Japanese electronics makers put on saturated marketing campaigns, making sure absolutely everyone knows that they have to buy this year’s “ion filter”, “oxygen flow”, “alpha wave sensing”, or whatever else. Japanese just as quickly throw them away, since there is no space to store them in tiny Japanese houses, and people who keep last year’s electronics are laughed at. Thus, there is a booming business in re-selling this stuff to poorer countries in the region, and the junkyard industry makes handsome profits also. Japanese cities have 5 different kinds of trash bins, and strangers will get hysterical when you throw paper or soda cans in the wrong type of bin, and will lecture you about how Japan will be buried under the sea because you put paper in the wrong bin; but they are strangely silent on tossing huge, bulky electronic items.

Why oh why can’t people report the facts correctly? (Both MSM and the blogosphere are equally guilty as far as this issue is concerned)

(There are a bunch of people who have a vested interest in sensationalising the story, no doubt.)

The law stated that mains powered electronics products which did not exhibit a “PSE” mark could not be sold after April 1st. Most electronics products manufactured after 2001 have this mark. The uproar was regarding such electronics produced before this date, which could not be sold “as is” after April 1st.

The anti-PSE movement gained traction once notable musicians (such as Ryuichi Sakamoto of YMO fame) started to jump on the bandwagon when they realised their vintage synths and other equipment might be affected.

Sensationalism aside, the law provides for a way for second hand electronic goods retailers to apply for the right to test equipment and certify goods as being PSE compliant. (Certain electronics do require to be tested by an approved institution, these include devices whose use carries a high risk of electrocution where a fault occurs – these are goods used near/in water (water heaters, etc), and directly on the body (eg massage machines))

The paperwork for such an application is a formality, and the required tests are straightforward and require very basic electronics skills, and the required test equipment is minimal (budget:$1000-$2000). The test results need to be stored for a minimum of 3 years from sale. Liability insurance is also required.

Yet a bunch of secondhand stores are up in arms, claiming that they will not be able to sell any electronics goods. Which is patently false.

Other more enterprising stores have done the paperwork and are already selling self-tested PSE compliant secondhand goods.

In a balance between financial burden for the seller and consumer protection, who should have priority?

Trade sellers should be competent enough to test, support, and be responsible for (as far as it would be equitable to do so) the goods they sell to consumers.

To promote more re-use of still functioning appliances (which is a good thing from a resource conservation perspective), certain safeguards need to be in place to prevent unscrupulous traders from ripping-off the consumer, as such acts will make consumers less willing to conduct purchases on the second hand market. With good such as electronics (as is the case for cars), requiring the consumer to take all of the risks does not seem equitable.

The PSE law as it stood appears to have struck a fairly even balance. Unfortunately, and is often the case, the bureaucrats (and their politician puppetmasters) buckled under the weight of public opinion and basically stated that the PSE law will not be enforced.

There are issues regarding the way the PSE law requirements were communicated effectively (or not) to those affected with reasonable notice. Perhaps a delay in enforcing the law was merited based on the apparent miscommunication. However, not enforcing the law seems to be a total cop-out.

I cannot excuse those who have their own agenda to whip up emotional support for their (selfish) position by deliberately misinterpreting the law. These manipulative people are just looking out for themselves and do not see the big picture.

Ugh…. Japanese peoples!!! LOL

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Hey Guys! Wake up! Just go to Japan and try to get in some of their exclusive eateries. No way, Jose. If you’re not Nipponese they won’t let you in even if you get down on your knees. So, why would you expect them NOT to come up with ideas like excluding resales of your own property?