Cook's Essentials Electric Toasters
CPSC Recall #08-001 — October 1, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 08-001 |
| Recall Date | October 1, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 5,200 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| QVC through its television station |
| its web page; its toll-free number |
| outlet |
| and its employee and Studio stores from January 2003 through June 2003 for between $63 and $69 plus about $8 for shipping and handling. Some recalled toasters may have been sold at various retailers. |
Product
Cook's Essentials Electric Toasters
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill. and QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa., are voluntarily recalling about 5,200 Cook's Essential Electric Toasters. The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.Name of Product: Cook's Essentials Electric ToastersUnits: About 5,200Retailer: QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa.Distributor: Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.Hazard: The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.Incidents/Injuries: QVC has received information that ten toasters reportedly turned on spontaneously, including one incident of fire damage to kitchen cabinets and two incidents of toaster covers burned. No injuries have been reported.Description: This recall involves the "Cook's Essentials" four-slice wide slot electric toasters model CET 401. These toasters are made of stainless steel and measure 12 inches long, 13 inches wide and 8 inches high. Each toaster has "Cook's Essentials Classic Look Toaster, Model: CET401" printed on a plate located on the underside of the toaster.Sold by: QVC through its television station, its web page; its toll-free number, outlet, and its employee and Studio stores from January 2003 through June 2003 for between $63 and $69 plus about $8 for shipping and handling. Some recalled toasters may have been sold at various retailers.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and cut off the power cord where it enters the body of the toaster. Consumers who return the power cord in the prepaid envelope that will be provided will receive a full refund.Consumer Contact: Consumers who bought a toaster from a QVC's television program or at QVC.com were sent a package by mail containing information on how to receive a refund. Consumers who have not received the information packet should call QVC at (800) 367-9444, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, seven days a week or visit QVC's website at www.qvc.com. Consumers who bought a toaster at a QVC outlet or retail store should return the toaster at the store where it was purchased to receive a full refund. For all non-QVC purchases, contact Salton at (800) 233-9054 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.esalton.com.
Hazard
The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
QVC has received information that ten toasters reportedly turned on spontaneously, including one incident of fire damage to kitchen cabinets and two incidents of toaster covers burned. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and cut off the power cord where it enters the body of the toaster. Consumers who return the power cord in the prepaid envelope that will be provided will receive a full refund.
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.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
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.