Roman Shades and Paxton Roller Shades

CPSC Recall #10-071 - December 14, 2009

Recall Summary

Recall Number10-071
Recall DateDecember 14, 2009
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 305,000 Roman shades and 45,000 roller shades (This recall was first announced in Aug. 2009)
Manufactured InChina, Hong Kong, United States, and Mexico

Where It Was Sold

The Roman shades were sold exclusively through Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn Kids
and PBteen catalogs and online at www.potterybarn.com
www.potterybarnkids.com and www.pbteen.com from January 1998 through October 2009 for between $25 and $180.The Paxton roller shades were sold through the Pottery Barn catalog and online at www.potterybarn.com from January 2003 through October 2009 for between $100 and $120.

Product

Roman Shades and Paxton Roller Shades

Description

This recall involves all sizes and colors of Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen Roman shades with and without fabric backing and the Paxton roller shades.The Roman shades have two labels; "Pottery Barn", "potterybarnkids" or "PBteen" is printed on the smaller label and the larger orange, black and white label warns that "Cords and bead chains can loop around child's neck and STRANGLE."The Paxton roller shades are made of solid fabric and have a metal rod at the bottom and a nylon operating cord.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

Roman Shades: Strangulation can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the shade or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.Roller Shades: Strangulation can occur if the shade's looped cord is not attached to the wall with the tension device provided and a child's neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.

Incidents & Injuries

Roman Shades: In June 2009, a three-year-old boy became entangled in the inner cord of a Roman shade while standing on his bed looking out of the window. The fabric liner covering the inner cords had detached exposing the inner cords. The child has recovered from the thin laceration around his neck.Roller Shades: There have been no reports of injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman shades and contact Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, or PBteen to receive a free repair kit for these products. Consumers should immediately check the recalled roller shades to make sure the tension device provided is attached to the looped cord and installed into the wall. If not attached, consumers should immediately attach the tension device securely to the wall. If they no longer have the tension device, consumers should immediately stop using the roller shades and contact Pottery Barn to receive a replacement tension device.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, 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.