Date: August 20th 2004

Baby Bargains E-News: Bjorn Active recall, Simmons correction, product testers needed

(Need to unsubscribe? Want to have a friend get this newsletter? Need to change your email address? Click here: http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/newsletter.html )

===================================================
BABY & TODDLER BARGAINS NEWS UPDATE: August 20, 2004
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY BARGAINS and TODDLER BARGAINS
http://www.BabyBargainsBook.com
August 20, 2004
===================================================

In this email:

1. Baby Bjorn Active Carrier recalled
2. Correction: Simmons for sale, not closing
3. Product testers needed

===============

Hi again folks. A couple of quick items today—a new recall on the Baby Bjorn Active carrier plus a correction to our previous report on Simmons cribs.

===============

1. Baby Bjorn Active Carrier recalled

Astute readers have noticed the Baby Bjorn Active Carrier was pulled from store shelves in Babies R Us earlier this week. That was because of a “pending” recall of the carrier. We spoke with Regal Lager (the Bjorn’s maker) and they confirmed this, posting this notice on their web site:

Thank you for your inquiry into the pending recall to repair of the BABY BJORN® Baby Carrier Active. We have received a limited number of complaints that the buckle on the lumbar support may detach from the webbing on the shoulder straps.

There have been no reported injuries.

BABY BJORN® has responded to these complaints and developed a solution; a new improved buckle and safety strap. We are currently awaiting the arrival of parts from Sweden to repair all the carriers. As a precautionary measure, we have requested all our retailers to immediately stop selling the product and return everything in stock for repair. We are also in discussions with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), and will work with them to inform all current consumers.

We ask that you stop using your BABY BJORN® Baby Carrier Active.

For more details about the repair, click here,

http://www.regallager.com/recalls/carrier/ActiveCarrierRecalled.shtml

Please click here for return instructions. Once we have received the parts, we will repair your straps and return them to you as soon as possible.

We truly apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are sure you will agree with us, that safety must always be the number one concern. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 800-593-5522 or email info@regallager.com .

===============

2. Correction: Simmons for sale, not closing

In our last newsletter, we reported that Simmons was exiting the crib and furniture business. Apparently, that was incorrect.

After our newsletter was emailed, Nancy Villars of Simmons contacted us to state that the company was for sale---but was not closing. Yes, the company has announced the shutdown of its Wisconsin factory that makes all the cribs and furniture. But Simmons said any potential buyer will continue production but most likely move it offshore.

We apologize for the confusion on this. Press accounts of the Wisconsin plant closing led us to believe the company was exiting the business entirely: “Simmons Juvenile Products Co. announced Friday it will close its doors after three-quarters of a century in operation, putting 261 people out of work,” read the account in the Post Crescent newspaper in Wisconsin.

So who will the new buyer be? And what will Simmons furniture and cribs look like under this new owner? That’s up in the air. “Nothing is settled,” said Simmons spokesperson Nancy Villars, who refused to identify the potential buyer.

Simmons said it will continue to supply parts to existing crib owners, no matter who the new owner of the company would be.

The big question: with the announced shutdown of the Wisconsin plant and no buyer officially identified, what would happen if no one steps forward to buy Simmons? Villars refused to speculate on that possible outcome.

So, we’d still advise caution for consumers considering buying furniture from this brand. We’d like to see how the ownership situation shakes out before we continue our longtime recommendation of Simmons.


===============

3. Product testers needed.

Okay, we have just posted our call for product testers to our message boards! Read the announcement here:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=37


Best wishes,

--
Alan & Denise Fields, authors
BABY BARGAINS * BABY 411 * TODDLER BARGAINS
Web: www.windsorpeak.com.

--
The readers speak! Check out our new message boards for our books at:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php

--
We have a brand new book for parents! It's called Baby 411---think of it as the ultimate FAQ for new moms and dads! Check it out here: http://www.Baby411.com







--
To unsubscribe from: Baby Bargains E-Newsletter, just follow this link:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?f=u&l=Baby_Bargains_E%2dNewsletter&e=example@example.com&p=[pin]

Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser.