Bell Bicycle Seat for Children NOT Made in the USA, Lawsuit Says

Consumers who purchased a Bell bicycle seat based on the Made in the USA label could have a claim in a class action lawsuit.

Bell Sports, Inc., based in California, is facing a class action lawsuit for selling children’s bicycle seats with a “Made in the USA” claim even though most of the components were made in China and Taiwan.

The bicycle seats attach to an adult bike, allowing a toddler to ride tandem. Appearing similar to toddler car seats, a Bell bicycle seat is complete with a molded plastic body, cushioned interior and attached straps.

Not Made in the USA

The Bell bicycle seat class action lawsuit alleges that the majority of the seat’s parts were made of foreign-made components, not from American components. For the makers to claim “Made in USA” on the package is a violation of New Jersey state laws and of federal laws.

The Federal Trade Commission mandates that “Made in USA” means that “all or virtually all” of the product has been made in America. All significant parts, processing and labor that go into creating the product must be of U.S. origin.

The Bell bicycle seat purchased by the plaintiffs is the CoPilot Limo brand, which includes a “new plush seat cushion,” made in China, and the “Blackburn Expedition Rack,” made in Taiwan.

Consumers Feel Cheated

The lawsuit contends that consumers are vulnerable to the deceptive and fraudulent practices of manufacturers who claim an item is made in the USA, when it, in fact, consists of mostly cheaper parts made elsewhere. Investigating the origin of a product’s parts or where they were put together is not something that is easy for consumers to do.

Individuals choose to purchase products that are made in the United States for a variety of reasons. Some buyers wish to support American companies and the jobs of fellow Americans. Consumers also are apt to believe that products made in the USA are of higher quality that foreign-made versions because the U.S. has strict quality control standards.

Consumers are inclined to pay a higher price for a product based on the Made in the USA label. They assumed the quality of the product is of higher standards, and that the safety of the child riding in the seat is more assured.

The Bell bicycle seat lawsuit alleges that the seats were made with sub-standard foreign-produced parts that were not worth the purchase price paid.

The Bell Bicycle Seat Class Action Lawsuit is Miller-Monteleone v. Bell Sports, Inc., et al., Case No. ESK-L-004546, in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Essex County.