"Candoliers" holiday electric candle lights
CPSC Recall #94-015 - November 30, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 94-015 |
| Recall Date | November 30, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 72,000 three-light Candoliers and approximately 292,400 single-light Candoliers |
Where It Was Sold
| Candoliers were sold at Kmart during the 1992 holiday season. Single-light Candoliers sold for $.99 each |
| and three-light Candoliers sold for $4.59 each. |
Product
"Candoliers" holiday electric candle lights
Description
PRODUCT: Holiday electric candle decorations with either three bulbs or a single bulb, manufactured by Willis Mfg. and sold at Kmart during the 1992 Christmas season. The affected single and three candle units are improperly wired. The three candle units may also have improperly aligned metal contact tabs. PROBLEM: The improper wiring could cause a shock hazard. The improperly aligned contact tabs will immediately short circuit and present a potential fire, thermal burn or shock hazard to users. WHAT TO DO: Do not attempt to repair defective units. Take them back to any Kmart store for a free refund or replacement. WASHINGTON, DC -- Kmart Corporation, of Troy, MI, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urge consumers who bought holiday candle lights called "Candoliers" from Kmart during the 1992 holiday season to return the lights to any Kmart store for a full refund or replacement. The Candoliers may be improperly wired; three-light Candoliers may also have improperly aligned metal contact tabs. The improper wiring and alignment could lead to shock, thermal burn, or fire. The Candoliers came in single and three-lights. The single-light Candoliers were packaged in a plastic bag with a cardboard package top reading "Single Candolier." The candle lights are about 11 inches high. They have an off-white plastic stem and base, and either a clear or an orange bulb. Single-light Candoliers sold at Kmart for $.99 each. Three-light Candoliers were packaged in a cardboard box. The stems and base are off-white molded plastic. The outer two candles are six inches high and the center candle is seven inches high. The three-light Candoliers were packaged with either clear or orange bulbs. They sold at Kmart for $4.59 each. To avoid injury, Kmart is recalling all affected products. Candoliers with improperly aligned metal contact tabs will immediately short circuit. If the household branch circuit breaker or fuse does not interrupt (trip) the circuit, the short circuit could create a fire, thermal burn, or electric shock hazard for anyone nearby or for anyone holding the product or its power cord. The Candoliers which have been improperly wired will continue to work but may present an electric shock hazard. Even if you have used your Candolier without it short-circuiting, you should discontinue use and return the product to any Kmart to prevent potential injury. All Candoliers sold during the 1992 holiday season are being recalled. Kmart reported two incidents to CPSC of Candoliers failing. Both incidents involved three-light Candoliers. One incident resulted in slight burns to a consumer's hand when the cord caught fire.
Hazard
The improper wiring could cause a shock hazard. The improperly aligned contact tabs will immediately short circuit and present a potential fire, thermal burn or shock hazard to users.
Incidents & Injuries
Kmart reported two incidents to CPSC of Candoliers failing. Both incidents involved three-light Candoliers. One incident resulted in slight burns to a consumer's hand when the cord caught fire.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should discontinue use and return the product to any Kmart store for a full refund or replacement.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, Replace) 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.