The world is a dangerous place, but there are things you can do to minimize the risks: Wear your seat belt, look both ways, and, most importantly, always pay attention to product recalls. This week, several high-profile recalls rocked the Search box, as people sought more information on the potential dangers and, in one case, possible profits.
Make a profit at Mickey D's
McDonald's recently instigated a recall of its commemorative "Shrek"
glasses. The glasses were tainted with a toxic metal called cadmium,
which is carcinogenic
and can lead to kidney problems. Generally speaking, it's something you
don't want to have on your drinking glasses, so McDonald's ordered back
millions of 'em. Time magazine
gives the company props for acting quickly and going the extra mile to
offer customers more for the returned glasses than what was initially
paid. That's right, customers originally paid as little as $2 per glass, but McDonald's is offering $3 per glass. The potential profit may be modest, but it helped spark a slew of searches on "mcdonalds recall" and "shrek glasses recall." Both terms spiked well over 1,000% over the past seven days.
Chevrolet: 'Y'all come back now'
Chevrolet's much talked about name change
("Chevy" is out, "Chevrolet" is in) wasn't the only bit of news about
the automaker this week. Also receiving significant buzz: its 1.5 million vehicle recall.
A popular article from the AP explains that the problem stems from the
heated windshield wiper fluid system. It has the potential to catch on
fire, though there have been no reported injuries due to the defective
part. Still, people sat up and took notice. Web searches on "chevy
recall 2010"
redlined throughout the week. This isn't the first time Chevrolet has
had to institute a recall over this issue. It recalled cars over a
similar problem last year. The Christian Science Monitor reports that Chevrolet will disable the heated windshield wiper fluid system and give owners $100 for their troubles.
Not even the dishes are safe
And the recall mania continues. Whirlpool's Maytag division instituted a recall
of 1.7 million dishwashers after it was discovered that they present a
fire hazard. No injuries have been reported, according to the USA Today.
However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which announced
the recall Thursday, "says the company has received 12 reports of
electrical failures in the dishwasher heating element that led to fires
and damage." Concerned your dishwasher might be part of the recall? You
can check out the CPSC's site for more information. In the meantime, you might want to wash your dishes the old-fashioned way.
Mystery Deepens~
- Super-mom-me
on Jun. 13, 2010 at 4:42 AM