Cook's Essential Electric Toasters

CPSC Recall #08-522 - December 10, 2007

Recall Summary

Recall Number08-522
Recall DateDecember 10, 2007
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 13,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

QVC's televised shopping programs
Web page
toll-free number
outlet
and employee and Studio stores from May 2000 through May 2003 for between $50 and $60.

Product

Cook's Essential Electric Toasters

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Cook's Essential Electric Toasters. The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.Name of Product: Cook's Essential Electric ToastersUnits: About 13,000Retailer: QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa.Hazard: The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.Incidents/Injuries: QVC has received reports of five toasters turning on spontaneously, including two incidents of toaster covers burned and one incident of fire damage to a kitchen cabinet. No injuries have been reported.Description: This recall involves the "Cook's Essential" chrome two-slice electric toasters model CT200. Each toaster has "Cook's Essentials" and "Model: CT200" printed on a plate located on the underside of the toaster.Sold by: QVC's televised shopping programs, Web page, toll-free number, outlet, and employee and Studio stores from May 2000 through May 2003 for between $50 and $60.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and return it to QVC using the prepaid shipping labels that QVC will provide. Consumers who return their toasters will receive a full refund of the purchase price, plus shipping and handling.Consumer Contact: Consumers who bought a toaster from QVC's television program or at QVC.com were sent a package by mail containing information on how to receive a refund. Any consumer who bought a toaster at a QVC outlet or retail store should return the toaster to the store where it was purchased to receive a full refund. Consumers who have not received the information package should call QVC at (800) 367- 9444 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, any day or visit the firm's website at www.qvc.com.  

Hazard

The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

QVC has received reports of five toasters turning on spontaneously, including two incidents of toaster covers burned and one incident of fire damage to a kitchen cabinet. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and return it to QVC using the prepaid shipping labels that QVC will provide. Consumers who return their toasters will receive a full refund of the purchase price, plus shipping and handling.

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.