MMF magazine racks or book ends

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Sep 2, 2011 · , published by CPSC Sep 28, 2011

   The product, in the report: 9 inch “deluxe” black steel bookends (pair), manufactured by MMF Industries. The Staples product code is Item: 408682, Model: 241009104. The product can be found on the Staples website at http://www.staples.com/MMF-Industries-9-High-Black-Deluxe-Bookends/product_408682.

   I purchased 9-inch “deluxe” black steel bookends from Staples to hold up cookbooks on a shelf 6’ high. I did not like the bookends, because they seemed very flimsy -- nothing like the sturdy old steel bookends we had around the house from years ago. In the middle of the night, one of the bookends completely collapsed (flattened), causing 3 cookbooks to fall off the shelf, damaging them. My concern is, what if a baby’s highchair, etc., had been under the shelf when this happened? The sharp corners of a heavy book could cause a laceration, put out a child’s eye, etc.

   It was suggested by store management that my comments about the product were my “opinion” (I don’t think it is my “opinion” that the product physically failed, creating a risk of injury). I went to the trouble to speak to the Office of the President at Staples, and was told, “It does show they’re OK” (i.e., the website shows 3.3 “positive” reviews on a scale of 5, with 96 total reviews). But a number of the negative customer reviews are similar to my experience, and mention product failure. For example: “As a Teacher’s Aide, I needed bookends to support two classroom textbooks which I use frequently. I thought these would do the trick. WRONG! The one textbook took down the bookend, flattening it! Solid steel? I think it was more like flimsy tin!!” Another customer wrote: “Bookends were just too flimsy to hold books upright...i was really surprised to find such a poor quality item in such a usually great store.” (I agree with the comment about Staples usually being a great store, and hope they’ll drop this product.) Here’s a link to all the reviews: http://www.staples.com/MMF-Industries-9-High-Black-Deluxe-Bookends/product_408682

   I tried to explain to the Office of the President, this is different from a malfunctioning printer, etc., that causes consumer “frustration”.......this is a product defect that can actually cause injury. Staples did ultimately advise they would “send an e-mail to the buyer” asking them to look into my comments. But I just thought that stronger action needed to be taken, and I told them I was going to write the CPSC.

   I think these bookends are a great example of products being cheapened to such an extent they cannot even function in their intended role. Consumers have a right to expect that bookends will be able to hold up books. And yes, the 9” Deluxe model should be expected to hold up relatively heavy books, like cookbooks and textbooks, without collapsing! But this product is of such extraordinarily poor quality, there is sure to be a failure at some point leading to a serious injury.

   I have not gotten a refund yet from the store, and per the suggestion on your website I will keep the bookends for at least 30 days, in case you would like to examine them.

   Model

   MMF Industries™ 9” High Black Deluxe Bookends, Model 2410091

   Bought from

   Staples

   Bought

   Jan 1, 2010, about then

   Where

   Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand MMF, made or sold by MMF INDUSTRIES

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources