Jumbo snow globes + sunlight = consumer hazard

[okarol]

Jumbo snow globes + sunlight = consumer hazard

Tue Dec 23, 1:33 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some 7,000 jumbo-sized snow globes were recalled by Hallmark Cards Inc. because the holiday decorations can act as a magnifying glass when exposed to sunlight and ignite nearby combustible materials, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday.

The snowman-shaped snow globes were sold in October and November at Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide for about $100 each.

The consumer agency said Hallmark has received two reports of the snow globes igniting nearby materials but no injuries have been reported.

Consumers who bought the snow globes, which measure 11 by 12 by 17 inches (28 by 30 by 43cm), should immediately remove them from exposure to sunlight and return to a Hallmark Gold Crown store for a full refund.

Details about the recall were posted at the government agency's web site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09073.html.

(Reporting by Julie Vorman; Editing by Bill Trott)

A jumbo-sized snow globe from Hallmark is shown in this handout photo.

[kitkatz]

Exploding snow globes! What Great gift!   

[Romona]

More exciting than a chia pet. 

[BigSteve]

I wonder if Inspector Clousseau knows why he got 25 of these for Christmas?

[Chris]

Part of it is consumer stupidity.

If I had one, I wouldn't return it. Bad enough they are $100 (has to be the most expensive thing in that store)

What's next, sunlight bouncing off one of those tree ornamnts with metallic paint and blinding someone causing them to trip over the tree and having the tree topple on them?