WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces
the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers
should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Piano Bench
Units: 18,000
Manufacturer: 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 ½-inches with 17 ½-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: China
Remedy: 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 Web site at www.casio.com