Stationery Activity Sets
CPSC Recall #96-084 — March 24, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-084 |
| Recall Date | March 24, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 23,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Dollar Tree Stores in the Eastern |
| Midwestern |
| and Southern United States sold the activity sets from July to August 1995 for $1 each. |
Product
Stationery Activity Sets
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Dollar Tree Stores Inc. of Norfolk, Va., is recalling approximately 23,000 stationery activity sets. The sets include a plastic cutter with a metal blade. Consumers could be cut if the cutter's handle is inadvertently compressed, and the blade is exposed unexpectedly. The plastic cutters have a black button and a handle in a variety of colors such as gray, red, orange, yellow, green, etc. They measure 6.25 inches long (6.5 inches long when the blade is extended), .5 inch wide, and .5 inch thick. The cutters were sold as part of an activity set, which also included a clear plastic tape dispenser and two yellow, fine-tipped highlighters. The activity sets were blister-packed on green, violet, or blue cardboard labeled in part, "Item #STNY 85 5TPJ3 ... UPC #0 4038801113 7 ... Made in Indonesia ..." Dollar Tree Stores in the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States sold the activity sets from July to August 1995 for $1 each. Consumers should stop using the cutter immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers should call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST. Dollar Tree and CPSC are not aware of any injuries associated with the potential hazard. Dollar Tree is conducting this recall to prevent the possibility of injury.
Hazard
Consumers could be cut if the cutter's handle is inadvertently compressed, and the blade is exposed unexpectedly.
Incidents & Injuries
Dollar Tree and CPSC are not aware of any injuries associated with the potential hazard. Dollar Tree is conducting this recall to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the cutter immediately and return it to the store where purchased 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.
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.