When we need a new electrical appliance, the vast majority of us will look in only one direction: online.
While that might save us the time and effort of heading to the high street or an out-of-town retail park, it can be fraught with danger. In some cases, the item we receive may bear little resemblance to the photo and description we looked at, but in the worst case scenario it might be dangerous, or even deadly.
They’re certainly convenient – and they often offer the most competitive pricing – but there’s currently no legal requirement for online marketplaces such as Amazon Marketplace, Facebook Marketplace and eBay to test the safety of any electrical goods sold on their platforms. High-street brands such as Currys and John Lewis, on the other hand, are legally mandated to do so.
The sale of faulty – and therefore dangerous – electrical goods by third parties has become such an issue that Electrical Safety First initiated a #DontBeElectricked campaign to raise awareness of the risks involved. Their petition attracted more than 40,000 signatures and successfully brought the issue into the public domain, an essential outcome given that around 33% of people who bought a faulty electrical product did so on a third-party marketplace. Such marketplaces aren’t heavily regulated – in fact it couldn’t be easier to set yourself up as a seller and operate outside the standard regulations.
Along with Electrical Safety First, we recommend only sourcing your electrical equipment and appliances from a trusted high-street retailer or directly from the manufacturer. That way you’ll know that all safety standards have been met and that in the unlikely event that something goes wrong you’ll be able to return the item for repair or refund. It’s often difficult to identify the genuine sellers from those selling fake or sub-standard items, but when purchasing online it’s worth bearing these suggestions in mind:
Price
Everyone loves a bargain but don’t always be tempted to buy on price alone. Cheap imports can carry a higher risk, so we’d advise that you think about spending a bit more than the bare minimum to guarantee authenticity.
Reviews
While feedback can be helpful in your decision making, don’t be swayed by legions of positive reviews as they may not be genuine. Some websites will also cross-refer feedback to create a list of ‘verified purchasers’ whose reviews can be trusted and relied upon.
Location
If you can, try to pin down the seller’s location. Having a .co.uk extension for your website domain name doesn’t guarantee that you’re located in the United Kingdom, so it’s worth investigating prior to making your purchase. If the address is a PO Box – or possibly isn’t even published at all – there’s a chance that they’re not a reputable seller.
Product description
Anyone can create a persuasive product description, but the devil can be in the detail. Descriptions including phrases such as 'genuine', 'approved’ or ‘CE certified' should ring alarm bells, for example.
Payment
Make sure you can order and pay securely online – websites that allow you to do so will display a padlock symbol in the address bar. If you can’t see one, don’t enter any of your payment information.
Packaging and markings
If your product arrives and you have concerns, check the packaging, markings and labels carefully as they may indicate that the product is fake or unsafe. Any genuine electrical product should show the manufacturer’s name as well as a CE or UKCA mark on their label. If the instructions manual or warranty card are missing or are riddled with spelling mistakes, that should be a cause of concern, as should any non-UK plug and/or any plugs without a fuse.
Instinct
Finally, if you think you can smell a rat, then there probably is a rat. If you have any concerns at all about any electrical item you’ve purchased and had delivered, take the time to check it out against those on sale in a reputable high-street store. And if you do believe you’ve bought a fake, contact the seller and/or the marketplace immediately to demand a refund.
Should you find yourself in this situation, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 to ask their advice. And don’t be shy about raising awareness as that will help other people in your position. Selling unsafe products is illegal and puts lives at risk, so the worst thing you can do in this situation is to ignore the issue and use the item.
MS Electrical specialise in commercial fixed wire testing and PAT testing in Cambridge. Please contact us for advice or to request a no-obligation quotation to help keep your electrical safety in check.