Novelty lighters: shapes of telephone recorder, cell phone and Godzilla
CPSC Recall #99-123b — June 14, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-123b |
| Recall Date | June 14, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 10,600 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Small retail and souvenir stores nationwide sold these lighters from January through April 1999 for about $2 to $6. |
Product
Novelty lighters: shapes of telephone recorder, cell phone and Godzilla
Description
PRODUCT: Lighters - ZNY Enterprises Inc., of New York, N.Y., is recalling about 10,600 novelty and disposable cigarette lighters. The novelty lighters are shaped as a telephone pager, cell phone, and Godzilla. The disposable lighters are a "formal" design, which is a platinum-colored, gold-accented metal lighter. The lighters are refillable and each lighter has a sticker that reads, "MADE IN CHINA." Small retail and souvenir stores nationwide sold these lighters from January through April 1999 for about $2 to $6. PROBLEM: The lighters do not have any child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children could ignite the lighters, presenting fire and burn hazards. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these lighters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call ZNY Enterprises Inc. collect at 917-373-4289 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Consumers outside the New York City area should call collect.
Hazard
The lighters do not have any child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children could ignite the lighters, presenting fire and burn hazards.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these lighters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a 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.