Faux Wood Blinds
CPSC Recall #10-711 - December 16, 2009
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 10-711 |
| Recall Date | December 16, 2009 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 1,100 |
| Manufacturer | American Vintage Group LLC, of Houston, Texas |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Various blind dealers in Texas from April 2009 through September 2009 for between about $45 to $65 per blind. |
Product
Faux Wood Blinds
Description
This recall involves various sized custom Faux Wood Blinds with 2" slats in two colors - silk white and pearl. The recall only involves custom-sized Faux Wood Blinds. The pull cord with breakaway device is on the right side while two single cords on the left side control the open/close feature of the slats. There is a label inside the head rail that states "NIENMADE China" and a second label inside the head rail with a manufacturing code beginning with the letters "MFG" followed by four numbers. A warning label on the bottom rail states, "Cords and bead chains can loop around a child's neck and STRANGLE."Note: Examine all shades and blinds in your home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
Hazard
Strangulation can occur when a child places his/her neck between the cords of the pull cord above the breakaway device and the device fails to breakaway.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using these faux wood blinds and contact American Vintage to schedule an appointment for on-site repair of their blinds.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.