Every day, counterfeit electrical products are finding their way into our homes, businesses, and public institutions. Unlike fake handbags, watches, or designer apparel, these counterfeits pose significant safety hazards.
What is Electrical Counterfeiting?
Counterfeit electrical products can be difficult to spot. They may appear to be identical to their legitimate counterparts, but these products are often made using inferior materials and without normal safety provisions. These unsubstantiated products could be a knock-off version of a name-brand item, one that bears an unauthorized certification mark or a product where visible defects are apparent. Left undetected, these defective products can cause fire, shock, and electrocution.
Follow these guidelines to help identify counterfeit electrical products: - Purchase electrical products from a reputable retailer that you trust. Avoid deep discount stores, flea markets, or bargain warehouses.
- Exercise extreme caution in online transactions. Do your homework when conducting business online. Be especially wary of purchasing electrical products from unknown companies or unathorized sellers.
- Check for certification marks. Look for certification marks from nationally recognized testing laboratories such as UL, CSA, and ETL.
- Scrutinize product labels and packaging. Make sure that labels and packaging are free of grammatical errors and that any information is consistent with information elsewhere on the package.
- Avoid products that lack any identifying brand label or affiliation. Make sure that the name and contact information of the manufacturer is clearly displayed on the packaging and/or the product.
- Trust your instincts. Beware of bargains that seem to good to be true. Counterfeiters often use inferior materials and avoid key manufacturing steps to reduce the cost of their products significantly.
- Be Proactive. Organizations such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) provide up-to-date information about product recalls on their websites.
Fast Facts: - The CPSC has recalled more than one million counterfeit electrical products in recent years, including extension cords, power strips, batteries, and hair dryers.
- In FY 2010, consumer electronics accounted for 18% of counterfeits seized by U.S. customs, ranking second after footwear.
|
