Hello everyone,
I just wanted to raise awareness of a potential safety issue with this product.
We bought this chair just under two years ago from Kiddicare and started using it around 20 months ago.
Whilst sitting on the chair last week, we heard a loud metallic noise and the left half of the chair dropped towards the floor. Upon closer inspection it looks like one of the retaining bolts has broken away from the rocking mechanism.
We were horrified to discover sharp mangled pieces of what looks like the retaining washers and seven small metal ball bearings, all covered in a thick grease. Unfortunately our daughter has now reached the inquisitive stage where she will attempt to swallow items such as this. It is by sheer luck that we found these before she did, as we dread to think what injuries would have occurred if the sharp metal and ball bearings had been consumed.
Having looked more closely at the mechanism, it looks like the chair pulls the bolt away from the lower frame when someone sits on the chair. It is this sideways force which has torn the retaining washers away and sprayed the ball bearings onto the floor. I've added a video of the movement here:
Beyond the initial polite expression of shock, Kiddicare are now uninterested in repairing the mechanism under SOGA obligations unless we pay for a £30 courier charge for them to inspect it. I have offered to accommodate someone coming out to inspect the chair but they are adamant that it must be returned to them. I get the feeling that if I did return the chair no fault will be found...
For a chair which retails at £150 from a company who call themselves "KiddiCARE", I would have reasonably expected the chair to have lasted more than 20 months. The rest of the chair seat and materials are fine, so it's disappointing that the retailer is uninterested in helping us with a product which they have advised "we would not suggest to use the chair".
Hope this helps people who may be unaware.