Everybody loves a bargain, but research from Electrical Safety First (ESF) indicates that some bargains are not always what they seem.
In a recent survey into consumer attitudes towards counterfeit goods, ESF discovered that around 2.5 million people in Britain have either knowingly or unwittingly purchased a counterfeit electrical product in the last year, double the number from the previous 12 months.
Interestingly, their research also indicates that a new marketplace has developed, with 7% of respondents reporting that they have bought counterfeit electrical products through a social media advert. Of all counterfeit purchases, 60% were purchased online, with reduced pricing being the main driving factor. A staggering one in 12 people said that they would knowingly purchase a suspected counterfeit product if it were considerably cheaper than the genuine article.
In terms of the safety risks, more than 50% of people who had bought a fake electrical product had experienced a problem with the item, compared to 39% a year ago. ESF discovered in testing that while counterfeit goods may look genuine and sophisticated on the outside, even those with small fake internal components are at risk of exploding, leaving consumers and businesses open to serious injury or property damage.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, observes, saving a few pennies in buying counterfeit items really isn’t worth the risk. “At MS Electrical we spend our working lives helping businesses and consumers stay safe through rigorous electrical safety testing,” he says. “These findings from Electrical Safety First are truly shocking, and we’re determined to spread the word that trying to cut corners by buying counterfeit items really is a false economy.”
MS Electrical Services offers PAT testing in Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket and fixed wire testing in Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket. Call us on 01223 850301 / 01353 665106 to discuss how we can help keep your electrical safety in check.