Value City Recalls Red Devil Gas Grills Sold at
Value City and Schottenstein Stores
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2002
Release # 03-006
Value City Hotline: (888) 278-6370 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076
CPSC, Value City Announce Recall of Red Devil Gas Grills Sold at
Value City and Schottenstein Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Value City Department Stores Inc./Schottenstein
Stores, of Columbus, Ohio, is recalling about 10,800 Red Devil gas
grills sold at Value City and Schottenstein stores.
The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air
intake tube, instead of at the burner. Though the grill appears to
function normally, gas inside the air intake tube ignites. The tube can
reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn
hazard to consumers. In grills manufactured before August 1998, the heat
produced by lighting the grill at the air intake tube damaged the
plastic support piece, and caused the grill to fall to the ground. When
it collapses, flames from the grill can burn nearby consumers and ignite
surrounding combustibles.
There have been 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs,
hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns, after
the grills collapsed during use. More than 1,000 consumers returned
their grills to the manufacturers because the grills collapsed. There
has been one incident reported by Value City and Schottenstein Stores
customers.
These red metal gas grills have a tripod stand. They have a logo
on the label of the lid and grill base showing a devil cooking at a
grill with the writing, "Red Devil." The lid also reads "The Portable
Outdoor Kitchen." Components sold with the grill include a heat plate,
an oversized skillet with handles, a table-safe serving trivet, and
carrying totes.
Value City and Schottenstein stores sold these grills from about
April 2000 through July 2002 for about $60. CPSC urges consumers to stop
using these grills immediately. Consumers who purchased Red Devil gas
grills from Value City or Schottenstein stores can return it to the
store for a store credit. For more information, consumers can call Value
City Customer Service at (888) 278-6370 anytime, or visit the firm's web
site at www.valuecity.com (note added 01/18/2005 - recall information is no longer on the firm's web site).
About 155,000 of these grills were manufactured by e4L Inc., of
Encino, Calif., and, Quantum North America Inc., of Encino, Calif.
Because the manufacturer is out of business, CPSC issued a warning about
these grills in May 2002. Additional Red Devil gas grills were
manufactured by Cadac, of Roodepoort, South Africa, but also are
included in the recall.
CPSC sued e4L Inc. and Quantum North America Inc. to obtain a
recall, and an administrative law judge granted CPSC a default judgment
when these manufacturers failed to appear. The firms are liquidating
their assets under bankruptcy law.
The Home Shopping Network (HSN), QVC, and Wal-Mart previously
notified their customers about the hazard these grills pose, and
provided a remedy. Since Quantum and e4L have declared bankruptcy, there
is no remedy available for grills bought from retailers other than HSN,
QVC, Wal-Mart, Value City and Schottenstein stores. Consumers who
purchased their Red Devil Gas Grills from another retailer, should
contact the retailer. If that retailer does not provide a refund, repair
or replacement for the grill, consumers should contact CPSC at (800)
638-2772 anytime. Additionally, consumers who are aware of any incidents
with these grills or who want additional information also should contact
CPSC.
About 19,300 of these grills, sold directly by e4L, were recalled
in July 1998 because the burners could disconnect from the burner pan.
The firm received 21 reports of the burners on these grills
disconnecting and one consumer suffered burns. Even if consumers
participated in this previous recall program, they should stop using
these grills since this warning addresses a different hazard.