Dear Do-It Man: I don't know if you can help me, but I don't know where else to go. About 3 1/2 years ago, in July 1992, we purchased a bunk bed with a twin-size bed on the top and a double bed on the bottom. It is made of tubular metal.
Recently, when my two daughters were sitting on the top bunk, the whole thing collapsed. They're ages 9 and 11, so they aren't that heavy. Everything fell to the floor as the pieces fell apart. The girls landed on the floor also, but fortunately they weren't hurt.I called the store. They told me that its warranty on the bed was for one year, so there was nothing they could do about it.
They then referred me to the company in California they had purchased the bed from.
When I phoned a representative of that company, she said the store should be responsible for its customers. She said her company couldn't do anything.
She referred me back to the store in Salt Lake City that sold us the bed.
If the bed was just wearing out, or breaking a little, I can see why the warranty wouldn't cover it. But when it collapses, it could be very dangerous. If someone had been on the bottom, he could have been badly hurt.
Something should be done about this kind of bed, whether it be a factory recall or some other action. It is expected to be used by children, with regular wear and tear, and a person should be able to trust it longer than three years.
I don't know if the store will take responsibility, but at least other people should be warned about what can happen so they won't buy beds like that. I will certainly take my business elsewhere in the future.
Please let me know if anything can be done.
- J.B., Salt Lake City
Dear J.B.: Tubular metal bunk beds distributed by a number of companies in the United States are the subject of a repair recall that was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1994. The reason for the recall? The beds may unexpectedly collapse.
Bunk beds imported by the following companies are affected:
- Gold Key Enterprises, Arlington, Texas (50,000 beds)
- Bernards Inc., Highpoint, N.C. (11,000)
- S&A Imports Inc., Apopka, Fla. (2,700)
- Fashion Bed Group, Chicago, Ill. (4,800)
- L. Powell Co., Culver City, Calif. (23,000)
- Montgomery Ward, Chicago, Ill. (13,000)
- Southern Enterprises, Dallas, Texas (6,000)
- Coaster Co., Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (13,000)
- Rosalco Inc., Jeffersonville, Ind. (175,000)
Your bed is a Seaboard 2853 blue duo twin/full bunkbed. Seaboard, located in Ontario, Calif., is not on the recall list. However, we suggest you call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 to report the collapse.
In the meantime, people who have tubular metal bunk beds should contact the retailer to find out the name of their bed's importer or manufacturer.
Then you should contact the importer or manufacturer to see whether you are eligible to receive a replacement bed or a retrofit kit consisting of reinforcement brackets.
People who have tubular metal beds should inspect all eight mattress support corners for cracks in the paint or metal. If you find cracks, stop using the bed immediately. Don't wait for the bed to creak.