad that I instinctively assume they're going to lose.

[Zooksboardshop]

I just got mine in the mail. Buy and support the fight!

[GalaxyTraveler]

So as a teacher you could teach children about the dangers - and in the same time about the amazing possibilities of building maths- and physics models as well as creative art with magnet spheres :)

[oilhammer]

You should have gone deeply into debt in solar cell production with loan guarantees from the government. Then you could retire rich and not have to bother with producing a product that opens you up to law suits. Oh, also you would need to donate to the right politicians' campaigns.