Here's an interesting news piece I just came across. You can read my advice after skimming over the information:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2010
Release #10-238 Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 925-6278
Walmart Recalls General Electric® Coffee Makers Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: General Electric®-branded 12-cup digital coffee makers
Units: About 900,000
Importer: Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Hazard: The coffee maker can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Walmart has received 83 reports of overheating, smoking, melting, burning and fire, including three reports of minor burn injuries to consumer’s hands, feet and torso. Reports of property damage include a significant kitchen fire and damage to countertops, cabinets and a wall.
Description: This recall involves General Electric®-brand 12-cup coffee makers sold in white or black. The digital coffee maker has programmable functions and plastic housing. The GE logo is printed on the base of the coffee maker and the model number is printed on the bottom of the base. Model numbers included in the recall are:
Note: by clicking on an image below, you can view a larger version. [Please go to the CPSC to view the actual images.]
No other models are included in this recall.
Sold exclusively at: Walmart stores nationwide from March 2008 through January 2010 for about $30.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled coffee makers and return the product to any Walmart for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Walmart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.walmart.com
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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
My Advice
Always be aware of where any product you purchase originates from. There will always be a sticker, plate or something attached to any appliance stating where it's made or assembled. In this case, it would say "People's Republic of China".
In my experience, most Chinese appliances are just as good as appliances made anywhere else. The final decision about quality and safety always rests with the consumer. If you don't see an origin tag anywhere on an appliance, you should check to see if it's only missing on that particular piece because tags do come off. If like items are missing tags, please report it to the management.
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This article was originally published as: Beware of Chinese Coffee Makers
We have had a look at quite a few Chinese coffee makers but have yet to find many that live up to the expectations that consumers have of existing Italian and swiss made machines, with the exception of deLonghi.
Its is only however probably just a matter of time
Unusual for a company like WalMart to have this slip through their Quality Control however.
I probably should add that I am referring to the larger more expensive machines, not like the smaller single cup units and machines from likes of Breville, Phillips etc
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