Counterfeit electrical products or legit?
Buying a counterfeit electrical product may save you a few bucks, but is it worth putting the safety of your loved ones and home at risk? The Electrical Safety International Foundation (ESFI) has put together 10 tips to help you spot counterfeit electrical products.What to look for
- Only a mousetrap offers free cheese. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Compare prices of similar products and avoid any that are drastically cheaper than the average.
- Judge a book by its cover. Avoid products being sold without packaging or with packaging of poor quality.
- Be a grammar guru. Read through labels and packaging text. If you notice typos, misspelled words, poor grammar, or blurry text, it may indicate a counterfeit electrical product. The same holds true for website text as well.
- Put it to the test. Look for products that have been certified by a
nationally recognized testing lab. For example, UL, ETL or CSA. The certification mark should be on both the packaging and the product. - No news is good news. Do a search to see if any product recalls, which include counterfeit electrical product alerts, have been issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or by independent testing labs.
- Better safe than sorry. Avoid unknown brands and products that do not display any brand affiliation or the name and contact number of its manufacturer.
- Avoid the point of no return. Be wary of establishments that have a "no returns or refunds" policy.
- The best advertisement is a good product. Use established vendors who purchase their goods from legitimate distributors and genuine manufacturers.
- Nothing is certain but death and taxes. Counterfeit operations often do not report their sales to financial authorities. Be suspicious if the purchase price does not reflect the required sales tax.
- Where there's smoke, there's fire. If in doubt, trust your instincts. No bargain is worth risking your safety.
At Rapid Service, we would never consider using counterfeit electrical products. Your safety is our top concern!
If something in your home concerns you, please contact us for an electrical safety inspection.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety in the home, school and workplace. ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May, and engages in public education campaigns throughout the year to prevent electrical fatalities, injuries, and property damage. To learn more about ESFI, visit www.electrical-safety.org.
