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Wooden, convertible ladder/chairs

CPSC Recall #88-041 — June 14, 1988

Recall Summary

Recall Number88-041
Recall DateJune 14, 1988
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately, 4,500

Where It Was Sold

Approximately
4
500 wooden
convertible ladder/chairs were distributed and sold nationwide through Swiss Colony
J.C. Penney and Spiegel catalog companies from October
1984 through July
1987.

Product

Wooden, convertible ladder/chairs

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Maxton Industries/Cox Furniture, Inc. of Maxton, N.C., today announced a voluntary recall of the firm's wooden, convertible ladder/chair. The ladder/chair was sold by three catalog companies; Swiss Colony, J.C. Penney and Spiegel. The Commission is aware of 24 incidents in which either the steps of the ladder/chair split or the hinges pulled away from the wood causing users to fall or stumble. The 24 incidents involved 13 injuries which included a broken elbow, several cuts and multiple bruises. Another problem is the inherent instability of the product when climbing the ladder. The step placement and arrangement, and the structural design can cause the user to lose balance and fall. Approximately, 4,500 wooden, convertible ladder/chairs were distributed and sold nationwide through Swiss Colony, J.C. Penney and Spiegel catalog companies from October, 1984 through July, 1987. The catalog companies' reference numbers are as follows: Spiegel's catalogue no: #N7910 7376T Swiss Colony's catalogue no: #3047 J.C. Penney's catalogue no: #783-2736 The ladder/chair involved in this recall has a warning label on the top step of the ladder. A picture of the ladder chair and the warning label is attached for easy identification. Consumers should remove these ladder/chairs from use immediately and return them by mail or in person to the retailer where purchased for a refund. Consumers will be reimbursed for mailing cost in addition to the retail price of the item. For further information concerning this recall, consumers can call Maxton Industries/Cox Furniture, Inc. collect at 1-919-844-3501.   Convertible Ladder/Chair Recalled  

Hazard

The step placement and arrangement, and the structural design, can cause the user to lose balance and fall.

Incidents & Injuries

The 24 incidents involved 13 injuries which included a broken elbow, several cuts and multiple bruises. Another problem is the inherent instability of the product when climbing the ladder.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should remove these ladder/chairs from use immediately and return them by mail or in person to the retailer where purchased for a refund. Consumers will be reimbursed for mailing cost in addition to the retail price of the item.

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.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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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