Recall: You might lose sleep over this bunk bed -- it can collapse
Filed under: Recalls, Consumer Ally
If having your kids in bunk beds ever made you nervous, here's a set you have good reason to worry about. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 20,000 wood bunk beds sold nationwide by Big Lots Stores because the slats that support the mattresses and keep the kid from tumbling out of the top bunk have a propensity for breaking.
Big Lots told the CPSC that customers reported 14 incidents of slats cracking or breaking -- including four cases that resulted in injuries. Typically, only a fraction of incidents are reported to companies or the government.
The CPSC said the problem with the slats could lead the beds to collapse or lead to a child falling out. Consumers are urged to stop using the beds until repairs are made.
The recalled beds have a three-step ladder and the model numbers WP-9108-1 and WP-9108-2. Consumers can find the model number on a sticker on the interior panel of the headboard or foot board.
The Vietnamese-made beds were sold only at Big Lots stores and cost about $300.
To return the defective parts and receive a repair kit at no charge, contact Big Lots at 866-244-5687 between 9 a..m. and 5 p.m Eastern Time weekdays.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2009 @ 9:35PM
SPK said...
Made in China.....when will we learn!!!!!
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9-23-2009 @ 10:40PM
Hanna said...
i agree with you. That is the main reason our country is like it is.Everybody should refuse to buy anything from another country.
9-23-2009 @ 11:14PM
john jones said...
Learn what, geography? The beds were made in Vietnam, not China
9-24-2009 @ 2:28AM
Gregory Dittmer said...
The Vietnamese do not live in China, they live in Vietnam. Although both are part of Asia, they are two separate nations with two individual peoples and two different manufacturing systems.
The beds were sold only at Big Lots, which is a bargain priced outfit to begin with... but then buy cheap from them and you get just what can be expected, a cheap piece with a limited service life and ability. I am generally willing to pay extra for a decent product, but if I don't care about service life stores like Odd Lots, Big Lots and all the variety of "dollar" stores are fine.
Then of course, we have the children that are using the product. Just how large is the child as compared to recommended weight limits? Was the child simply laying in bed when the slats gave way, or was the little brat jumping on the mattress during a tantrum? There are just too many variables to pin down the quality to the nation of origin.
9-23-2009 @ 11:31PM
Mahleah said...
I work at Big Lots...and that bed was recalled AGES (maybe a year) ago. Those aren't even sold anymore!
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9-24-2009 @ 12:57AM
Don said...
Its like all the other stuff. We NEVER had bicycle helmets, we didn't have seat belts in our car until the late 60's, the playground war either dirt, gravel or asphalt. We had monkey bars, steel sliding boards, self propelled merry go-rounds. Sure we fell, heck we tried to push the other guy off. we had bunk beds with no ladder or "safety" rails. Most of us made it. Sometimes with a broken arm. But we made it.
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9-24-2009 @ 2:12AM
Alan said...
Very true. Every time they try to Idiot-proof the world, someone comes up with a bigger idiot.
9-24-2009 @ 2:00AM
Michelle said...
Vietnam is not China... DUH!
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9-24-2009 @ 2:39AM
Gregory Dittmer said...
The world is so much more a pain because of the idiots! There is absolutely no way a human can make something idiot proof, but yet, we keep trying to do just that. While something's, such as helmets and seat belts, have been beneficial to both the idiot and the normal person... it is absolutely impossible to make a chain saw so safe as to be able to prevent the operator from decapitating themselves! Knives, guns and fast cars don't kill... but idiots DO!
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9-24-2009 @ 3:38AM
Dave P. said...
Wow, some parents don't know how to teach their kids right. . . what a surprise. These beds may have not been made "rock solid," but if a relaxed and well-behaved child used this bed, then there would be no need to "recall" it. The only thing the manufacturer is guilty of is not labelling their product to exclude over exuberant children. (which usually is the parent's fault) There is no reason a child cannot understand when a parent tells them to "STOP." It sounds to me like there should be a parental recall. If you're not capabale of raising good, well behaved and respectful kids, then you have no business bringing children into this world. Because, let's face it, when that happens, you want to say that it's the kids fault. OR, you want to say that you don't have time for that BS. OR you think that the lack of discipline is what builds a positive player in the game of life. Regardless, if your child breaks this bed, then you have failed as a parent.
Remember, children are a direct reflection of their parents. If your child fails, then you have failed as a parent. It now becomes your responsibility to understand, accept and move forward from where you went wrong as a parent.
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9-24-2009 @ 6:01AM
seajay said...
Be careful when you condemn parents for overexhuberant or "out of control" children. My son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder a couple of years ago. It is under the same umbrella as Autism. For years we, as parents, trained and trained this child. I cannot tell you how many times we showed/explained/reasoned with him to use his "inside voice". Took years to potty train and so forth. Eating can often trigger vomiting because of food textures. He would melt down in social situations or places with a lot of noise. but because he has a 139 IQ he was disqualified for help in the schools. If you looked at him he "looked normal". But his life is like fingers on the chalkboard. Everything bothers him. Finally at he age of 8 we discovered he had SPD. With treatment he learned he had a volume control and that there were things beyond the windows of the car like street signs. He has learned to modify his behavior in stores, restaurants and other social situations.
For years, my husband and I beat ourselves up for our perceived lack of parenting skills, by others and even ourselves. Several people have offered to take our son and give him a good whippin, or other lovely offers to "get that boy in line". Because he wasn't in a wheelchair and is rather intelligent we all have been judged harshly. Now I see other poor parents in public trying to deal with their "difficult" child and my heart goes out to them. I go out of my comfort zone and talk to them, point them to a website for help. Let's help parents help their families.
http://www.spdfoundation.net
9-30-2009 @ 9:33PM
mlv said...
do you have children?
9-24-2009 @ 9:25PM
Elise said...
I had a similar bunk bed collapse on my children while they were sleeping in the middle of the night. Nor did my children play on their beds. The problem is due to the materials used in the construction of the bed. It appears that the company is using weak wood that cracks. When the side rails crack, it causes the upper bed to lose its stability, and in our case, tilt to the side and crash down -- child and all -- to the ground. My son was pinned between the bed and a dresser. Luckily he wasn't seriously hurt, but the potential is there for other children to be seriously hurt or even killed. These beds appear to be really strong (It seemed stronger and more stable than the more expensive beds I had looked at), but they're not strong at all. My particular bunk bed was bought at Walmart a little over two years ago, and was distributed by Dorel Asia. I'd like to hear from anyone else who has had similar problems. For anyone who has -- contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission and file an accident report. Also, I'd like to warn all other parents of the possibility of these accidents. We had no warning until the collapse occurred. The bed doesn't appear to show any signs of weakening before the collapse.
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10-20-2009 @ 4:48PM
anonymous said...
There is another model of bunk beds, that was also made in Vietnam, that broke and had defects also, but bought in a local furniture store. Because the repiars where not reported within thirty days, it wasnot refunded or replaced. Convinced that it is just a cheap brand, what do you expect though all bunk beds arent safe though. There should be a better time span for manufacturing warrenty on products that have been reported for defects and such, then thirty days anyways.Sorry for those thathad injuries do to this defect, I am glad the problem was caught before that had happend.
10-07-2009 @ 4:29AM
Dave said...
Seajay: I agree that I should be careful when I condemn parents. However, I was speaking only about those parents who raise their children to behave badly. I am, in no way, referring to those parents who have the added strain of raising a child under extenuating circumstances.
My heart goes out to you and your husband. For what it's worth, I would consider you far better parents than you seem to give yourselves credit for. Your hands are full and, in many ways, tied. Regardless, you still love, shelter and provide your child with the best surroundings you can. That alone is far more than too many parents of today can boast.
I had hoped that my observation about those parents that care more for themselves than their children would have shown through clearly in my comment. I was focusing my comment towards those parents who refuse to properly discipline their kids. Those parents who allow their children to run the household rather than the parent's running the household for the benefit of the child are only allowing the child to develop skewed views of responsibility, morals and ethics. Children are the perfect mirror to reflect the values of their parents. In most cases, a child acts the way they do because of what they learn at home. It is a parent's job to wade through any outside influences with their child to help show them the difference between right and wrong. It deeply saddens me how often parents just refuse to parent.
Thank you, Seajay, for responding. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see parents like you who still care enough to try. My apologies to you and anyone else for leading you to believe I meant ALL parents of unruly children.
To mlv: I do. I have a 10-year-old daughter.
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