Recall: Casio Inc. Recall of Piano Benches

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2004 Release # 04-132

Firm's Hotline: (800) 454-4678 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Casio Inc. Announce Recall of Piano Benches

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

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 ½-inches with 17 ½-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 Web site at www.casio.com