Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall of Window Blinds Sold at Cost Plus and World Market Stores

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #09090) was formally reported on January 13, 2009. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, Calif. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 692,400 units are affected, a scale large enough to require multi-state distribution tracking.

The documented reason for this recall is: Roman Shades: These shades have a looped pull cord and exposed inner cords on the back of the shade. Looped pull cords and exposed inner cords on roman shades present a strangulation hazard. Roll-up Blinds: These blinds… Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled window blinds/shades and return the product to any Cost Plus/World Market store to obtain a full refund. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 17 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.