Professional Series Fiber Optic 3 ft. Tree
CPSC Recall #01-060d - December 20, 2000
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-060d |
| Recall Date | December 20, 2000 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 9,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Walgreens nationwide sold the trees this holiday season for about $40. |
Product
Professional Series Fiber Optic 3 ft. Tree
Description
PRODUCT: Christmas Trees - Walgreen Co., of Deerfield, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 9,000 artificial Christmas trees with fiber optic lights. The trees are 3 feet tall and are decorated with fiber optic lights, candles, and a star topper. The lights change from purple, to red, to yellow, to green to blue. The tree stand is gold decorated with a ribbon and holly motif. They were sold in a cardboard box labeled in part, "Professional Series Fiber Optic 3 ft. Tree." A picture of the tree appears on the front of the box. Walgreens nationwide sold the trees this holiday season for about $40. PROBLEM: A color wheel in the tree stand that is used to light the trees can overheat and catch fire. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Two reports of the color wheel overheating and melting. No injuries were reported. WHAT TO DO: Stop using the trees immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. Call Walgreen Co. at (847) 914-3973 for more information.
Hazard
A color wheel in the tree stand that is used to light the trees can overheat and catch fire.
Incidents & Injuries
Two reports of the color wheel overheating and melting. No injuries were reported.
Remedy Instructions
Stop using the trees immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full 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.
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.