My story began with an online search for a commercially available wood chipper/shredder to maintain my property.  I had been looking at new chipper/shredders in the 3-5k range.  I located a lightly used DR Power Equipment Pro XL501 for $2,500.  With the original sticker price at $3,899 and the extremely good condition I was excited about the prospect of purchasing this consumer product.  My excitement decreased a bit when I found a recall posted on the CPSC site.  The recall notice:

Easy enough, I confirm the unit I am interested in is within the listed serial numbers for the recall and there is no sticker indicating the recall has been made.  The recall notice provides for either a kit to be sent to the consumer or a free repair at the authorized repair shop.  I opt to purchase this consumer product in reliance of the simple remedy offered by DR Power Equipment.  Nowhere in the notice did it say to contact DR Power Equipment to ensure they would still honor the recall or that they might have refunded a unit and they might honor the recall for some units in circulation but not others they allowed to remain in circulation.

I contact DR Power Equipment to arrange the recall be completed on this consumer product in accordance with their public recall notice. 

DR Power Equipment claims they refunded the original purchaser of this unit and the unit was scrapped.  Well I have no way of knowing if they refunded the original owner but I know this consumer product is still in circulation and was never scrapped as I have it in my possession and the video on this site is it running in my driveway.

Whether DR Power Equipment did or did not refund this unsafe consumer product they had an obligation to ensure it is either removed from circulation or repaired and rendered safe.  They did not ensure it was removed from circulation and now refuse to repair or provide the parts indicted in the recall.

Here is just one of over a dozen replies from DR Power Equipment acknowledging that this unsafe consumer product is in circulation and their refusal to remedy this matter as if somehow I was responsible for scrapping these units.

So let’s just think this trough,,,,,,,,,DR Power refunds the original purchaser of a $3,899 consumer product they know is unsafe and they trust everyone scrapped them and didn’t try to resell them on the second hand market………hmm. Well DR that didn’t happen and you should have predicted this.  You should have ensured these were turned in and scrapped but you didn’t do that.  

Many additional emails to come including some more unbelievable than others.  Scare tactics incliding highlighting that selling such a unit is a crime, i bought this unit, didn’t sell it.  Well DR maybe you should go and arrest the person at your company that allowed these unsafe consumer products to remain in circulation and ultimately sold………

 Check back for updates on two news interviews and social media shares coming soon.