About a month ago, Peloton CEO John Foley wrote an open letter about the company’s treadmill. “I’m reaching out to you today because I recently learned of a tragic accident involving a child and Trade +, resulting in an unexpected death,” it began.
“While we are aware of a few small incidents involving Trade + where children have been harmed, each one of the pilots is devastating for all of us, and reaches out to the families we include.” Today, the U.S. Consumer Protection Commission issued a warning, asking users to stop using Trade +. Citing 39 incidents involving the aforementioned deaths, the CPSC wrote, “The Commission has demonstrated that this notice is needed to alert the public to this danger for the sake of public health and safety.”
Peloton followed with his own stern statement, saying, “Companies have been annoyed by the Consumer Product Protection Commission’s (CPSC) unilateral press release about the Peloton trade because it is wrong and misleading. There is no reason to do so.” The commission’s alert includes multiple injuries involving young children and a pet. In particular, the note called on children’s users to stop using the product, a stricter warning than the initial advice back in March, Foley said, who told users at the time that they would keep children and pets away from systems and stores.
Peloton has since added that there have been 23 incidents involving children, including 15 objects and as mentioned by the CPSC with a pet. The agency added that it did not disclose specific details prior to privacy concerns. “If customers must continue to use the product, CPSC urges customers to use the product only in a locked room to prevent children and pets from accessing it while using the treadmill,” the agency commented. “Keep all objects, including exercise balls and other equipment, away from the treadmill.” As part of this, affiliate fitness builders have added,
Peloton invited CPSC to make a joint statement about the dangers of not following the warnings and safety guidelines given with Trade + and Foley asked to meet directly with CPSC. The CPSC has unjustifiably identified Peloton’s cooperation and attempt to correct the mistake in a press release issued by the CPSC as an attempt to be late. This cannot be further from the truth. The organization has already urged members to follow all precautions and safety guidelines. Peloton is disappointed that despite the offer of cooperation, and despite complying with all applicable safety standards of Trade +, the CPSC refused to engage in any meaningful discussions with Peloton before issuing its erroneous and misleading press release.
