Books recalled

[kannas]

I just read this little news article on the Internet and found some quirks with it. I'll explain after the article.

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Books recalled over risky do-it-yourself advice
They could lead owners to make mistakes while installing electrical wiring

updated 1:14 p.m. CT, Fri., Jan. 8, 2010

WASHINGTON - Oxmoor House on Friday recalled nearly 1 million home improvement books because of errors that could lead do-it-yourselfers to make risky mistakes while installing or repairing their electrical wiring.

The errors in technical diagrams and wiring instructions could cause people to be shocked or create a fire hazard.

In announcing the voluntary recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said no incidents have been reported.

Oxmoor House of Birmingham, Ala., published the 951,000 recalled books.

Here are the nine different book titles being recalled:

* "AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook"
* "Lowe's Complete Home Improvement and Repair"
* "Lowe's Complete Home Wiring"
* "Sunset Basic Home Repairs"
* "Sunset Complete Home Wiring"
* "Sunset Complete Patio Book"
* "Sunset Home Repair Handbook"
* "Sunset Water Gardens"
* "Sunset You Can Build — Wiring"

Readers might have bought some of the books more than three decades ago. Bookstores and home improvement stores nationwide sold the recalled books from January 1975 through December 2009.

_http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34770363/ns/business-consumer_news/?gt1=43001
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In announcing the voluntary recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said no incidents have been reported.

Then, who blew the whistle for 1 million home improvement books to be recalled? Why now?

Readers might have bought some of the books more than three decades ago.

Three decades ago? Some of these books are most likely sitting in used book stores, dusty attics and sold at rummage and estate sales. Maybe someone had used one of the books, thirty years ago, and received a nasty shock or even burned down the house, and the cause, of course, wasn't attributed to a home improvement book.

I have some home improvement books; however, I don't mess with electrical wiring, not even for a ceiling fan.

Anyway, I thought this was an odd article on books recalled.

 

[Laura]

That is odd! I wonder if there is information in there that they don't want people to have?

 

[mcb]

It is kind of strange because they are being completely mum about what was wrong with the books. People who used the books would need to know, right? It might save them, say, having their house burn down, assuming they didn't have enough common sense to not follow the bad advice in the first place. But it is being handled as a "product recall" of the books themselves, basically a CYA from their lawyers, and they are not really offering any useful information at all to people who used the books.

I used at least one of those books myself, long ago, and I really can't imagine any sort of content that they would want to suppress. I just think they are coming across as being far more concerned about their own liability than they are about their customers' well being. They spent a huge amount of money, I am sure, building their reputation and they seem to be thinking that the best way to protect it is by saying as little as possible. Other companies have sparked major public relations (and financial) disasters by doing much the same thing.

Perhaps for some strange reason the top people at some of these companies aren't able to understand how the rest of us actually think? We'll see what happens.

 

[mcb]

That is odd! I wonder if there is information in there that they don't want people to have?

One other thought: perhaps this is a way of helping the masses to become accustomed to "this book is bad for you--don't read it" announcements. Recalling a book for containing "bad advice" is pretty much unprecedented, but I haven't seen much evidence that people are bothered by the idea. They don't really seem for the most part to see a difference between this and any other recall. I do have to agree, though, with the comment "it's shocking" (pun intended).

When I subscribed to Sunset Books in the late 70's and early 80's, they would occasionally send out a correction. The notion of recalling a million books over technical errors is nonsense, I think, but people will accept and assimilate nonsense if it comes from the right "authorities" and they think it makes them safer.

Here is part of a FAQ on the recall (_http://recallqa.com/sunset/_cs/supporthome.aspx):

...
Q: Has someone been hurt?
A: We are not aware of any incidents, injuries, or property damage associated with the how-to books. However, Oxmoor House is recalling the books to prevent the possibility of injury.
...
Q: Can I continue to use the book instead of participating in the recall?
A: No. Please stop using the book and send it to us for a full refund.
Q: Is there a replacement book?
A: No. Please return the book to us for a full refund.
...

If we are going to be recalling books for containing dangerous advice that can lead to injury and death, let's start with the Bible, not Sunset Books. Then the above would make perfect sense.

 

[thevenusian]

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find an insurance company at the origin of this action. A team of lawyers and insurance people probably gave Sunset and publishers the directive to get rid of anything which informs people how to do potentially dangerous and highly regulated/ licensed activities themselves in order to remove any possibility of future claims. That would be my guess. 2 cents from someone who works in related field.

 

[seekr]

The insurance industry seems to be a plausible cause as this world revolves around the $$... but it may have nothing to do with the "Electrical " connection but possibly, "do it yourself" info in general... in the coming crash it will be in the interest of the PTB for you NOT to be able to self remedy problems on the home front..... as they seems to always tell us that we need "professionals" to do everything for us ..... just a thought

 

[pete02]

An insurance issue to prevent lawsuits does seem like a good explanation but it must be a pretty big lawsuit their worried about cause I went to the publisher's website and checked out a FAQ on the recall and they do seem to want those books back in a big hurry alright,

How-To Books Recall Q&A

Q: Why are the How-To Books being recalled?
A: Oxmoor House is voluntarily recalling these nine books because they contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions. These errors could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers. This voluntary recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Q: How do I know if I have one of the recalled books?
A: Nine different titles are being recalled. Pictures of the books are available at www.sunsetrecall.com. The books ranged in cover price from about $13 to about $35, depending on title. To verify that you have one of the recalled books, look on the back of the book, near the barcode, for the printed ISBN number:
Title Publication Date ISBN (13-digit) Sugg. Retail Price

AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook January 2006 978-0-376-00180-1 $24.95

Lowe’s Complete Home Improvement and Repair September 2005 978-0-376-00922-7 $34.95
December 1999 978-0-376-01098-8

Lowe’s Complete Home Wiring May 2008 978-0-376-00928-9 $29.95

Sunset Basic Home Repairs February 1995 978-0-376-01581-5 $12.95
January 1975 978-0-376-01025-4
Sunset Complete Home Wiring December 1999 978-0-376-01594-5 $19.95

Sunset Complete Patio Book January 2006 978-0-376-01411-5 $19.95
January 1998 978-0-376-01397-2
April 1990 978-0-376-01399-6

Sunset Home Repair Handbook October 1998 978-0-376-01258-6 $19.95
February 1985 978-0-376-01256-2

Sunset Water Gardens January 2004 978-0-376-03849-4 $19.95

Sunset You Can Build - Wiring January 2009 978-0-376-01596-9 $24.95

Q: Has someone been hurt?
A: We are not aware of any incidents, injuries, or property damage associated with the how-to books. However, Oxmoor House is recalling the books to prevent the possibility of injury.

Q: How do I return the books?
A: Please provide your name, address, and the number of books you are returning. We will send you a prepaid mailing label that you can use to return the book(s). Be sure that you include your name and mailing address inside the mailer with the book(s). Please allow at least 4-6 weeks for delivery of the refund check.

Q: Can I continue to use the book instead of participating in the recall?
A: No. Please stop using the book and send it to us for a full refund.

Q: Is there a replacement book?
A: No. Please return the book to us for a full refund.

Q: I got the book free. May I still return it for a refund of the cover price?
A: Yes.

Q: I don’t have a receipt for the book. May I still return it for a refund?
A: Yes.

Q: What if I purchased the book as a gift or gave it away?
A: If you know who has the book, please request that they call Oxmoor House at the number you called to participate in the voluntary recall.

Q: Can I just return the book to the store where I bought it?
A: In order to ensure that you receive a refund, please mail the book, along with your name and address, directly to Oxmoor House. Retailers have been asked to refer customers to Oxmoor House.

Q: I’ve already called this number, but I have not received my mailing label. What should I do?
A: Please provide your name to the customer service operator, and we’ll check to be sure that we have your request. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Q: I sent in my book, but I’ve not received my refund check. What should I do?
A: Please allow at least 4-6 weeks for processing. If that time has already elapsed, please provide your name to the customer service operator, and we’ll check to be sure that we have received the book. We apologize for the delay.

Q: I have additional questions about the books or the recall. What should I do?
A. Please let us know your questions and your contact information. We’d be happy to get the answers and return your call.

Granted its not a lot of money they would have to pay you but they are saying that they'll pay you for even just stumbling across one of these books. You didn't even have to pay for it to begin with but they'll give you money to return it! Strange indeed.

 

[thevenusian]

An insurance issue to prevent lawsuits does seem like a good explanation but it must be a pretty big lawsuit their worried about cause I went to the publisher's website and checked out a FAQ on the recall and they do seem to want those books back in a big hurry alright,
Granted its not a lot of money they would have to pay you but they are saying that they'll pay you for even just stumbling across one of these books. You didn't even have to pay for it to begin with but they'll give you money to return it! Strange indeed.

Maybe not a big lawsuit, but a big increase in insurance premiums if they don't do as asked? No matter how crazy the recall seems, if their accountants figured it was cheaper than the increase in premiums, they'll choose that. In my observation currently, all insurance companies are tightening the screws and issuing ever more restrictive demands upon the insured. I could be off, but that is how it looks to me.

 

[Lauranimal]

The insurance industry seems to be a plausible cause as this world revolves around the $$... but it may have nothing to do with the "Electrical " connection but possibly, "do it yourself" info in general... in the coming crash it will be in the interest of the PTB for you NOT to be able to self remedy problems on the home front..... as they seems to always tell us that we need "professionals" to do everything for us ..... just a thought

This is pretty much what had occurred to me, too. And I wonder.... if a licensed electrician were to look closely at any of these "errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions", would she find any actual issues ???

 

[kannas]

An insurance issue to prevent lawsuits does seem like a good explanation but it must be a pretty big lawsuit their worried about cause I went to the publisher's website and checked out a FAQ on the recall and they do seem to want those books back in a big hurry alright,

from: Oxmoor House Recall
Q: Can I continue to use the book instead of participating in the recall?

A: No. Please stop using the book and send it to us for a full refund.

Q: Is there a replacement book?
A: No. Please return the book to us for a full refund.

Granted its not a lot of money they would have to pay you but they are saying that they'll pay you for even just stumbling across one of these books. You didn't even have to pay for it to begin with but they'll give you money to return it! Strange indeed.

Thanks, Pete02, for posting the FAQ. Very interesting. Speaking of money, add up the price for each book which is $207.55 and divide by the number of recalled books (9) for an average cost=$23.06. Now, 23.06 average cost x 951,000 books recalled=$21,930,060.00. So, perhaps $21,930,060.00 is cheaper than a potential lawsuit? Then, maybe it is something of a common factor cited in each of these books that could cause, perhaps, billions in a lawsuit. I wonder what that is and why do they want people to stop using these books? This is curious all the way around.

Now, if booksellers have noticed the mention of the books recalled (which I'm sure they have), wouldn't they hold out and try to sell any books they found for a high price such as eBay?

 

[Rabelais]

I think insurance and liability considerations could be causal factors... or potential cover stories. We might do well to give Laura's remark, "I wonder if there is information in there that they don't want people to have?" a bit more consideration.

Suppose there was a plan in place to control the masses through their access to electricity, should the natives begin to get too restless. Just black out trouble spots (whole neighborhoods, towns, etc.) until they behave. Then suppose that there was enough information in those books to defeat or create a workaround to this. Lots of possible reasons, but when it gets down to making information unavailable on a massive scale, there are usually motives of political or religious control to be found behind the smoke.

Somehow, recalling a huge number of books that have been published for decades, at original face value, does not strike me as a rational act. The payout for settling a class action suit would probably be a much smaller number than this buyback. How many people could prove in a court of law that they suffered damages from, say, a 20 year old DIY book? Probably not that many. Would a judge even find enough merit in a plaintiffs class action brief to allow it to go to court as such?

So, what else could be in those books that could cause the ponorous ones future problems? It might not even be in the electrical section of the books.

I could carry this line of speculation further, but the heavy duty quilted foil hat is chaffing the tops of my ears. It might beneficial to think a bit more about this action though. It does not make sense, as stated. There has to be more to this than the cover story.

 

[manitoban]

We might do well to give Laura's remark, "I wonder if there is information in there that they don't want people to have?" a bit more consideration.

Suppose there was a plan in place to control the masses through their access to electricity, should the natives begin to get too restless. Just black out trouble spots (whole neighborhoods, towns, etc.) until they behave. Then suppose that there was enough information in those books to defeat or create a workaround to this. Lots of possible reasons, but when it gets down to making information unavailable on a massive scale, there are usually motives of political or religious control to be found behind the smoke.

Yeah, sure looks like something weird going on here. Somehow, the information in the books may be useful in the event of blackouts, or maybe even weather caused electrical problems?

Are there so many errors in ALL these books that they need to recall them? Couldn't they just specify what the specific concerns are instead of recalling all of them?