The Curious Case of the Fire-Starting Snow Globes
See this jumbo snow globe on the left?
Sure it looks festive and harmless. Just look at the cute little flecks of fake snow flying about the snowman's glass belly.
But when exposed to sunlight, the snow globe's torso apparently becomes a powerful magnifying glass that can ignite nearby combustible materials. So says a recent warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which issued a recall of the 7,000 units sold at Hallmark Gold Crown stores in October and November this year.
Apparently, Hallmark received two reports from consumers who claimed the jumbo snow globes ignited nearby materials. The firm then worked with the CPSC to announce a voluntary recall of the item.
The globe, which is made in China, can be returned to any Hallmark store for a full refund of the $100 it cost, the CPSC said.
On a side note, why does a snow globe cost $100? And who are these 7,000 people who actually shelled out 100 bucks for a snow globe?
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Recalls
