Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Step
CPSC Recall #10-101 — January 6, 2010
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 10-101 |
| Recall Date | January 6, 2010 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 16,000 |
| Manufacturer | Primal Vantage Co., Inc., of Randolph, N.J. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| The product was sold in 2009 at various outdoor and sporting goods retailers nationwide as a 3-step package in model 105 or as a single step in model 155. |
Product
Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Step
Description
Product is a plastic tree step that attaches to a tree via a nylon strap and a large metal buckle. It is used to climb a tree in order to hunt from an elevated position. Models 105 and 155 both have a 12/08 date code, which is stamped on the plastic portion of the step.
Hazard
The plastic portion of the step can break, posing a fall hazard to the user.
Incidents & Injuries
Primal Vantage has received five complaints of step breakage, including two reports of consumers being bruised and cut.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the tree steps immediately. They should contact Primal Vantage for details on how to obtain a full refund. Consumers are asked not to return the product to retail stores as refunds can only be provided by Primal Vantage.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.