More products aimed at children and imported from China violate federal lead content standards.
The items include metal jewelry, Shreck-themed jewelry and a plastic Diego-themed toy boat.
Archive for October, 2007
More Chinese-made kids products have lead problems
Thursday, October 25th, 2007Bumbo “Baby Sitter” seats can cause tumbles
Thursday, October 25th, 2007Consumers are being urged to be careful not to use Bumbo “Baby Sitter” seats on raised or elevated surfaces because babies can easily tumble from them. There have been reports of three fractured skulls.
The seats already have a warning against using them on an elevated surface, such as a tabletop, but larger warning stickers are being made available.
About one million of the seats were sold through various large national retailers.
More information and a photo can be found here.
Sony tops smaller-sized LCD TV rankings
Thursday, October 25th, 2007Sony was ranked tops in a customer satisfaction survey for buyers of flat-panel LCD TVs ranging in size from 20 to 36 inches, according to a new survey from J.D. Power and Associates.
The survey is a companion to an earlier survey of customer satisfaction for large screen TVs.
Online investors are risk-takers
Thursday, October 25th, 2007People who invest in stocks online usually take more risks than those who don’t, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates.
Security monitors might malfunction
Thursday, October 25th, 2007Some 64 Zone wireless security monitors might not work when there’s an intrusion.
They are being recalled. The information is here.
State starts home foreclosure hotline
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007Michigan has started a toll-free hotline to help homeowners who are facing mortgage foreclosure get counseling services and advice on how to avoid foreclosure. The toll-free number is 1-866-946-7432.
Operated by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the hotline will direct homeowners to a housing counselor in their county or to technical experts in the MSHDA homeownership division.
Maybe you won’t have to re-register Do Not call numbers
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007The feds are considering making permanent all the numbers already registered on its Do Not Call list, the database that was designed to limit unwanted telemarketing calls.
The list was supposed to exist for five years — a period that expires next year — but now the Federal Trade Commission is considering making all the number already on the list permanent, meaning you might not have to re-register your numbers every five years in order to keep telemarketers at bay.
Here are more details.
Line ski boards have bad bindings
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007Line X-Fly and Pro ski boards have bindings that can come off and cause the user to fall.
Details of the recall are here.
Treadmills can overheat, catch fire
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007More Cybex and Trotter treadmills are being recalled because some nuts were installed improperly and can cause the treadmills to overheat and possibly catch fire.
Here’s the information.
Bicycle forks are faulty
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007Bicycle forks used on a variety of bike brands can break and cause the rider to fall.
The forks bear the Reynolds name. The recall notice contains a list of the bike models the forks were used on.
Backpack magnets are safety hazard
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007Game pieces sold with “Cars”-themed backpacks have small magnets that can detach and be swallowed or inhaled by children.
They are being recalled.
Home lead test kits can be misleading
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007The Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that various home test kits for lead content produce results that either are too low or too high.
This is particularly significant given the amount of consumer who now are worried about lead content in imported consumer products.
Here’s more information.
Loteria Primitiva is a primitive lottery scam
Monday, October 22nd, 2007Nonetheless, some area residents have gotten official looking “Award Notification” letters indicating they won part of a Spanish lottery.
All they have to do is fill out an attached form with their bank account numbers and other personal information.
More information about the scam and others, plus a sample of a typical letter, can be found here.
Holiday spending expected to be sluggish
Monday, October 22nd, 2007The National Retail Federation says holiday spending this year will rise about 4 percent, the smallest increase since 2002.
The group’s analysis on how much you’ll be spending and what you’ll be spending it on can be found here.
Don’t be fuelish
Monday, October 22nd, 2007Everthing you’ve ever wanted to know about fuel economy, including the comparative fuel economy ratings of 2008 vehicles, has been compiled at a U.S. Department of Energy Web page.
Check it out here.