December 31st, 2010

QVC has recalled a spinning candle set.  Let me describe the product for you, and you can let us know if it’s really surprising that the unit has been recalled.

The device has one soy tea light candle.  There is a 6 inch metal rod, which holds a shade. The shade spins, which projects moving lights from the tea light on to nearby walls.

Yes, it’s true. The spinning shade poses a “fire hazard.” Yes, it’s pretty – but really common sense should tell you that spinning a shade around a tea light might be pretty, but can be dangerous.

Come to think of it, my father made me a wooden ornament this year to put on my mantle. It’s a candleholder, but it’s made of wood.  Instead of giving me a tealight with it (and letting me burn my house down in the process) he gave me a small light he bought at a craft store.  It’s small, and it looks like a flame. The light flickers. It uses the power of a watch battery.

Wouldn’t it be smarter to have that with the spinning candle set? I’m sure there’s a factory somewhere in China that makes those lights, and they can’t be too much more expensive than tealights. Even if they are, I’d rather pay a bit more and know that my holiday purchase – which could have at this point been potentially given away as gifts – won’t burn a house down.

If you purchased the QVC Spinning candle set, you are instructed not to use it. You will get instructions as to how you can get a refund.  When you purchase products online, use a little common sense. If it sounds dangerous, it probably is. If it looks dangerous, it probably is.

Oh, and in case you were wondering there have been some reports of burns and puncture wounds as a result of this product. For more information, visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site.