Piano Bench
CPSC Recall #04-132 — May 4, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-132 |
| Recall Date | May 4, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 18,000 |
| Manufacturer | Casio Inc., Dover, N.J. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Music instrument retailers |
| Sam's Club |
| Costco Wholesale and on Casio's Web site nationwide between September 2003 and March 2004 for about $99. The benches sold by Sam's Club and Costco were unassembled and included a Casio Electronic Piano and piano stand. The benches distributed by music instrument retailers were assembled and sold as stand-alone products. |
Product
Piano Bench
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Casio Inc., Dover, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Piano Benches. The screws and bracket assemblies attaching the legs to the bench can weaken and detach, causing the bench seat to collapse during normal use.Name of product: Piano BenchUnits: 18,000Manufacturer: Casio Inc., Dover, N.J.Hazard: The screws and bracket assemblies attaching the legs to the bench can weaken and detach, causing the bench seat to collapse during normal use.Incidents/Injuries: Casio has received four reports of bracket assemblies failing, including one report of a consumer sustaining a fractured wrist when their bench collapsed.Description: This recall involves two model benches, the Bench DK, made of dark wood and the Bench LT, made of light wood. The bench has a plush leather covering and measures about 22-inches by 13-1/2 inches with 17-1/2 inch tall legs. Each bench comes with a small sticker that reads, "Made in China" and some units have a gold emblem that reads, "GAO JI CHUANG." Benches were sold separately and with Casio's electronic pianos.Sold at: Music instrument retailers, Sam's Club, Costco Wholesale and on Casio's Web site nationwide between September 2003 and March 2004 for about $99. The benches sold by Sam's Club and Costco were unassembled and included a Casio Electronic Piano and piano stand. The benches distributed by music instrument retailers were assembled and sold as stand-alone products.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should stop using the benches immediately and contact Casio for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund plus an incentive payment. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 from Costco Wholesale Corporation should return only the bench to their local Costco retailer. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 or PX100 from Sam's Club will receive a box, instructions, and a return label to return the bench back to Casio. Do not return benches to Sam's Clubs. Consumers who purchased the keyboard and bench together will receive $125 toward the purchase of a replacement bench and consumers who purchased a bench separately will receive a full refund of the purchase price plus a $25 incentive payment.Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers should call Casio toll-free at (800) 454-4678 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.casio.com.
Hazard
The screws and bracket assemblies attaching the legs to the bench can weaken and detach, causing the bench seat to collapse during normal use.
Incidents & Injuries
Casio has received four reports of bracket assemblies failing, including one report of a consumer sustaining a fractured wrist when their bench collapsed.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the benches immediately and contact Casio for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund plus an incentive payment. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 from Costco Wholesale Corporation should return only the bench to their local Costco retailer. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 or PX100 from Sam's Club will receive a box, instructions, and a return label to return the bench back to Casio. Do not return benches to Sam's Clubs. Consumers who purchased the keyboard and bench together will receive $125 toward the purchase of a replacement bench and consumers who purchased a bench separately will receive a full refund of the purchase price plus a $25 incentive payment.
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.