Name of Product: Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planters with Stand
Units: About 82,000
Retailer: QVC, of West Chester, Pa.
Importer: All-Star Marketing, of Hawthorne, N.Y.
Hazard: The legs on the bottom of the planter can detach when the planter is moved or becomes unbalanced. This could cause the planter to fall and injure bystanders.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 347 reports of the planters collapsing; 155 consumers have reported injuries including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. QVC has also received reports of property damage caused when the planter collapsed onto nearby items.
Description: The Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planter with Stand (Item Numbers M16702 and M17499) is an upright planter used for growing tomatoes, peppers, or cucumbers. The planter consists of a 16” X 15” bag which holds up to 30 pounds of soil and is attached to the top of a 6-foot tall adjustable pole. Three legs are inserted into the pole to form a 36-inch wide base.
Sold through: QVC’s televised shopping programs, its Web site, and in QVC’s Studio, employee and retail stores from March 2008 through April 2008 for about $30.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers who have already set up the planter should immediately take it down by having two adults carefully tip it over on its side. Consumers who purchased the planter through a QVC television program or QVC.com were mailed instructions on obtaining a refund. Consumers who have not received instructions should contact QVC. Consumers who purchased the planter at a QVC store should return the planter to any QVC store to receive a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For further information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET any day, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.qvc.com
Source: CPSC