The tech company tried to resist the commission’s efforts to require return or proof of destruction, arguing it was an overreach. But the CPSC said not only is this condition appropriate, but adequate tracking of ongoing risks to the safety of communities is also necessary. A total of approximately 418,818 units of these products were sold on Amazon to approximately 376,009 customers, the CPSC noted, and no one knows how many products were destroyed due to Amazon’s announcements.
“Leaving the [products] in the possession of consumers and possibly in the aftermarket would be inconsistent with the CPSA’s purpose of protecting the public against unreasonable risks of injury from consumer products,” the CPSC said. “The Commission finds that the conditioning of the refund or replacement of [products] on return or proof of destruction is permitted by the CPSA, consistent with Commission policy and practice and in the public interest as it prevents continued harm to consumers.’
Amazon has protected the safety of products sold and resold on its platform.
“We stand behind the safety of every product in our store through our A to Z guarantee, whether it’s sold by Amazon or by one of our merchant partners,” the Amazon spokesperson said. “We have proactive measures in place to prevent unsafe products and we constantly monitor the listings in our store, if we find an unsafe product available for sale we immediately address the issue and improve our processes.
But the CPSC has warned that Amazon’s safety notices don’t go far enough to protect the public.
“Serious injury or death can occur if clothing catches fire while worn by children,” the CPSC warned, while dangerous levels of carbon monoxide build-up put “life at risk.” And defective hair dryers “pose a significant electric shock and electrocution hazard to consumers and can ultimately lead to death.”
To compensate for “significant deficiencies” in Amazon’s initial communications, the mandatory recall notices will likely include “a description of the product (including a photo), hazard, injuries, deaths, actions taken and remedies,” provide “appropriate dates and number units sold and specifically use “the word ‘recall’ in the title and text,” the CPSC said.
An Amazon spokesperson told Ars that “in the event of a product recall on our store, we remove the affected products immediately after receiving helpful information from the recall agencies, and we continue to look for ways to innovate on behalf of our customers.”
“Our recall alert service also ensures that our customers are notified quickly of important product safety information and that the recall process is efficient and effective,” the Amazon spokesperson said.
Customers can keep up with Amazon’s recalls in a designated safety alert section on its website.
This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
