News
Dangerous electricals for sale via online marketplaces are
putting shoppers at risk 8
Everyday tasks such as drying your hair, keeping warm, plugging in a phone or charging an electric car are being made potentially dangerous by seriously unsafe household products being sold online. A recent survey by Electrical Safety First (ESF) found nearly four in 10 (37 per cent) people are using online marketplaces to compare prices, and there are fears the cost-of-living crisis will expose even more shoppers to dangerous goods as they look to keep cash in their wallets. Fresh concerns come as a new investigation by the charity revealed people are more at risk of buying dangerous products online than ever before. ESF has investigated listings of electrical goods across five leading online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, AliExpress and Wish. com. It found more than 50 listings of home electrical products were unsafe.
As households continue to grapple with soaring heating bills, ESF found that potentially lethal heaters are cause for concern. A portable heater purchased via eBay proved to be one of the most dangerous products uncovered by the charity; with 240 volts running through a heating element easily exposed or accessible through an insecure cover, posing a risk to life.
Even making a morning smoothie could end badly,
with one kitchen blender available through an online marketplace fitted with a defective motor – which began to overheat and pour with smoke less than a minute after being switched on.
Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First, said it is concerning that more shoppers than ever could be exposing themselves to risk from supposed bargains found on online marketplaces. “These products can come at a dangerous cost,”
she commented. “And third-party sellers are well aware of consumers’ desire to save money right now, so they are flooding the UK with cheap, poor-quality electricals and they’re even investing in advertising to drive sales, despite their products putting consumers at serious risk. “That’s why the Government must act urgently to
introduce legislation that forces online marketplaces to take reasonable steps to ensure the products they sell on their platforms are safe.”
Don’t Be Electricked
This latest investigation is part of ESF’s ‘Don’t Be Electricked’ campaign, where experts at the charity are sharing with members of the public some of the hazards presented by electrical products in the home. These include the aforementioned portable heater and 3,200W food blender, both listed for sale on eBay; also a ‘water-proof’ extension lead, listed on Amazon Marketplace, with no water-proof capabilities; a five- in-one hair styler, listed on eBay, had an unsafe plug without a fuse. The product itself also comes apart easily without the need for a tool; it was the same story for a plug-in light and a fast charger 20W, also for sale online. ESF has created some demo videos featuring its technical experts explaining the hazards associated
with these products; these are available on the charity’s social media channels. It has also shared its top tips to encourage consumers to make safer electrical purchases online: • Don’t buy on price alone – not all bargains are worth it! Make sure you do your homework if you decide to buy products below high street retail prices.
• Don’t just take the seller’s word for it – or the reviewer’s! Look for comments or “verified purchasers”.
• Know where you’re buying from – be aware that many substandard electrical goods are manufactured overseas, where they will not be safety tested.
• Beware of words qualifying an item’s authenticity – if the seller claims the product is “genuine” or “authentic”, double check the source!
• Stick to reputable retailers you know and trust – this is the most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe.
As part of its investigation, ESF contacted these online marketplaces for comment. An Amazon spokesperson said it requires all products in its store to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and if customers have concerns about an item they have purchased, they should contact Amazon directly. Meanwhile, an eBay spokesperson said: “We use block filter algorithms which aim to prevent unsafe products from being listed. These filters blocked 4.8 million listings in 2022. If an unsafe product does make it on to site, we swiftly remove it and provide product safety education to the sellers to prevent relisting.”
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