My baby was sleeping in a time bomb.
The Bassett Baby Crib, Wendy Bellissimo Collection came apart on her September 20,2007. It took the Consumer Product Safety Commission 48 days to recall it.
The Vice President of Bassett Baby, Mr Lex Bendall, insisted at my initial report that this was an isolated issue. He said he would be the first to stand on his desk and announce it if he thought it was a danger.
The recall states that there were 85 complaints prior to mine.
On Thursday, 20SEP07 my wife and I awoke to my baby, 13 months old at 24 lbs, screaming and hearing a banging noise. It was more unusual than her early morning wake ups, she’s usually all smiles and happy. My wife looked into the video monitor and believed the crib was broken. I ran in the room and to my disbelief the crib separated at one top corner. She was screaming because her hand was being hit from holding the side rail with her right hand and with her left hand hanging onto the front rail that came loose. Unknown to her, she was pinching her fingers. It was obvious then that the hole drilled to secure the rails together was too close to the edge. When they manufactured the crib and put an anchor or bushing into the hole, it just cracked the wood making it a time bomb. There are stress cracks on 3 top corners of the crib were the bolts enters. This whole crib could have fallen apart. We never even noticed this assembling this crib. If we had not noticed this in our monitor, she might have tried to get out and possibly get trapped. It could have been a disaster.
My initial report to Bassett Furniture, Thursday 20SEP07, the customer service number on the instructions, would go unanswered because the Vice President Mr. Lex Bendall was on vacation. I complained over and over that this was unacceptable and received absolutely no response. I was informed that no one could help us for 5 days.
When I finally spoke with Basset Vice President Mr. Lex Bendall, Monday 24SEP07, he believed this was an isolated problem. I insisted they could not know that. He also stated he would not or did not have to report this to anyone 3 xs. I even invited anyone to come to my home to investigate the crib…. He declined.
I then sent him a webpage stating Cosco was fined 1.75 Million for not reporting an defect issue and called him back then said, “Now what are you going to do…”. He then said they would consider it. The next day he said they reported it themselves to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) (so they say) after my pressuring.
I notified the CPSC myself to see if they did and I was told to fill out a FOIA. This was also to get information of any other complaints on this crib. So far,,,, I haven’t received anything.
Tuesday, 09OCT07, after many of many phone calls and emails to the CPSC they finally sent an investigator to my house. They took my baby’s crib, wife in tears and all. This was more a sentimental issue now. Our baby started in this and it was to convert to a larger bed as she grew older.
Wednesday, 24OCT07, Toys R Us Corporate informed me that this crib was taken out of their Babies R Us Stores. They did not tell me to keep it from anyone.
Thursday, 25OCT07, CPSC informed me that very positive steps have been taken. They could not tell me of a recall due to red tape, I guess, but basically told me, we would be informed before it was broad casted nationwide or even worldwide. This, I believe is because the media will be interested in how the CPSC was informed of this hazardous crib.
The most unbelievable part of this whole story is that when the ‘Bellissimo Family’ (whose name is on the collection) finally noticed an upset message from me on their website, 16OCT07, 26 days after my first report,(These people have their name posted on the crib) Mr. Joe Bellissimo called me to express his concern. He had absolutely no idea this was going on and neither did the President of Toys R Us who owns Babies R Us. I don’t understand how Bassett Furniture could deprive the public and everyone connected to this of such important information. There are babies lives at risk here.
When the recall was released I felt my heart drop. Seeing that there were 85 prior complaints of loosening hardware was a disgusting shock. Why did Mr. Bendall not report this sooner? He knew children’s lives have been in danger and did absolutely nothing. I would bet he told the other 85 parents that their cases were isolated too.
I when I have been able to, I have entered Internet forums, contacted media, and even my congressman to get the word out. I believe so far I have had over 3,000 people view my forums. I had started a My Space page with some details and a bunch of pictures..that address is myspace.com/wendybellisimobasett I have not been able to sleep throughout a night since this has happened. I wake up in the middle of the night taking notes of questions to ask different people. I am worried something may happen to some unsuspecting family and that I have not done enough.
This is not right. These big corporate companies need to know they cannot treat their consumers this way.