CONSUMER NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS  


Complain about a product or service

Small Claims Guide | Class Actions | Lemon Law | FAQ | Resources | Newsletters | Spanish
Automotive    Education    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Shopping    Travel   
NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

Martha Stewart Table Tops Shatter, Consumers Complain



By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 12, 2005
For the last three years, consumers who purchased Martha Stewart patio furniture at Kmart have been getting a nasty surprise: the glass tops of the patio tables have been spontaneously shattering.

Martha Stewart

Kmart Still Selling Shatter-Prone Martha Stewart Tables
Manufacturer of Martha Stewart Tables Declares Bankruptcy
A First: Consumer Gets Restitution for Martha Stewart Table
Sounds of Summer: Martha Stewart Tables Shattering
Sears Not Amused by Martha's Deal with Macy's
Martha Does Macy's
Martha Stewart to Begin Hawking Buicks
Suit Charges Martha Stewart Knew of Shattering Glass Patio Tabletops
Martha Stewart Table Tops Shatter, Consumers Complain
---
Consumer Complaints

Since April, when many consumers began pulling their patio furniture out of storage for the summer season, complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com have escalated. While some consumers have complained about the furniture’s “shoddy workmanship,” the shattering glass tops –- a potential safety hazard -– have been the predominant theme.

"I purchased a complete Martha Stewart Patio set in May of 2003. I housed it indoors in the winter months, and took very good care of it," Bridgette of Lewes, Delaware, said. "Just the other day, for no apparent reason, my glass top table shattered into a million pieces! I thought something fell out of the sky and hit it, but it did not. I am so disappointed!"

Megan, of Dix Hills, New York, reports an eerily similar experience: "We purchased the Martha Stewart Victorian Collection patio furniture set in May of 2002. We have always housed it for the winter, so it has never been put in any kind of bad element."

"Today, I was sitting in my den with my newborn son, and all of a sudden, I heard a tremendous crash. I looked outside and the glass patio table had shattered into a million pieces. My husband and I were stunned. We looked around for any item that may have fallen from the sky to create such impact, but we found nothing."

Megan tells us she phoned her local Kmart store and asked if they had ever heard of something like this happening. She was told they had received no other such reports. Strange, since ConsumerAffairs.com has been receiving reports like these since 2002.

Other complaints about the furniture set, which can cost as much as $2,000, have remarked about peeling paint, ripped cushions and rusting frames. However, none of the other complaints would seem to hold the potential for injury that the shattering table tops does.

A call to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed that there was no recall underway for the furniture. However, CPSC’s Michelle Fleming told ConsumerAffairs.com the agency would like to hear from consumers who have experienced the problem with the shattering glass.

Other products from the Martha Stewart line, however, do have a record with CPSC. In May 2004 Kmart recalled 588 boxes of Martha Stewart "Everyday" safety matches. The matches were found to possibly ignite upon impact, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In January 2005 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia recalled about 1,700 Full Moon Lantern sets. The lantern can overheat and melt or ignite, posing a burn hazard to consumers, and the recall was initiated after only eleven consumer complaints.

A month later Kmart recalled Martha Stewart Everyday brand birch candle sets. The birch surrounding the candles may ignite, posing a fire hazard.

In April 2005 a recall order went out for Martha Stewart Everyday sunny meadow four-piece sanded votive candle sets. It was found that these candles can have a high flame, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers. Kmart said it has received one report of a high flame with these candles. No injuries were reported.



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.


Consumer News

May 17 2008

Recent Recalls & Safety Alerts

READER SERVICES

Print, Email & More

Subscribe

Free consumer newsletters
Sign up now!



Back to the top |

Advertisement


Home | Rogues Gallery | Good Guys | Complaint Form | News | Recalls | Search | Video | FAQ |
Consumer Resources | Small Claims Guide | Lemon Law | Newsletter | Contact Us
Advertise With Us | Testimonials | Newsroom | RSS Feeds | Radio | Job Postings




Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2008 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.