Selling a dresser in the US: what to check before ordering

Ask for evidence covering your exact dresser under the US clothing storage unit rule before you approve an order. The rule requires units within its scope to comply with ASTM F2057-23, rather than merely carry a supplier's general safety claim. (16 CFR 1261.2)

Start with the product, then work outward to the paperwork. Put the proposed listing beside the factory specification and test report, and mark every difference you need someone to explain. Don't approve a substitution while those questions remain open.

Establish whether this is a clothing storage unit

Part 1261 defines clothing storage units as freestanding furniture intended for storing clothing, typical of bedroom furniture, and applies to covered units manufactured after September 1, 2023. (16 CFR 1261.1)

Ask the supplier for the intended use, dimensions, assembled weight, drawer layout, and manufacturing date. Include photos of the front, rear, feet, drawer stops, and any interlock mechanism in your review folder. For a borderline product, ask the testing laboratory for a written scope assessment against the incorporated standard before deciding which evidence to request.

Don't settle the question by renaming a dresser as an organizer. Ask the reviewer to consider how you intend to describe and photograph the product, and send the actual listing draft with the specification. If you want to offer several sizes, request a separate explanation of which versions the assessment covers.

Ask for the report behind the claim

Request the complete report, including sample identification, photographs, results, and any pages describing exceptions. Ask the laboratory to explain how its work addresses Part 1261 and the incorporated edition of the standard. Don't rewrite an older standard reference yourself or assume that a similar model was tested in the same configuration.

Use a comparison sheet with one row for each model you're considering. Record its height, drawer count, frame construction, and hardware version beside the corresponding report details. Flag an unexplained difference for the supplier and laboratory to resolve together, with a written answer you can keep.

If a report groups several models, ask for the basis of that grouping and the limits of its coverage. Request confirmation before including a taller version or changing the drawer configuration in your order. Keep unanswered questions visible rather than turning them into a pass mark.

Review the supplied hardware and instructions

Ask to see the anchoring components, warning artwork, assembly instructions, and finished packaging that will accompany your order. Have the laboratory identify which requirements cover each item, then compare those items with the version photographed in the report.

Treat a demonstration video as a prompt for questions. Don't ask a warehouse employee to improvise a loaded stability test or use a person as a test weight. Request qualified testing evidence and use your own inspection to document identity, packaging, and obvious differences from the approved sample.

Before production, ask the supplier to identify every component it plans to change. Review proposed substitutions with the laboratory before accepting them, including changes described as cosmetic. Save the approved instruction file and hardware photos alongside the purchase order so you have a precise reference at inspection.

Identify the business responsible for certification

For imported finished products requiring certification, the importer must issue the finished product certificate unless a specific rule provides otherwise. (16 CFR 1110.7(a)) Ask your importing partner to confirm who holds that role for this transaction and who will assemble the supporting records.

Have that business review the certificate against the applicable content requirements, including product identification and the rules being certified. (16 CFR 1110.11) Don't fill an unknown manufacturing location or testing date with a guess; request the missing information from its source.

Keep a reviewable order file

Before releasing the order, collect the scope assessment, complete report, certificate, approved sample photos, and final instructions in one folder. Give each file a date and version, and record who answered the outstanding questions. For a later reorder, compare the new specification with that folder before asking whether the earlier evidence still applies.

This guide is not legal advice; use it to organize your review with a qualified product safety adviser.

For help checking how your documents line up, visit MadeCheck's certificate check.