Best Buy Fined for Selling Recalled Product
According to the CPSC, “Federal law prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution in commerce of a consumer product that is subject to voluntary corrective action, such as a recall, that has been publicly announced and taken in consultation with CPSC.”
In a settlement announced last week, Best Buy agreed to pay a $3.8 million civil penalty and maintain a program to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), including disposal of recalled products, as well as establish internal controls and procedures.
From the CPSC press release:
The agreement settles charges that the firm knowingly sold and distributed 16 different recalled products during a five year period from 2010 through 2015. CPSC staff charged that Best Buy failed to implement adequate procedures to accurately identify, quarantine, and prevent the sales of the recalled products across all of its supply channels. Staff also charged that Best Buy, in some cases, failed to permanently block product codes due to inaccurate information that signaled that the recalled product was not in inventory. At other times, the blocked codes were reactivated prematurely, and in a few cases, overridden.Between September 2010 and October 2015, Best Buy sold about 600 recalled items, according to the CPSC, including more than 400 Canon EOS Rebel T4i digital cameras, to consumers. The Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 subwoofer and Coby 32-inch TV shared the dubious distinction of being the only AV products on the list of recalled products that were sold.
Here’s the list issued by the CPSC:
• Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computers, recalled on September 2, 2010
• iSi North America Twist ‘n Sparkle Beverage Carbonation Systems, recalled on July 5, 2012
• LG Electronics Gas Dryers, recalled on August 21, 2012
• GE Dishwashers, recalled on August 9, 2012
• Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital Cameras, recalled on August 14, 2012
• GE Profile Front Load Washers, recalled on October 3, 2012
• Sauder Woodworking Gruga Office Chairs, recalled on November 7, 2012
• LG Electronics Electric Ranges, recalled on November 8, 2012
• LG Electronics Top-Loading Washing Machines, recalled on December 18, 2012
• Samsonite Dual-Wattage Travel Converters, recalled on February 12, 2013
• Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 Subwoofers, recalled on March 28, 2013
• Gree Dehumidifiers, recalled on September 12, 2013
• Frigidaire Professional Blenders, recalled on September 19, 2013
• Schneider Electric APC Surge Arrest Surge Protectors, recalled on October 3, 2013
• Coby 32-inch Flat Screen Televisions, recalled on December 12, 2013
• Whirlpool Jenn-Air Wall Ovens, recalled on July 29, 2015
Best Buy told the Wall Street Journal, “We regret that any products within the scope of a recall were not removed entirely from our shelves and online channels. While the number of items accidentally sold was small, even one was too many. We have taken steps, in cooperation with the CPSC, to help prevent these issues from recurring.”
According to a report in the industry trade publication Dealerscope, Best Buy is not the only retail that has been caught selling recalled items. Home Depot and Meijer have been cited by the CPSC as well. Meijer settled its case for $2 million but the Home Depot case is still open. As of April, Home Depot was found to still be selling recalled product, according to an NBC news report.
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