Product Recalls

A product recall is a request to return an item that has a flaw that causes it to be unsafe or to perform unsatisfactorily. Some products are recalled because of their deficiencies and some may have safety concerns. Recalls are a result of a manufacturer's desire and responsibility to produce items that are of high quality and meet the needs of the buyers.

When a manufacturer is negligent by distributing products that are defective, usafe or not properly checked, the manufacturer may be exposed to legal penalties and bad publicity. It can be very costly for the manufacturer to replace or pay for damages that the product may have caused.

Consumer protection laws have specific guidelines that come into play during product recalls. These requirements allow the consumer to see how much the manufacturer has to pay. There are also instances where a recall may be mandatory because of problems with the product that have caused significant problems. The company may also call for a voluntary recall to avoid future problems.

A person should be aware of product recalls because they are usually for their protection. Some people just ignore product recalls out of ignorance or unwilling to be bothered with the hassle.

While many recalled products have caused harm or damage to their users, other's may work fine at first, but later show signs of reduced effectiveness. In any case, it's important to remember that you as a consumer have rights to products that are safe and perform as expected. Sometimes, manufacturers fail to live up to this responsibility as a result of negligence or unforeseen complications. It's good to know that there are laws to protect consumers and it is wise to take advantage of these to insure your own safety and access to products that work as intended.