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DesignWare® Zipper Pulls

CPSC Recall #04-040 - November 25, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number04-040
Recall DateNovember 25, 2003
Remedy TypeDispose, Refund
Units Affected122,700
ManufacturerAmerican Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, Ohio
ImporterAmerican Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, Ohio
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

The product was sold at discount
toy
drug
grocery
party and specialty/gift stores nationwide from January 2001 through November 2003 for about $4.

Product

DesignWare® Zipper Pulls

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, Ohio is voluntarily recalling about 122,700 DesignWare Zipper Pulls. The product could separate and detach from the zipper, posing a choking hazard to young children.Name of product: DesignWare® Zipper PullsUnits: 122,700Manufacturer/Importer: American Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, OhioHazard: The product could separate and detach from the zipper, posing a choking hazard to young children.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: This accessory item consists of a 2-inch plastic blue or purple butterfly-shaped photo holder that can be attached to a zipper. There are four items in a package. The packaging has a pink/hot pink cardboard backer. Model number ZPL 1820 and UPC 18100 72866 are written on the back of the packaging.Sold at: The product was sold at discount, toy, drug, grocery, party and specialty/gift stores nationwide from January 2001 through November 2003 for about $4.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should dispose of the zipper pulls immediately. Consumers can contact the firm for a coupon redeemable wherever American Greetings' products are sold.Consumer Contact: Call American Greetings Corp. at (800) 777-4891 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Hazard

The product could separate and detach from the zipper, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should dispose of the zipper pulls immediately. Consumers can contact the firm for a coupon redeemable wherever American Greetings' products are sold.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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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 (Dispose, Refund) at no cost to you.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

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.

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