Well where to start with this? Maclaren are recalling to repair, lets get that straight first of all, as the term recall here in Europe means you are taking the item back, but in the US they of course like to dramatise things a bit more, and there idea of sending customers a kit out to fit onto their product to improve or change it is called a RECALL. I'm surprised that they haven't actually made it a requirement to put RECALL in capitals to make even more drama out of it. I thought I'd make that clear so that I am not seen to be over selling this news story.
What is the problem?
Some users have reported their child getting their finger trapped in the hinge/elbow joint of the product. Now the only time that this part could be a hazzard is when the product isn't in its errected position, and the pinch that can trap childrens fingers is only caused as the final stage of unfolding the product is completed, as the user pushes down on the main lock at the back. A time when the child isn't in the product, and when a child should be kept away from the product.
Why now?
All of Maclarens products are pretty much based on the original design that was made in 1965, this part has always been present on the product, with a possible pinch area at this point in unfolding it. So why has this suddenly become such a lethal threat to childrens fingers? Have they put some kind of statement in the instructions saying put your child in the product before you've finished unfolding it? Or has common sense become a commodity that is no longer available? Or is it the mind set of the new users of this product that if something goes wrong that its not their fault, and that they should blame the company and sue them?
Are the press building this out to be something more than it actually is? There is a part of this, as at no point have they explained that there is a difference in terms of how recall is used. Do they understand the point at when there is a possible pinch point? No, of course not, where would be the story in that? When you compare the article on the BBC site, and then the notice on the Maclaren website statement you can see facts verses a news story. Although I do have to say that Sky News has a more factual article on the story rather than a drama.
I guess there is a bit of all the things that I have pointed at that cause this to be a news story, the reaction of the US market place compared to the European market, the press, and the users of the product who now take no responsibility for the safety of their child, and the demise of common sense.
Maclaren say that the UK products are not effected, now yes the products are different from each country to comply with ASTM standards in the US and EN1888 for Europe, but this part that is the pinch point that removes fingers is the same around the world, and there are even parts of plenty of other products in the market under other brands that have a similar point, from Mothercare, Mamas and Papas, and Silver Cross that could do the same as the Maclaren product.
So this is where my concerns come in, as surely if Maclaren are reacting to this in one market then surely they should do this world wide? And if Maclaren do, then when do the other companies follow? As I know that at least a couple of other brands have also had similar instances of fingers getting pinched in this point, but they have not accepted it as their fault, as to be fair it isn't their fault if the product isn't used correctly. Do Maclaren understand the implications that their actions could have on the whole world wide stroller market? No they don't, as this could effect everyone, everywhere, in terms of how products are designed, how easy they are to use, and even the cost of products.
What is the magic fix they have come up with? My guess a piece of fabric that fits over the hinge point with velcro, and the implications of this? Well it makes the product harder to fold, all because of some users not taking responsibilty for how they use the product, and the product can obviously still be used without it, but once Maclaren has issued it and included it in their product the end user doesn't have to use it, its just a cover, a cover to ensure that Maclaren don't get any more legal cases brought against them in a market that doesn't accept that if they use something the wrong way that it is their fault.
UPDATE
A new article on the BBC site which is a bit more realistic, and the report on the 1pm news was also more true to real life with interviews with Maclaren users. Just a shame that the demonstration on the BBC is poor, as you don't need to and can't really put the brake on before folding a Maclaren or any other 3D folding stroller like this.
And the BBC thought that the pinch happens when folding the product, which isn't the risk point, its on erecting the product and that final last movement of pushing the main lock down. Which is the only way I can see fingers getting caught if the child trys to climb in too soon or if the parent doesn't realise that they haven't got the main lock engaged, just as I see many stroller users using their strollers on the high street everyday.
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