CPSC, Casio Inc. Announce Recall of Piano Benches

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Casio Inc., Dover, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Piano Benches. The screws and bracket assemblies attaching the legs to the bench can weaken and detach, causing the bench seat to collapse during normal use.

Name of product: Piano Bench

Units: 18,000

Manufacturer: Casio Inc., Dover, N.J.

Hazard: The screws and bracket assemblies attaching the legs to the bench can weaken and detach, causing the bench seat to collapse during normal use.

Incidents/Injuries: Casio has received four reports of bracket assemblies failing, including one report of a consumer sustaining a fractured wrist when their bench collapsed.

Description: This recall involves two model benches, the Bench DK, made of dark wood and the Bench LT, made of light wood. The bench has a plush leather covering and measures about 22-inches by 13-1/2 inches with 17-1/2 inch tall legs. Each bench comes with a small sticker that reads, "Made in China" and some units have a gold emblem that reads, "GAO JI CHUANG." Benches were sold separately and with Casio's electronic pianos.

Sold at: Music instrument retailers, Sam's Club, Costco Wholesale and on Casio's Web site nationwide between September 2003 and March 2004 for about $99. The benches sold by Sam's Club and Costco were unassembled and included a Casio Electronic Piano and piano stand. The benches distributed by music instrument retailers were assembled and sold as stand-alone products.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the benches immediately and contact Casio for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund plus an incentive payment. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 from Costco Wholesale Corporation should return only the bench to their local Costco retailer. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 or PX100 from Sam's Club will receive a box, instructions, and a return label to return the bench back to Casio. Do not return benches to Sam's Clubs. Consumers who purchased the keyboard and bench together will receive $125 toward the purchase of a replacement bench and consumers who purchased a bench separately will receive a full refund of the purchase price plus a $25 incentive payment.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers should call Casio toll-free at (800) 454-4678 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.casio.com.

Consumers should stop using the benches immediately and contact Casio for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund plus an incentive payment. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 from Costco Wholesale Corporation should return only the bench to their local Costco retailer. Consumers who purchased a Casio Eighty Eight key digital piano, model AP31 or PX100 from Sam's Club will receive a box, instructions, and a return label to return the bench back to Casio. Do not return benches to Sam's Clubs. Consumers who purchased the keyboard and bench together will receive $125 toward the purchase of a replacement bench and consumers who purchased a bench separately will receive a full refund of the purchase price plus a $25 incentive payment.

Casio has received four reports of bracket assemblies failing, including one report of a consumer sustaining a fractured wrist when their bench collapsed.