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Novelty cigarette lighters

CPSC Recall #02-177 — June 11, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-177
Recall DateJune 11, 2002
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 6,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Convenience and liquor stores and gas station food markets in northern California sold these lighters from March 1999 through April 2002 for about $4.

Product

Novelty cigarette lighters

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Specialty Sales Co. Inc., of Castro Valley, Calif., is recalling about 6,000 novelty cigarette lighters. These lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children could ignite the lighters, posing fire and burn hazards.CPSC and Specialty Sales Co. Inc. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.This recall involves two types of lighters. The first type is a refillable, liquid-fueled lighter with various decals depicting one of the following: a frog with a banjo sitting on a lily, a man in the moon, Tweety Bird, a unicorn, and a skull and crossbones. "Made in China" is written on a label on these lighters. The second type of lighter is a refillable, gas-fueled, piezo-electric lighter with a dolphin molded on the side. The dolphin's head serves as a hinged cover for the ignition button and flame port. There is no writing on these lighters.Convenience and liquor stores and gas station food markets in northern California sold these lighters from March 1999 through April 2002 for about $4.Consumers should stop using these lighters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Specialty Sales Co. Inc. collect at (510) 581-3869 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Hazard

These lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children could ignite the lighters, posing fire and burn hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Specialty Sales Co. Inc. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents.

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.

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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 (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.

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