Online retailers and dangerous electrical appliances

According to a recent study, the online retail world is rife with fake items and dangerous electrical appliances. Consumers may be at risk of injury and property damage.

It’s thought that as many as one-in-three consumers may have bought a fake or counterfeit electrical item online. Popular sites like amazon and eBay are said to be full of them.

Third-party sellers who are out to dupe UK consumers appear to be getting away with it. Consumers are at risk of electric shock and fires caused by fake and dangerous electrical appliances bought online.

Fake and dangerous electrical appliances sold online

Fake items and dangerous electrical appliances sold online are posing a serious risk to UK consumers. Counterfeit items being sold that could cause electric shocks or fires can include:

USB plugs and travel adaptors;
Hair dryers and hair straighteners;
Kettles and toasters;
Tumble dryers;
Kodi boxes.

A number of these fake items and dangerous electrical appliances are under recalls, but consumers are unaware. Younger generations are said to be more at risk, with many appearing to go for cheaper items to save money.

Cheaper is not always safe…

Calls for Amazon and eBay to reduce consumer harm from fake items and dangerous electrical appliances

There have been strong calls for online retailers like amazon and eBay to do more. Fake items and dangerous electrical appliances must be weeded out to protect consumers from harm.

In a statement, Amazon said:

“All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who don’t will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”

On dangerous items found, they said: “The products in question are no longer available.”

eBay in their statement said:

“We are fully committed to combatting the sale of counterfeit and potentially dangerous electrical goods and work closely with both manufacturers and regulatory authorities to quickly remove such items from our marketplace.”