Photo credit: www.theverge.com

Amazon Held Responsible for Unsafe Products Sold on Its Platform

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has ruled that Amazon is accountable for the recall of dangerous products sold through its marketplace, rather than leaving this responsibility solely to third-party sellers. The decision, announced on Tuesday, highlights Amazon’s failure to adequately notify consumers about over 400,000 recalled items.

Despite Amazon’s endeavors to stop the sale of unsafe products and inform buyers, the CPSC found that the company did not adhere to established recall protocols aimed at preventing the distribution and use of hazardous goods. When a recall is facilitated by the CPSC, it ensures that the notification reaches a wide audience beyond just the purchasers, thereby maximizing safety.

The recalled items include serious safety concerns such as malfunctioning carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers with electric shock risks, and flammable pajamas for children. According to the CPSC’s decision document, Amazon’s communications to customers regarding these recalls were notably vague, labeling the situation as a “potential safety issue” instead of an outright recall. This downplayed the seriousness of the hazard, which the CPSC criticized.

The CPSC emphasized that Amazon’s notifications did not sufficiently convey the dangers associated with the recalled items.

Additionally, Amazon’s recall announcements lacked clear images of the affected products that would assist customers in identifying them. Unlike many other companies that offer strong incentives for customers to return hazardous products—such as gift cards contingent on the return or proof of destruction—Amazon’s approach reportedly fell short, allowing customers to retain dangerous items without adequate motivation to dispose of them safely.

In a previous legal action, the CPSC sued Amazon in 2021 to enforce the recall of numerous defective items available on its platform. Amazon contended that it should not bear the burden of recalling goods sold by independent sellers. However, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) deemed Amazon a distributor responsible for making recalls. The recent ruling reinforces the ALJ’s determination.

In response to these developments, Amazon has initiated a new dedicated page for recalls, providing customers access to information concerning product safety and recalls. The company has indicated its intent to appeal the CPSC’s verdict.

“In the event of a product recall in our store, we remove impacted products promptly after receiving actionable information from recalling agencies, and we continue to seek ways to innovate on behalf of our customers,” an Amazon representative stated, as reported by CNN. The spokesperson continued, “Our recalls alerts service also ensures our customers are notified of important product safety information fast, and the recalls process is effective and efficient.” However, the company did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Verge.

With the CPSC’s ruling, Amazon is now required to establish a robust plan to inform consumers about the recalled products and promote their return or safe disposal.

Source
www.theverge.com