The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recall of the Week: Samuel Lawrence Furniture sleigh bed frames due to fall hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Samuel Lawrence Furniture is expanding the recall of Full- and Twin-Size Bordeaux Collection Bed Frames, with about 2,400 being recalled in the United States and 100 in Canada. In June, the firm recalled about 18,400 king- and queen-size beds in the U.S. and 1,250 in Canada.

The hardware holding the headboard and footboard can loosen or detach, posing a fall hazard, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The firm has received more than 100 reports of headboards or footboards detaching, including one report of a Florida man who injured his foot when a footboard came loose.

This recall includes Bordeaux Collection full- and twin-size sleigh beds with wooden headboards and footboards in a cherry finish.

Each bed also has two matching wooden side rails. "Bordeaux" and a model number are printed on a white label on the back of the headboard and footboard. Model numbers for the recalled beds are 8070-242 and 8070-243 for the full-size and 8070-232 and 8070-233 for the twin-size.

Manufactured in Malaysia, the beds were sold at furniture stores nationwide from August 2009 to April 2012. The cost was $300 to $400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled beds and contact Samuel Lawrence Furniture to obtain a free repair kit, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Samuel Lawrence Furniture at 888-572-9889 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s website at www.slf-co.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Family Dollar Stores decorative lights due to fire and electrical shock hazard

By Rita R. Robison

The Family Dollar Stores is recalling about 280,000 decorative lights called 200 Mini Lights

The light sets don’t meet the Underwriters Laboratory standard for these types of lights and pose a fire and shock risk, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

Consumers reported three incidents of overheating, with no injuries or property damage.

The recalled decorative light sets have "200 Mini Lights" and "Multi Lights, Green Wire" printed on the red box.

The lights are identified by SKU # 2211428 and UPC # 049696720465 on the back of the package. The lights have labels attached to a tag on the power cord with UL Listing # E346525 and Model # F0L200A4S.

Manufactured in China, the decorative lights were sold only at Family Dollar stores from September 2011 through December 2011. The price was $8.

Consumer should immediately stop using the light sets and return them to a Family Dollar store for a full refund, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Family Dollar Stores at 800-547-0359 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.familydollar.com in the Help section.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Bel Air Lighting outdoor wall mount lanterns due to fire, burn, and shock hazards

By Rita R. Robison

Bel Air Lighting Inc. is recalling about 99,700 outdoor wall mount lanterns.

An electrical short circuit can occur in the lanterns' internal wiring, posing a risk of fire, burn, and electric shock to consumers, Bel Air Lighting and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The firm has received seven reports of incidents, including two reports of lanterns catching fire. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves outdoor wall-mount lanterns made of cast aluminum in a rust color with beveled glass. A question mark shaped piece of metal connects the lantern body to the wall-mount plate.

The lanterns were sold at Lowe's stores under the Portfolio brand name with item number 253366 and at lighting showrooms with item number 44181.

The brand name and item number are printed on the product's packaging. Lanterns included in the recall are 19.25-inches tall by 9.75-inches wide by 9.25-inches deep and have a three-light candelabra base cluster inside. Part number "E194303" is printed on the base plate and on a label affixed to one of the light sockets.

Manufactured by in China by Zhongshan De Gao Lighting Co. Ltd. and Zhongshan Huayi Lighting Co. Ltd., the lanterns were sold Lowe's stores and in lighting showrooms nationwide and at Lowes.com from June 2006 through May 2012. The price was about $48.

Consumers should immediately stop using the lanterns and contact Bel Air Lighting for a free replacement lantern, the firm and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Bel Air Lighting at 888-770-7018 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.regcen.com/belairlighting.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: More gel packs recalled by California Innovations due to ingestion hazard

By Rita R. Robison

About 880,000 ice/hot and ice gel packs are being recalled by California Innovations.

About 248,000 units associated with lunch boxes and 55,000 associated with food carriers were previously recalled in January 2012.

If the packs aredamaged, they can leak gel that could contain diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can cause illness if ingested in large amounts.

No new incidents or injuries have been reported, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The recalled products are Cryofreeze ice/hot packs and Arctic Zone ice packs. The packs are gel-filled plastic pouches with either transparent or opaque sealed wrappers. They’re used to keep food hot or cold. The gel packs were sold separately and with a variety of lunch boxes, coolers, and thermal carriers.

Six gel pack styles are being recalled:  

Cryofreeze ice/hot packs in small and large styles. Both have opaque blue wrappers with the words "Cryofreeze," "Ice Pack/Hot Pack," "Non-toxic," and "Reusable" printed on the front:

• The small gel pack is 6 inches wide and 5.5 inches high.

• The large gel pack is 8.5 inches wide and 8 inches high.

Cryofreeze Transparent Cell ice/hot packs in three styles. Each has a transparent wrapper with the words "Cryofreeze," "Ice Pack/Hot Pack," "Non-toxic," and "Reusable" printed on the front:

• One 3-cell pack has three connected rectangular-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 7.85 inches wide and 5.5 inches high.

• Another 3-cell pack has three connected square-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 7.6 inches wide and 3 inches high.

• The 2-cell pack has two connected square-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 5 inches wide and 3 inches high.

Arctic Zone ice pack is 6.25 inches wide and 4 inches high and has an opaque blue wrapper. The Arctic Zone logo and a picture of an iceberg appear on the front of the wrapper. The words "ICE," "Personal Ice Pack," and "Non-Toxic Leak Proof Gel" are also printed on the front of the wrapper.

Manufactured in China, the gel packs were sold at mass merchandise and warehouse stores, other retailers, distributors, and on-line sellers nationwide between July 2007 and December 2008 in items that retailed between $5 and $28.

Consumers should immediately stop using the gel packs and dispose of them according to federal, state, and/or local regulations, the company and commission advise. It’s recommended that consumers contact their local waste disposal authority for instructions.

Consumers can contact California Innovations to receive a $6 cash refund for large, 8.5-inch x 8-inch, Cryofreeze gel packs or a $5 cash refund for all other gel packs.

For additional information, call California Innovations at 800-722-2545 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mail ci-recall@ca-innovations.com or visit the firm's website at www.californiainnovations.com.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Crib and play yards tents due to strangulation and entrapment hazard

By Rita R. Robison

A voluntary recall to provide refunds to consumers who own crib and play yard tents made by Tots in Mind Inc. is being announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and five retailers. About 330,000 tents are included in the recall.

The commission is warning parents and caregivers who own these products that infants and toddlers are at risk of serious injury or death due to strangulation and entrapment hazards from these products.

Tots in Mind recalled the play yard tents in July 2010 and offered a repair kit that’s no longer available. The company has shut down and all sales have stopped.

The commission staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these crib and play yard tents immediately. Don’t attempt to repair these products, the commission advised in a statement.

The commission is aware of 27 tent failures including one fatality and one serious injury that occurred between January 1997 and April 2012 from crib and play yard tents made by Tots in Mind Inc.

In 2008, a two-year-old boy died after becoming entrapped between the bottom rail of a play yard tent and the top rail of a play yard. The fatality was reported in a prior recall with the firm in July 15, 2010.

In 2007, a two year old boy had a catastrophic brain injury when the crib tent attached to his crib inverted and the product’s broken rod trapped his neck. The remaining 25 reports to commission involved inverted crib tents – entrapments between the tent and the crib or play yard or failures of the tent fabric and zippers.

Three of these 25 reports also resulted in injuries; in one such case, a parent reported finding her child turning blue and entrapped between the product and the top rail of the play yard.

Since Tots in Mind Inc. is out of business, retailers who sold these products are offering refunds or store credit to consumers.

The crib and play yard tents can present an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if the dome portion inverts inside the crib or play yard or if the product becomes partially detached from the crib or play yard.

The recalled products were sold at many retail stores including Bed Bath & Beyond/Buy Buy Baby, Burlington Coat Factory, Toys R Us/Babies R Us, Wal-Mart, and online on websites including Amazon.com. The cost was between $60 and $85.

Consumers should contact the store listed below where the crib tent was purchased to receive either a refund or store credit, depending on the retailer. If the consumer is unsure of where the crib tent was purchased, see the return policy for individual retailers below on their website:

• Amazon.com [Amazon.com]
• Bed Bath & Beyond/Buy Buy Baby [bedbathandbeyond.com or buybuybaby.com or 800- GOBEYOND
• Burlington Coat Factory [burlingtoncoatfactory.com or 888-223-2628
• Toys R Us/Babies R Us [toysrus.com or babiesrus.com or 800-869-7787
• Wal-Mart [walmartstores.com or 800-925-6278

The recall includes various models of crib or play yard tents. Consumers can identify their tent by the 2 inch by 1½ inch label with Tots In Mind logo located on the non-mesh portion near the top of the tent.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to look for at this year’s Memorial Day sales

Planning to hit the stores on Memorial Day weekend to look for great bargains?

Many times, holiday sales are a lot of hype with savings just average.

However, dealnews.com is reporting that Memorial Day is different for a few product categories.

For the past two years, dealnews.com has seen many retailers offer respectable sales that feature sizable stacking coupons. In many cases, these extra discounts were the best dealnews.com had seen so far that year. In fact, 50 percent of Memorial Day branded discounts from 2010 and 2011 were the best it had seen since that February, if not earlier.

What makes up the bulk of those "best of the year" offers?

Sales from apparel retailers and a few home goods stores top the list. The hottest sales from last year, for example, included discounts from Perry Ellis, Last Call Neiman Marcus, ShopEcko, Designer Living, Pottery Barn, and West Elm.

Memorial Day weekend sales are timed well if you're looking for clothes, as spring apparel is already starting to see late-season discounts. A large stacking coupon will make for some good bargains. Expect to see promotion codes that take up to an extra 50 percent off, but more regularly an additional 30 percent to 40 percent off.

However, despite the good news within the apparel category, that doesn't mean all Memorial Day weekend sales are great. It's always an awkward period for electronics and summer-specific items such as patio furniture and grills will see better discounts the longer you wait in the season.

So, as you prepare to shop at one of the many Memorial Day weekend sales, first consider what you're looking to buy. Apparel is more likely to see the best discounts. But, in order to know whether that sale or coupon is something special or about average, check the comparison information that dealnews.com offers.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Kennedy International folding step stools due to fall hazard

By Rita R. Robison

13-inch folding step stools

Kennedy International is recalling about 1.6 million folding step stools in the United States and 64,000 in Canada.

The folding step stools can break or collapse unexpectedly when in use, posing a fall hazard to consumers, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a joint statement.

Kennedy International is aware of at least 15 reports of incidents involving step stools cracking or breaking, including three reports of injuries to consumers using the stools. Injuries included two reports of back injuries and one report of a fractured leg.

9-inch folding step stools

The recall involves 9-inch and 13-inch Kennedy International folding step stools. The step stools are plastic and have a handle for carrying the stools when they’re folded.

The style number is 3575 for the 9-inch and 3576 for the 13-inch step stools. The style number is printed on a sticker on one of the legs of the stool. "Kennedy Home Collection" is also printed on a label on some of the stools.

They were sold in blue, green, gray, red, purple, pink, orange, turquoise, aqua, white, plum, orchid, emerald, sapphire, sangria, ocean, sage, fuchsia, lime, and color combinations.

Manufactured in China, the step stools were sold at HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and other retailers nationwide from January 2010 through January 2012. The price was $8 to $12.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled step stools and contact Kennedy International to receive a full refund, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Kennedy International toll-free at (855) 270-8301 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.kennedy-intl.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Christmas Tree Shops’ Farm Glass & Metal Spiral Tea Light Holders due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Christmas Tree Shops is recalling about 6,200 Farm Glass & Metal Spiral Tea Light Holders.

Due to the design of the product, the tea lights can burn with a high flame, posing a fire hazard to consumers, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

Christmas Tree Shops has received one report of a tea light burning with a high flame that resulted in a burn to a consumer's hand.

The recall involves a decorative spiral tea light holder made from a painted glass with a red, orange, and green floral design. The glass has a metal insert for holding tea lights. The metal insert is spiral shaped with places for three tea lights. The metal insert is placed within the glass container. SKU/UPC number 000015931955 is found on a label on the bottom of the glass.

Manufactured in China, the tea light holders were sold at Christmas Tree Shops in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest from July 2011 through March 2012. The cost was about $5.

Consumers should stop using the recalled spiral tea light holder and return it to any Christmas Tree Shops store to receive a full refund, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Christmas Tree Shops at 888-287-3232 any time, or visit the firm's website www.christmastreeshops.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Office Depot chairs due to fall hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Office Depot is recalling about 307,000 Brand Biella Leather Desk Chairs in the United States and 12,000 in Canada

The weld connecting the seat plate to the gas lift can fail, causing the chair to separate from the base. This poses a fall hazard to consumers, Office Depot and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

Office Depot has received 11 reports of the chairs breaking and consumers falling while seated, resulting in reports of injuries, including minor bruises and scrapes.

The recall involves Office Depot brand leather desk chairs. The mid-back height leather chairs were sold in black and have SKU number 130548. “REG. No. PA-25498 (CN)” and “Made in China” are printed on a label located on the underside of the seat.

Imported by Swinton Avenue Trading and manufactured by Wonderful Year Inc., the chairs were sold at Office Depot retail stores nationwide and online at www.OfficeDepot.com from January 2002 through December 2008. The cost was about $55.

Consumers should immediately stop using the chairs and contact Office Depot’s recall hotline to receive a $55 store card that may be used for a replacement chair or other store merchandise, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Office Depot’s recall hotline toll-free at 866-403-3763 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.officedepot.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Leggett & Platt adjustable mattress bases due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Leggett & Platt is recalling about 25,200 power foundations or adjustable bases for mattresses.

Electrical components in the motor control board can fail and short causing overheating, which poses a fire hazard.

The firm has received 29 complaints of overheating in the electronic motor control board located in a housing underneath the deck of the power foundation, Leggett & Platt said in a joint statement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The power foundations are motorized bed frames, controlled by handheld remotes, which enable the head and/or the foot of the bed mattress to be moved up and down. These power foundations were offered in all bed sizes, and they were sold with handheld remote controls.

The recalled models are “Titanium,” “Gold,” and “Signature” by Leggett & Platt and other brands names including Interflex, American Signature, Spring Air, Sealy, and Simmons.

Since power foundations look very similar, consumers should identify their products by looking at the remote controls. The remotes controls are either black or dark gray and feature multiple buttons and a label with one of these brand names: Adjustables by Leggett & Platt, Interflex, American Signature, Sealy, Simmons, or Spring Air.

No other power foundations are involved in the recall.

Manufactured in United States, the mattresses were sold at mattress retailers nationwide from March of 2008 to October of 2011. The cost was about $1,700 to $2,200.

Consumers should immediately unplug the power cord and stop using the power functions of the beds, the firm and commission advise. Consumers should contact Leggett to arrange for a free in-home repair of the product or for a free modification kit and consumer installation instructions.

For additional information, call Leggett at 855-853-3539 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday ET or visit the firm’s website at www.titaniumrecall.com.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist