'Almost hit my head. You still want to charge me $$?' - Elmark quotes man for replacement after fan blade falls off

Elmark Fan Blade drops off

On 23 July 2024, Andy was having dinner with his family in his flat on the 8th floor when a fan blade from his Elmark fan broke off and fell from the ceiling.

This fan blade from ELMARK suddenly broke and came flying down, just slightly missing my Father’s head.

It hit the window that was closed. If the windows were not closed, the blade would have flew down 8 floors down and hit the cars being parked there.

Elmark brands itself as the ‘King of Fans’.

It has a Google Review rating of 2.2 out of 5 stars (based on 117 reviews).

When Andy reached out to the number provided on Elmark’s website, he was told that his fan was purchased from Malaysia and not from Singapore.

Responding to Wake Up Singapore, a representative from Elmark Singapore said:-

“We presume is the customer stay at Hougang who has bought the fan from Malaysia a few years ago.

We already refer him to Malaysia agent for his query and also confirmed that Malaysia agent already responded to him…

this matter has closed, as this fan was bought from Malaysia, no comment.”

SGD 125 for a replacement Elmark fan blade

Andy said that he was quoted SGD 125.00 for a replacement blade. The representative from Elmark also suggested that he could consider purchasing it in Malaysia as it is “cheaper“.

Andy found that Elmark’s response to the situation was “irresponsible“.

He also pointed out that no apology was made by the Singapore office.

When he reached out to the Malaysian office of Elmark, he was quoted 400.00 Malaysian Ringgit for a new fan and 50.00 Singapore Dollars for installation.

While the fan may no longer be covered by the warranty period – as it was purchased more than 3 years ago – Andy was of the view that it was “dangerous” for fan blades to be falling off like that.

He was advised by Mr Elbert from Elmark HQ to check the remaining three blades.

Eventually, Andy opted to get a fan from another company instead.

Past incidents from Elmark

At least one reviewer on Elmark’s Google page expressed regret that he did not read the reviews prior to his purchase.

In December 2019, 17 Elmark ceiling fan models were recalled in Singapore on safety grounds. A report from the Straits Times dated 23 December 2019 stated that:-

“Fan blades could also come loose when in use and cause cuts.”

In 2021, Elmark was fined SGD 123,000.00 for selling, inter alia, unregistered ceiling fans and water heaters.

In a press release dated 16 December 2021, the Consumer Product Safety Office of Singapore advised consumers to stop using Elmark’s ceiling fans and contact Elmark for redress options.

Consumers who still possess these ceiling fans are advised to stop using them, and contact Elmark for redress options. Under the CPSR, suppliers of Controlled Goods, including ceiling fans and water heaters, must ensure these products are type-tested, certified to meet relevant safety standards, registered with the CPSO, and affixed with a SAFETY Mark before they can be supplied, displayed, and advertised for sale in Singapore³. Any person found guilty of supplying unregistered Controlled Goods, is liable upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.