Target recalls toy barbeque grills

From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Play Wonder Toy Barbeque Grills

Units: About 2,300

Manufacturer: Schylling, of Rowley, Mass.

Distributor: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The circular ash tray attached to the stainless steel legs of the grill could contain sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Play Wonder Barbeque Grill. The grill is metal and has an orange metal base and top, along with stainless steel legs and a removable circular ash tray. The grill set also includes tongs and a spatula. The “Play Wonder” logo is located on the lower right corner of the packaging.

Sold at: Target Stores nationwide from December 2006 to February 2007 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the toy grills away from children and return them to Target for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or log on to the firm’s Web site www.target.com

Kawaski announces recall of ATVs

From the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Kawasaki KFX450R All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV)

Units: About 6,000

Distributor: Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. of Irvine, Calif.

Hazard: The flange, which holds the fuel pump in the fuel tank, can fail to stay connected to the tank itself. This can create a fuel leak, which poses a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Kawasaki has received 60 reports of fuel leaks, though no injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled ATVs are the 2008 model year Kawasaki KFX450R. These ATVs are available in white, green, or black, and have "Kawasaki" and "KFX450R" on the front bodywork below the handlebars.

Sold by: Kawasaki motorcycle and ATV dealers nationwide between March 2007 and June 2007 for about $7400.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the ATV and contact their authorized Kawasaki dealer to arrange for installation of free replacement fuel tank.

Consumer Contact: Call Kawasaki at (866) 802-9381 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit www.kawasaki.com

Folding recliner chairs recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Bond Manufacturing Co., announced a voluntary recall of certain folding chairs this week.

Name of Product: Rockingham Deluxe Lounge Chairs (also sold as Vanderwall Folding Recliner Chairs)

Hazard: The chairs can collapse or fall backward due to faulty support brackets or weak frames, posing fall and severe laceration hazards to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Bond is aware of 13 incidents in which the recalled chairs fell backwards or collapsed. There have been eight reports of injuries. Four consumers reported injuries to their shoulder, back or neck, one consumer reported an injury to her head, two consumers reported hand injuries, and one consumer suffered a severe laceration to the tip of her finger when the chair collapsed.

Description: The recalled recliner chairs have a mesh covering attached to the steel frame by a woven cord. The chairs were sold in the following colors: bronze, navy blue, spa blue, spa green, spa linen, orange, lime, teal and taupe. The recliners are about 40 inches long, 28 inches wide and 46 inches high.

Sold at: Hardware, variety and discount department stores nationwide from December 2006 through April 2007 for between $35 and $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled chairs immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bond toll-free at (866) 771-2663 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bondmfg.com

What to do when buying a used car

Iowa's Attorney General Tom Miller advises us:

When you find a car you like, take your time, ask questions, and check it out.

• Test-drive the vehicle, and take it to your mechanic for inspection.
  

• Never buy a car without test-driving it first, and never buy a car from someone who won’t let you take it to a mechanic for a pre-sale inspection.
  

• Research the car’s history. For a fee, private services like Carfax and Autocheck may be able to tell you whether the vehicle has ever been titled as salvage, flood-damaged, or rebuilt, or if it has ever had an odometer mileage discrepancy.
  

• If you have a trade-in, consider selling the vehicle yourself. You likely will get more for the trade-in, simplify your purchase contract, and reduce the chances of confusion, fraud, or other problems resulting from your negotiations and purchase.
  

• Check the paperwork on the car before signing a purchase contract. Examine the odometer and damage disclosure statements.
  

• Offer a fair price, and focus on the total purchase price. (If you focus only on the monthly payment amount, you may end up paying more than the car is worth.)
  

• Watch what you sign -- once you sign a contract to buy, there generally is no three-day right to cancel. [Note: this may vary from state to state!] Put any disputes or other important issues in writing. Be ready to walk away if you aren’t satisfied with a deal. Be comfortable with your purchase.

This is sound advice. Learn to do more than just kick the tires and you may save yourself - and your wallet - a lot of heartache.

Tags: consumers, automobiles

Lead paint in toys still a problem today

Thomas The Tank Engine toys affected by recalls.

The recent recalls of some Thomas the Tank Engine toys have spotlighted the problem of lead paint in kids' toys. Says NPR:

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based toy company RC2 last week issued a voluntary recall of some 1.5 million "Thomas and Friends" wooden toys because the factory in China that the company contracts with to manufacture the toys used lead in some of the red and yellow paints coating the toys between January 2005 and April 2007.

That upsets Heather Davern because she says her kids play with these toys constantly.

James was just tested for lead in March as part of a preschool screening and the results came back normal. Addie has been tested before and will be tested again this summer before entering kindergarten, but even good results don't quell Davern's concerns.

"You think that when you're buying a high-end toy like a Thomas the Tank Engine train, that you're getting something that has gone through all the proper channels to make sure it's a safe toy," she says.

Most Americans think of lead paint poisoning from toys as a relic of another age (when we all had metal toys!) but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is concerned:

Davern calls it archaic to have to worry about lead paint in toys nowadays, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that is just one of several problems tied to the booming increase of manufactured products coming into the United States from China.

"So far in 2007, 60 percent of the recalls we have conducted are of products made in China," says CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson. "So far in 2007, we have done 24 recalls of toys; all of those products have been made in China."

Pier 1 Imports Expands Recall of Glassware Pieces

From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today (June 21, 2007) announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Blue/Green Dual Glassware Pieces

Units: About 219,000 (about 180,000 orange and red glassware pieces were recalled on May 8, 2007)

Importer/Distributor: Pier 1 Imports, Fort Worth, Texas

Hazard: The glassware can crack or break unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Pier 1 Imports has received 21 reports in total of glassware that cracked or broke, including one injury involving a minor cut from broken glass associated with a previous recall.

Description: The recalled glassware pieces involve large and small tumblers, goblets and margaritas. The bottom half of the tumblers is aquamarine and the top half is yellow. The bottom of the margaritas and the goblets is clear and the top is aquamarine and yellow.

Sold by: Pier 1 Imports stores nationwide, its Web site (www.pier1.com) and its June 2007 catalog from January 2007 through April 2007 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the glassware pieces immediately and return them to their nearest Pier 1 Imports retail store for a refund or merchandise credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information consumers can contact Pier 1 Imports at (800) 245-4595 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday and between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.pier1.com

Connecticut Attorney General warns of eBay, Craigslist scams

Connecticut Attorney general Richard Blumenthal has warned the public to watch out for eBay and Craigslist scammers. From The New Haven Register:

In one particularly common scam, a bogus buyer — often from overseas — offers to send a check to an item’s seller for more than the actual purchase price. The buyer then asks the seller to deposit the check and return the overage, often by wire. The seller agrees and, after the supposed overage is returned, the original check bounces, Blumenthal said....

To protect themselves from being duped by Internet scams, Blumenthal said consumers should never assume a check is valid simply because it looks legitimate. They should also independently confirm a buyer’s name, address and phone number, if possible.

Also, he said, consumers should never agree to accept or cash a check written for more than the actual purchase price that has been agreed upon. They also should never agree to wire money to anyone; there’s no legitimate reason for a buyer to ask for money to be wired, he said.

"An informed and cautious consumer is the front-line defense against Internet scams — virtually the only defense, because it is often impossible to track down and identify a person through an e-mail address," he said.

Polaris Industries, Inc. recalls ATVs because of fire hazard

From the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Polaris “Outlaw 525” ATVs

Units: About 930 units

Manufacturer: Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn.

Hazard: The recalled ATVs may have a loose fuel valve within the fuel tank, which could cause a fuel leak and pose a fire hazard to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: Polaris has received four reports of ATVs having a loose fuel valve. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall involves 2007 model year Polaris “Outlaw 525” ATVs. They are available in black or white.

Sold at: Polaris ATV dealers nationwide from January 2007 through May 2007 for $7,300.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop operating these ATVs immediately and contact their local Polaris dealer to determine if they have a recalled unit. Polaris will provide a free fuel tank replacement for consumers with recalled units. Polaris has notified registered consumers about this recall.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers should contact Polaris at (800) 765-2747 between 8 a.m. and midnight ET everyday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.polarisindustries.com

New Federal Mattress Standard will reduce the severity of fires

From the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

A good night’s sleep – that’s what most consumers want from their mattress. Starting July 1, 2007, new mattresses will offer an additional, lifesaving benefit: better protection from a fire (transcript).

Mattresses manufactured in or imported into the United States on or after July 1, 2007 must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) flammability standard. The mandatory standard is designed to reduce the severity of mattress fires ignited by open flame sources such as candles, matches and lighters.

CPSC estimates that, once fully effective, the new federal flammability standard will prevent as many as 270 deaths and 1,330 injuries every year.

CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord calls the new standard an important layer of fire protection in the home.

“The new federal flammability standard limits the spread and intensity of a mattress fire,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “That will give consumers valuable time to escape their homes if there’s a fire and it will save lives.”

The mandatory mattress rule, known as 16 CFR Part 1633, is a performance standard that limits the heat release in a mattress fire.

When shopping for a new mattress or mattress set, consumers should look for a label on the mattress stating that it meets the federal flammability requirement, and whether it is intended to be sold alone or with a specific foundation, such as a box spring.

Although this is an added layer of protection, consumers still need to keep in mind that increased fire resistance does not mean there is no fire risk. CPSC urges consumers to follow these important fire safety tips:

• Never smoke in bed.
  
• Do not allow kids to play with candles, lighters, matches or smoking materials.
  
• Do not fall asleep while a candle is burning.
  
• Extinguish candles before leaving the room.
  
• Have working smoke alarms on each level of the home and inside every bedroom. I
• In case of fire, call 911 from a safe location.

Gateway Inc. Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today (6/19/2007) announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs

Units: About 14,000 Battery

Distributor: Gateway Inc., of Irvine, Calif.

Hazard: These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. This is not an internal battery cell defect.

Incidents/Injuries: Gateway has received four reports of battery packs overheating, including minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled battery packs were shipped as the primary or spare battery pack for some Gateway 400VTX and 450ROG series notebooks, and are identified by part numbers: 6500760 or 6500761. The part number and “made by SMP” are printed on a label on the underside of the battery pack.

Sold through: Gateway’s professional and direct distributors and Gateway Country stores nationwide from May 2003 through August 2003. The computers with these batteries sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $90.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Gateway to receive a replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, removing the battery pack, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Gateway at (800) 292-6813 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT seven days a week or visit the company’s Web site at www.gateway.com/battery