FOR RELEASE     #08-051
March 13, 2008

WHITEHORSE – Yukon’s Chief Electrical Inspector John Einarson and Yukon Fire Marshal Marty Dobbin are teaming up to remind Yukon consumers to complete and mail the product warranty cards that come with new electrical and electronic products.

“The warranty card does much more than confirm when you bought something for service and repair purposes,” Einarson said. “It also serves as a means for the manufacturer to contact consumers in case of product recalls due to faults discovered after purchase, resulting in potential risk to consumers.”

“A recent fire at a townhouse complex in Whitehorse caused by a defective toaster resulted in damage estimated at $12,500,” Dobbin stated. “A similar incident recently occurred in Porter Creek when a defective lamp malfunctioned and caused approximately $250,000 in damage to a two-storey, wood-framed home, ruining most of its contents. Like anything in our mass-produced marketplace, defects can occur which may be hazardous to consumers. Completing and mailing back the warranty card received with the product helps the company reach purchasers with important advisories.”

Hundreds of product recalls are issued each month to ensure the continued safety of  the consumer as required by law. The retail industry marketing process makes it difficult for manufacturers to track where their products are being sold and ultimately used.  They have attempted to address this concern by adopting the warranty card system to help them reach registered consumers to advise of safety concerns related to their products.

“Most manufacturers post recall notices on their websites, so if someone is unsure of products they own, they may be able to find service notices and recalls on these sites,” Einarson said. “If consumers have questions related to product approval standards they can call the Chief Electrical Inspector’s Office at 667-5485.”

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