Gel pens included with Icee Black notebooks and Icee Black notepads

CPSC Recall #00-169b — August 23, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-169b
Recall DateAugust 23, 2000
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 7,400

Where It Was Sold

Department
drug
grocery
and toy stores sold the notebooks and notepads with these pens from June 2000 through July 2000 for about $5.

Product

Gel pens included with Icee Black notebooks and Icee Black notepads

Description

PRODUCT: Gel Pens - Colorbök, of Dexter, Mich., is recalling about 7,400 gel pens included with Icee Black notebooks and Icee Black notepads. The gel pens were sold in various colors, and have "Colorbök Gel" written on the clip of the pens. The notebooks that included these pens have turquoise, lime magenta or orange covers, and contain solid black notepaper. The notepads that included these pens also contain solid black notepaper in various shapes, including stars, hearts, butterflys, frogs and cats. Department, drug, grocery, and toy stores sold the notebooks and notepads with these pens from June 2000 through July 2000 for about $5. PROBLEM: Because these pens contain an extra spring, the end caps can shoot off with great force, posing a risk of eye and facial injuries. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported. WHAT TO DO: Stop using these gel pens immediately, and return them to the store where purchased for a replacement pen. For more information, call Colorbök toll-free at (800) 366-4660 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Hazard

Because these pens contain an extra spring, the end caps can shoot off with great force, posing a risk of eye and facial injuries.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported

Remedy Instructions

Stop using these gel pens immediately, and return them to the store where purchased for a replacement pen. 

What Should You Do?

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