320,000 Jardine cribs recalled because slats and spindles can break

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today recalled 320,000 cribs made by Jardine Enterprises and sold for the past six years at retail and online outlets of Toys 'R' Us properties because the slats and spindles can break leading to entrapment and strangulation hazards. The agency has gotten 42 reports of crib slats and spindles breaking including four in which children became entrapped in the gap created by the broken piece. Two of the children suffered abrasions and bruising.

The recall involves 28 models of Jardine cribs sold under the names Berkley, Hilton, Positano, Spindle and Windsor at Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us, Geoffrey Stores and KidsWorld from January 2002 to May of this year. The cribs cost between $150 and $300, although one model was priced at $450.

The model numbers include BC-23, BC-36B, BC-36G, BC-36P, BC-007, BC-010, BC-010C, BC-010HP, BC-010W, BC-017, BC-107C, BC-107CR, BC-110C, BC-110HP BC-110W, DA617BC, DA620BC, DV730N, DV730W, DA770BC, DV830-N, DV830-W, 0113B00, 0113K00, 0303C00, 0303G00, 0303B00, 0309K00. They can be found on the inside of the bottom rail of the headboard or footboard.

Parents and caregivers are advised to stop using the cribs immediately and to contact Jardine to receive a full credit toward the purchase of a new crib. Crib owners can contact Jardine at (800) 646-4106 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.jardinecribrecall.com.

Comments

[Fed up]

My son was 9 months old when he was trying to pull himself up and the crib spindles broke. I went to Babies R Us several times and they wouldn't return it or help me. The manager suggested that I try to glue it!! All they did was keep giving me numbers to call Jardine because it wasn't their problem. Every number they gave me was wrong, disconnected, or a fax number. I couldn't find a website for Jardine to email them. Now over a year later, they finally did a recall and are going to send me a voucher for a new crib. Too bad my voucher won't cover the cost of a new bed for him. And when we have a new baby-do I want anything from Babies R Us OR Jardine? nope.

[Sheri]

After reading all the horror stories about how Jardine was handling this situation--and the fear that they would go out of business before I got my voucher--I decided to contact the local Toys-R-Us where I purchased my daughters crib. They were extremely helpful!!! Their policy states they will return defective or recalled merchandise. I did have to bring the crib and hardware back to them--not a problem. Since I no longer had my receipt--they gave me a merchandise credit. No, it wasn't for the full value I paid for the crib--which I completely understood--because I bought in back in Sept. of 2005. They did however give me a voucher for more than I thought I was going to get. Instead of dealing with Jardine--you should check with the place you purchased your crib from. They will make it right-- and please remember--IT ISN'T THEIR FAULT!! There are so many recalls going on from toys, cribs, pack and plays etc--it is the manufacturers fault not Toys-R-Us or Babies-R-Us. The United States needs to start limiting its imports from CHINA!!! Then we will all be able to rest again. I do like the lower prices for things from China--but look where it gets us!!! I am willing to pay more for a US product now!!!

[Twins Mom]

Does anyone have any experiance with receiving vouchers for two cribs? I am awaiting my vouchers, but am concerned that I am going to have a hard time at BRU. My twins are in beds now, but I am three weeks away from delivering another baby.

[Melinda]

I am beyond frustrated. I received my return kit quickly, but I am still waiting on the voucher. Voucher was signed for by someone at Jardine on 9/5. I called today to find out the status, and was told that it was sent out by FedEx on 9/10, was scanned somewhere in CA on 9/11, but wasn't scanned after that. The person I spoke to said that he's seen "at least a dozen" vouchers that were lost by FedEx on 9/11. Said he'd have to email his supervisor to issue another voucher, and it should take about a week to get it mailed again. Sounds fishy to me - I can't imagine FedEx would lose a bunch of items. But, I guess we'll see. I'll call again next Friday to check on the status.

I'm lucky in that my toddler was ready to move to a twin bed about the same time that the recall happened, but I'm 8 months pregnant and we don't have the money to pay up front to replace the crib until the voucher shows up. My biggest worry now (other than wondering when the voucher will show up) is finding a crib at BRU that is comparable in price that won't take weeks to order.

[C. Ivey]

I have had the same frustrations that many others have expressed - next to no white, drop-side cribs and less than helpful staff at two stores and BRU's "special Jardine hotline". When I did bit the bullet and order a more expensive crib online, that one, a Simplicity, was recalled a month later! I am done buying baby furniture at BRU. The only reason I will still shop there for other items is because today, the assistant and district managers at my local store gave me a BRU gift card in exchange for my voucher after I spoke to them. I need to buy a carseat for baby #2, so that at least frees up the cash to shop elsewhere for a crib.

My advice - go to your local store and don't give in until they give you either a gift card or your money back.

[Rebecca]

After reading all the comments, I decided to try and avoid going through Jardin at all cost so I searched the Babies R Us Policys and found on their website under -Help/returning a recalled product- the following:

"Nothing is more important than the safety of your children. To that end, we will gladly accept returns on recalled items. If you choose to return your item to our Online Return Center, a refund will be processed to the original method of payment as long as the item is accompanied by your packing slip. If you choose to return the item to one of our retail stores, a refund will be processed to the original method of payment if your have your packing slip, or to a Toys"R"Us merchandise credit card if you do not have your packing slip."

My husband called up the local Babiesrus and spoke to the managers and one manager said that since it is store policy, she will take it back with or without a receipt for store credit. We called up another Babiesrus that was a little closer and that manager said she couldn't take it back and we had to go through Jardine. So I guess it all depends on the store manager.

So it may be helpful to call up your local Babiesrus stores and talk to the manager and say according to your website the policy is to take back all recalls for a store credit.

[Tracey]

I just received my return kit and I'm furious. My son is 2 1/2 and sleeping in a convertible crib which has already been converted to a "big boy" bed. Where the heck is he supposed to sleep if I have to disassemble his bed? This whole process is designed to guarantee you have to go buy another bed out of your own pocket which means you'll have no use for the voucher when you get it. How can they get away with this?

[Andrew]

If you are lucky and still have your receipt from the crib, Babies R Us has to take it back and give you store credit, It is part of there policy. I just got off the phone with a manager in Maryland.

Link to Policy
http://www.toysrus.com/helpdesk/index.jsp?display=returns&subdisplay=returns#policy

[Jess]

You will get what you paid...whatever amount they've told you on the phone. But good luck finding a crib equivalent to what you have for the amount of money they are allowing you to spend. Most people, including myself, couldn't find anything in store that would be an acceptable replacement for the old crib. That means ordering online. If you can even find something online, then you are responsible for shipping. I refused to accept that and fought it with Babies R Us. I ended up getting back $52 shipping and $100+ on overage costs for an equivalent crib. So, yes, you should get back the value you paid. But, good luck finding a crib without spending more money.

[stacey]

not sure why so many people are stating that they aren't being given coupons worth what they paid. i've sent back my recall kit and am awaiting the coupon...the letter they sent me said that they would send a coupon worth the highest value that my particular crib EVER sold for + tax....so if you don't get back what you paid...isn't that the fault of the store you purchased from...didn't they sorta rip you off? i haven't gotten the coupon yet, so i don't know maybe they are telling me a fib...only time will tell.

[Jenni]

After reading these I am scared now! I was just wondering what my baby would sleep in while I mailed the parts away. I think I want to buy a crib now while I am waiting. Can anyone tell me how much the voucher is for? I got the white crib 5 years ago. Amazingly it has made it through my first 2 babies and now the third is in it. I just wanted to know how much to spend about? Or is every voucher different?

[Jess]

All I wanted was a crib equivalent to my cherry crib that matched the whole set I bought at babie r us. As there was not a single drop side cherry crib equal to what I had I refused to be out of pocket and fought it. I am still waiting to hear back from 2 people at Jardine from whom I was promised a call back. That is a joke and I gave up there a month ago. They deserve to go out of business and hope from the bottom of my heart that they do!

However, on a happy note, it it now 1.5 months from the start of this fiasco I am finally reimbursed the voucher value plus $181 which includes the difference of what a new crib cost plus the cost of tax and shipping.

I refused to be out of pocket a single penny for this and fought it through Babies R Us...who should ultimately be responsible to their customers. You too should all fight it and get your money back. It was a struggle for me with lots of phone calls and a couple of trips to babies r us, but it was worth it in the end. Again, I wasn't asking for something bigger and better...just a crib as equivalent to what I had as possible.

Good luck everyone!!!

[Dave]

My wife and I also had to return our crib. We have been waiting for 5 weeks and still nothing. Our 4 month daughter is sleeping in her pack and play. I called Jardine to ask them what happens if my crib does not match and the sales rep told me that this is out of her hands. This is so un real. This company is horrible there product is horrible, there customer service is horrible. Everything about this is horrible. Oh yea our changing table (4 months old) is chipping and falling apart. Guess what brand ??

[Nate the Great]

For those who are interested in getting ahold of someone who could actually make a difference:

Deborah.Derby@toysrus.com Deb Derby - President, Babies R Us

[katie]

I feel everyone's pain. My 8 month old is starting week 6 in a pack and play. We finally got the voucher a a two weeks ago, and we live approximately 4 hours away from the nearest Babiesrus. My husband and I went online prior to going to the store so we would already know which crib met our specifications (basically just like the recalled one). Once we got to the store, the cribs were all approximately $100+ than our voucher. We were told that we could take 15% off one of them, but only if we bought it in store, basically spending even more money, which I absolutely refuse to do. We found out though that even if we would have bought one in store, they don't keep any in stock, so we would have had to wait another two weeks and driven another 8 hours round trip to pick it up. Needless to say, we didn't want to do that. We were then told that we could buy it online with our credit card and then have it credited to our credit card when we brought in both the shipping slip and the voucher. We were able to find one, and only one, crib that matched or specifications online at babiesrus. That crib is "temporarily out of stock". It has been temporarily out of stock for the last week. I even did the e mail when it was available, and when I received it, it was unavailable by the time I got to the website. I ended up calling the babiesrus online phone number and spoke to someone there, who gave me Jardine's number (1800-295-1980), and I was told to try calling them because they should be able to do something to help. I called that number and was basically told that the "supervisor" was the person I need to talk to, but he wasn't there. I was then told to send an e mail to das@dorell.com. Do you think I've received a response to that? NO!!! I finally gave up and called the Consumer Protection Safety Commission at (800) 646-4106. I just got off the phone with them, who stated that someone from the Compliance Department should be contacting me soon. Hopefully that will help. I'm also to the point of also contacting the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. At this point I figure the more people who complain to the right people may make something happen.

[M. Cummings]

We have our voucher, but are running into problems finding a similar replacement crib. BRU and Jardine are totally screwing the consumers on this one. We had a drop-side crib; guess what? There are practically no white drop-side cribs available at BRU or their website. There are plenty of convertible cribs, which is what BRU wants. They cost more money, which means more money for BRU. BRU (so far) has refused to give us our money back. Whatever happened to standing by your products, etc., etc. BRU simply doesn't care -- that's evident when they say it's Jardine's problem.
I'm currently seeking a refund through Jardine, but am not hopeful.

[Jessica]

I received my vouvcher very quickly- 1.5 weeks after I sent in the hardware. I took the voucher to BRU and low and behold......................they had NOT ONE SINGLE white crib in stock and only one white crib that was able to be ordered. My original crib cost $219, and was very simple, sturdy, and neutral looking. Not only did they not have a crib that was comparable in look or style, they had no cribs that were remotely the same price. I had to pay over $150 out of pocket for the only crib that was available to order (I checked every single BRU in NJ). This crib will take over a week to arrive and my daughter is still sleeping in her pack n play. How can BRU not have a comparable crib to replace the recalled one?? What if I did not have an extra $150 to pay the difference? The staff at BRU in Eatontown was very nice, but the whole situation made me so angry. I'll never buy baby furniture from them again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Has a Voucher]

For those of you who have not received your kits - call Jardine. I was told that all the registered data for the first 3-4 days was lost (when I registered) I too waited a month and finally called them. Then I received TWO kits via UPS. Then, believe it or not, within 2 weeks I received two vouchers - BEFORE I even sent in the parts (The crib is still up!) Babies R Us will allow you to order a crib online (you will need to pay for it) then bring your voucher in along with your packing slip and get a full refund - plus shipping. This will allow you to keep using your crib, get the new one then exchange the voucher. Good Luck!

[maggie]

I don't think that any of us will ever rec'v vouchers. I sent my crib parts back on July 8th and have never rec'd anything. They have confirmed to me that they rec'd it on the 16th and they keep saying that they sent me a voucher, but I have only rec'd three kits to take it apart. I have called their call center multiple times, but each time they put me on hold while they speak with a supervisor, and then they assure me that they will have a voucher overnighted to me. Today the call center gave me another 800 number to call Jardine directly. After calling it, I found out that it is just another call center that handles calls for Jardine. (It is 1-800-295-1980 if anyone else wants to give it a try.) After sitting on hold for about 20 minutes waiting to talk to someone, they have assured me that they will send me a voucher and that they will call me back with a tracking number at the end of the day. Yeah right. I am very skeptical. I tried looking on-line for a Jardine official website or a Corporate office information to contact them directly, but I can't find anything on-line. They are probably in China. &(%@^$*! I have considered contacting my local Attorney General's office, but I don't know if they can help or not. I think that all of us are probably just out of luck. Meanwhile, my 16 month old has been sleeping in a pack and play for the last month and 1/2. They have said that I can just go purchase another crib at Babies R Us and then use the supposed voucher when I get it to get a refund. I am not buying anything until I get a voucher. Why would I spend another $300-$400 to get another crib that I may never get a voucher for? I am considering just purchasing a twin sized bed and putting the mattress on the floor and then gating her door so she can't get out. Just seems like it might have been safer to keep her in the recalled crib to begin with, but I couldn't take that chance either.

[Ashlee]

I agree with all that has been said. It took me 1 1/2 months to get my packet to send the things off. Well, in the meantime, I looked around at the other stores to view their cribs. I can't tell you how tiffed I became when I realized that NONE of the cribs available will match my cherry changing table. I called Jardine to see if they were in the process of making new, nondefective cribs, they were NOT. I'm am more furious that my new crib will not match after spending so much time picking it out in the first place. Thanks, Jardine. I will NEVER use your products again. I hope that this causes them to go out of business. Good luck to everyone else.

[Samantha]

I am in the same position. I filled out the info, got them the hardware, etc. they asked for and waited and wait....for nothing...no voucher...nothing! Then, i called, sw a gentleman who said they had received my package and that he would expedite the voucher to me within three days...that was 3 weeks ago. Now everytime i call, during their "so called" business hours they do not answer and the recording says they are closed and to call back during regular business hours! I have left 3 messages they never call back....i am so frustrated...i am wondering if babies r us could help? Babies R Us did say that you can buy a crib online or in the store and save your receipt and they will reimburse you...i just dont want to put out another $400 and not be sure that I am going to get my voucher! I am worried the company is going to go out of business then none of us will get anything!!! Ugh!!!

[angry mom]

I posted a couple weeks ago and still have no voucher. My kit was mailed into Jardine on July 8th, they called me on July 15th to ask about the sticker which I emailed them a picture of that day. I've called several times since then and have been told each time that it will be 2 weeks from the date they received ALL the pieces (so 2 weeks from the 15th) Its been 3 weeks now since then and still nada. The poor people on the phone don't actually work for Jardine and can only tell us if their spreadsheet says a voucher has gone out and then put us on a list to be called by a supervisor. We've been on that list for 2 weeks with no phone call. If Jardine really intended to give every customer a crib voucher, they would have worked it out with babies r us to have the customer return the crib directly to the store and get the voucher right then and there. The way this has been handled so far tells me that they don't have the $$ for vouchers for everyone and they are mailing them out as they get $$ to give babies r us for them. When they run out of $$ (and they will) they will just declare bankruptcy and everyone will be out of luck. We actually received multiple recall kits via UPS so I'm sorry for those of you who have been waiting on your recall kits. At least if you haven't received the kit yet, you haven't taken the crib apart and still have the option of maybe reinforcing the spindles and still using your crib. We've been crib-less for a month now. If Jardine doesn't come through with a voucher, we wil be forced to buy a new crib.

[Stephanie]

Just wanted to see if anyone has actually received a voucher. I sent Jardine my recall package almost 4 weeks ago and haven't heard anything.

[Shauna Reed]

I originally bought my Jardine crib in 2003 when my son was born, and the crib side rail DID actually break when he was about 2 years old - I phoned the company then and they sent me a brand new side rail, free of charge. Now I'm concerned using the crib for my 7 month old daughter - my side rail is brand new, but should I still replace the crib? After reading all of the complaints about poor service from the company, I'm debating on whether or not to even start the process.

[Sheri]

I received my kit--actually about 4 kits. The problem is--where will our daughter sleep when we take the hardware off. This is ridiculous. I would much rather send the hardware back--AFTER I've gotten the voucher. They can control this easily. They know who they send vouchers for and I am sure they all have different voucher numbers. Babies-R-Us, Toys-R-Us should simply send the vouchers back as they are redeemed to Jardine. This should be linked by our names--if we don't send back the hardware--then they should be able to bill us. We can't go out and buy another crib--nor do we want to. This isn't our fault--but yet the important consumer--THE CHILD--is going to inconvienced as well as the parent. Seems to me Jardine should have better arrangements--or maybe they simply don't care--they issued the recall--guess they've done their part. But hey--it isn't the parent's fault JARDINE's item is defected!!! This is ridicious!!!