For thousands of Canadians, yard sales and garage sales are an annual ritual. Financially, it's a win, win situation. The seller makes some money on old and used items. The buyer gets a bargain. But with certain products, the savings may not be worth the risk.

Children's items are probably the most popular wares at garage sales and yard sales. But older items may not be safe. For instance, they might not meet current safety regulations under the Hazardous Products Act, which covers baby gates, walkers, cribs, cradles, playpens, car seats and booster seats, strollers, walkers, lawn darts, toys and children's sleepwear.

The Canada Safety Council does not recommend buying used car seats. Proper use and installation of these life saving devices is very low : indeed, clinics and roadside inspections are finding only about four per cent are being used according to legal and manufacturers' specifications. In a crash, that means the car seat might not protect the child. On top of this, used seats usually do not come with instructions.

If the seat is over 10 years old it is considered unsafe, in part because plastic components deteriorate over time. Are all the parts in perfect working order? Is it the right size and fit for your child? A seat that has been in a collision must not be used again. As a potential buyer, you have no assurance of how old the seat is or what has happened to it.

Used electrical appliances are another common item at yard sales. The greatest risk in buying them is that you do not know how old they are, what abuse they have taken or the condition of the appliance's electrical components. If you buy a used appliance, make sure it bears a CSA certification mark. If your appliance is not properly certified and causes a fire, your insurance may not cover the damage. You should also have the product checked by a qualified repair shop or a factory authorized repair depot before using it.

If you are caught selling items that fail to meet safety standards you can be held responsible if someone is injured due to a product you sold to them. The Hazardous Products Act provides for steep fines and prison sentences. Even with informal transactions such as those at yard sales, vendors must take responsibility. It is illegal to sell hazardous or unsafe items.

Ensuring safety in garage sale transactions is a two-way street. Yard sales can be a consumer's delight. But getting something potentially dangerous to you, your family and others is not worth the savings.

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