Recall of the Week: Kikkerland foldable step stools due to fall hazard

About 13,000 Kikkerland easy-fold and easy-store step stools distributed by Kikkerland Design Inc., of New York, N.Y., are being recalled due to fall hazard.

The step stools can crack or break, causing consumers to fall, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
 
The firm has received nine reports of the stools cracking or breaking, resulting in four reports of injuries including ankle sprains and contusions.

The recall involves Kikkerland easy-fold and easy-store step stools. The tops of the foldable step stools have white polka dots and were sold as a set of two, including 9-inch and 15-inch stools.

The grey 9-inch stool has a sticker with model number ZZ09-GR on the front, and the brown 15-inch stool has a sticker with model number ZZ08-BR on the front.

Only stools sold by QVC are included in this recall.

Manufactured in China, the stools were sold exclusively by QVC televised shopping programs and toll-free number, at www.qvc.com, and at QVC retail stores in Minnesota and Pennsylvania from May 2009 through November 2009 for about $40.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled step stools, the commission advises.

If the step stools were purchased at a QVC store, consumers should return the product to any QVC store to receive a full refund. Consumers who purchased the step stools through a QVC television program or qvc.com were mailed instructions on how to receive a refund.

For more information, contact QVC at 800-367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.qvc.com.

To learn more about other recalls, go to www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

[Software Tester]

Why can't companies do comprehensive testing for quality assurance before pushing these products into the market?

[Rita]

A good question. It's because our consumer product safety regulations aren't as strong as they should be. In addition, the Bush administration wasn't interested in product safety and didn't properly fund the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It's taking the agency a while to recover.

Rita