Mainstays Associate Office Chairs

CPSC Recall #06-208 — July 10, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-208
Recall DateJuly 10, 2006
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 762,000
ImporterWal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Wal-Mart stores exclusively nationwide from April 2003 through April 2006 for about $36.

Product

Mainstays Associate Office Chairs

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 762,000 Office Chairs. The legs and backs of these chairs can break, and the chairs can easily tip over, posing a fall hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Mainstays Associate Office ChairsUnits: About 762,000Importer/Retailer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.Hazard: The legs and backs of these chairs can break, and the chairs can easily tip over, posing a fall hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received nine reports of chairs breaking and two reports of tipping. There have been seven reported injuries, including a broken wrist.Description: The recall involves the Mainstays Associate office chair with a 5-star nylon base with dual wheel casters and pneumatic seat height adjustment. The chair has a fabric cushioned seat and back that is black/grey in color. The armrests are shaped in half-circle loops. Under the seat is a UPC Code Label #9501401610 with printed Model #VCR1022.Sold at: Wal-Mart stores exclusively nationwide from April 2003 through April 2006 for about $36.Manufactured In: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to Wal-Mart for a full refund.Consumer Contact: For more information, call Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site at www.walmart.com/.

Hazard

The legs and backs of these chairs can break, and the chairs can easily tip over, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Wal-Mart has received nine reports of chairs breaking and two reports of tipping. There have been seven reported injuries, including a broken wrist.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to Wal-Mart for 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.

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.