GUEST POST
by Judith Stern
Unless you check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website regularly, you may not know that every year, they recall thousands of products such as cars, appliances, baby and kids’ items, furniture and more. Here is a brief list of appliances and home furnishing recalled in the last six months. Each company has advised consumers to immediately stop use of the recalled product and contact the company directly for information on repairs or refunds.
Furniture
Company issuing recall: Big Lots
Date: October, 2011
Product: Glider Recliners with Ottomans (Microfiber and Leather)
Reason for recall: A gap between the moving parts and the base of the chair is large enough for a small child to become trapped; in addition, there are other parts on the chair that can pose finger pinching or crushing risks to anyone who uses the chair.
Company issuing recall: Dutailier Group
Date: November 2, 2011
Product: Drop-side cribs
Reason for recall: The crib’s drop-side slats can detach, leaving a space large enough for an infant or toddler to become trapped or fall.
Model number(s): E1230C2, E3500C2, E3540C2, E5100C2, E5140C2, E5530C2, E9000C2 and E9100C2.
What to do if you bought one: Consumers should contact Dutailier Group toll-free at (800) 363-9817 to receive a free repair kit, which consists of a new fixed side to replace the drop side of the crib.
Company issuing recall: Pottery Barn Kids
Date: December 28, 2011
Product: Madeline Bedroom Collection Bed Canopy
Reason for recall: The connections from the bedposts to the canopy’s top rails can come apart and cause parts of the canopy to fall.
What to do if you bought one: Call Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (855) 662-4114
Company issuing recall: Elegant Gifts
Date: January, 2012
Product: 1,600 chairs and 1,300 stools for children
Reason for recall: (Yellow) surface paint contains excessive levels of lead.
What to do if you bought one: Contact Elegant Gifts Mart at 787-290-5625 for a full refund.
Company issuing recall: Steelcase, Inc.
Date: January 18, 2012
Product: Amia desk chairs
Model number and manufacture date: The model 482 Series Steelcase Amia desk chairs that were manufactured between March and June of 2011.
Reason for recall: The chair’s pivot pins underneath the seat can fall out, causing the risk of falling.
What to do if you bought one: Call Steelcase toll-free at (800) 391-7194 or email them directly at retrofits@steelcase.com to schedule a free repair.
Appliances
Company issuing recall: Walmart, Inc.
Date: September 14, 2011
Product: Goldstar and Comfort-Aire 30-pint portable dehumidifiers
Manufacturer: LG Electronics
Reason for recall: The dehumidifier compressor’s power connector can short circuit, which poses fire and burn hazards to consumers and/or their property.
What to do if you bought one: Contact LG toll free at (877) 220-0479, or visit the firm’s website at www.30pintdehumidifierrecall.com.
The first time the LG dehumidifiers were recalled was in December 2009. The CPSC adds this important note regarding the recalled LG Electronics dehumidifiers:
“Because of the severity of the risks, CPSC and LG Electronics are concerned with the lack of consumer response to the recall. Only two percent of the 98,000 consumers who purchased these units have received a free repair, which means that consumers and their property remain at serious risk.”
Company issuing recall: General Electric
Date: October 25, 2011
Product: GE Monogram® Pro Rangetop with Grill
Reason for recall: The Rangetop burners may fail to light if the gas control knob is left between the positions of “Off” and “Lite,” which poses a risk of delayed ignition or possible explosion. (Note: Sixteen explosions have occurred with no injuries.)
What to do if you bought one: Turn off the gas supply to the product, and call General Electric toll-free at (866) 645-3956 or visit their website at www.geappliances.com/products/recall to schedule a free repair.
Company issuing recall: W.P. Appliances Inc. (sold exclusively through the Home Shopping Network)
Date: November 10, 2011
Product: Wolfgang Puck Electric Reversible Tri-Grill/Griddles
Reason for recall: An electrical wiring defect in the electric grills/griddles poses risks of overheating, melting and electrical shock to consumers.
What to do if you bought one: Recalls can be serious business, and your safety is of the utmost importance. If you have questions concerning any of the above products, contact the companies directly for more information. For up-to-date information about these or any other product recalls
Many thanks today for this very important information. Please do not ignore any notice of a product recall. Today’s guest author, Judith Stern, began her interior design career as in-house designer to a prestigious furniture retailer.