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Product Replacement Costs
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]  
Product Replacement Costs

Note 16—Product Replacement Costs

In April 2013, tests conducted by the Company revealed that one of its suppliers had been using a non-conforming material in certain models of Astro-Med’s Test & Measurement printers. No malfunctions have been reported by customers as a result of the non-conforming material.

Upon identifying this issue, Astro-Med immediately suspended production of the printers, notified all customers and contacted the supplier who confirmed the problem. Astro-Med is continuing to work with its customers to replace the non-conforming material on existing printers with conforming material. The estimated costs associated with the replacement program were $672,000, which was based upon the number of printers shipped during the period the non-conforming material was used. Those costs were recognized and recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and are included in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. As of January 31, 2015, the Company had expended $319,000 in replacement costs which have been charged against this reserve. The remaining reserve amount of $353,000 is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2015.

Astro-Med is currently receiving power supplies with compliant materials and has resumed printer production and shipments to customers.

Since the supplier deviated from the agreed upon specifications for the power supply while providing certificates of conformance to the original specifications, Astro-Med received a non-refundable $450,000 settlement from the supplier in January 2014 for recovery of the costs and expense associated with this issue. This settlement was recorded in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. In addition to this cash settlement, the Company will receive lower product prices from the supplier through fiscal 2017.