4 ms·

While this move is clearly sensible the number of people importing absolute junk from Temu/AliExpress/Shein means millions of homes will be exploitable regardle

While this move is clearly sensible the number of people importing absolute junk from Temu/AliExpress/Shein means millions of homes will be exploitable regardless.

InCityDreams 2y ago
Darwin at work?
- petepete 2y ago
  I was typing on my phone, the word 'explosive' was accidental but definitely fits in with the theme of crappy electronics! I edited the original post.
izacus 2y ago
There isn't "millions of people" doing that. Geeks do that. The rest buy locally.
- Symbiote 2y ago
  Companies like wish.com and amazon.co.uk advertise in mainstream media, and are widely used for buying low-quality goods from China.
pjc50 2y ago
Much of the time the Aliexpress products provide the same functionality for far less than Western brands. Sometimes even a bit more functionality. But I'm still a bit wary of mains-connected ones.
- Ekaros 2y ago
  At least here we have government agency that mandates recalls on the shoddy stuff bought from local stores. So getting money back is simpler. Even if the quality by amount of recalls is probably not that far...
- noneeeed 2y ago
  Likewise. Connecting to the mains is my main red-line on what I've prepared to buy from unknown brands with names that were pulled from a scabble bag.
  - mschuster91 2y ago
    I'd add lithium batteries to the list. There's no way short of a teardown you can verify what battery vendor, which quality grade and especially which kind of protection circuitry was used - and even if there's analysis videos from youtubers available, there is no guarantee that the manufacturers haven't swapped stuff around during production runs to account for price and availability changes, or that the manufacturer doesn't suffer from supply chain issues. Granted, established brands can be similarly impacted, but unlike some alphabet-soup dropshipper from Amazon, brands like Anker, Samsung, Apple or the likes have an actual reputation to lose so their incentive to keep safety in mind is way higher (and yes, even they can fail, both Samsung and Apple had their bad battery issues in the past).
- globular-toast 2y ago
  > But I'm still a bit wary of mains-connected ones. That is wise. YouTubers like BigClive regularly tear down Chinese products and you can bet on things like unconnected earth wires and poor separation between high/low voltage parts. Anything that plugs into mains should come from a known manufacturer and a reputable dealer (not Amazon, AliExpress etc.)
hyperman1 2y ago
I regularly see the same product on AliExpress and in cheap EU shops. Most Ali things have a CE mark. Most of my electronics has an FCC mark, even if it means nothing here. (I presume USA inhabitants see CE marks?) Globalization means it's cheaper to make 1 product, compliant with US and EU, then sell it from AliExpress too. This is exactly what the EU is counting on.
- Dalewyn 2y ago
  As far as Suspicious Chinese(tm) goods are concerned, I always just assume any claimed certifications are fake with no citable basis.
- karma_pharmer 2y ago
  Chinese manufacturers claim that marking means "Chinese Export". They have some ridiculous story about how the curvature of the "C" is different when it means "Council of Europe". I know, it's bogus, but this is their explanation.
  - hyperman1 2y ago
    China Export is a nasty one indeed. I recognize them by looking at the line between the 2 ends of the C : If the middle left of the E falls on the same line, it's a fake.
gnfargbl 2y ago
> Most smart devices are manufactured outside the UK, but the PSTI act also applies to all organisations importing or retailing products for the UK market. Failure to comply with the act is a criminal offence, with fines up to £10 million or 4% of qualifying worldwide revenue (whichever is higher). -- https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/smart-devices-law https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/smart-devices-law Will the government actually go after AliExpress/Shein/Temu? Dunno, but they have the option.
- Vinnl 2y ago
  I'm not sure how it works elsewhere, including the UK, but I believe here in the Netherlands, ordering from Aliexpress counts as importing, i.e. if you were to sell that on to others (like a drop-shipper), you're the retailer, but if you just keep it for personal use, then that's at your own risk. Edit: tried to find a source again, [1] is the closest I could find and at least is reliable (but in Dutch). [1] https://www.consumentenbond.nl/online-kopen/bestellen-bij-buitenlandse-webshops https://www.consumentenbond.nl/online-kopen/bestellen-bij-bu...
  - gnfargbl 2y ago
    I checked and I think you're correct. Temu's T&Cs for the UK specifically say that > You agree that, where applicable, you will act as the importer of the products purchased -- https://www.temu.com/uk/terms-of-use.html https://www.temu.com/uk/terms-of-use.html So yep, on the face of it, this does look like a pretty big loophole.

While this move is clearly sensible the number of people importing absolute junk from Temu/AliExpress/Shein means millions of homes will be exploitable regardless.

InCityDreams 2y ago

Darwin at work?

petepete 2y ago
I was typing on my phone, the word 'explosive' was accidental but definitely fits in with the theme of crappy electronics! I edited the original post.

izacus 2y ago

There isn't "millions of people" doing that. Geeks do that. The rest buy locally.

Symbiote 2y ago
Companies like wish.com and amazon.co.uk advertise in mainstream media, and are widely used for buying low-quality goods from China.

pjc50 2y ago

Much of the time the Aliexpress products provide the same functionality for far less than Western brands. Sometimes even a bit more functionality. But I'm still a bit wary of mains-connected ones.

Ekaros 2y ago
At least here we have government agency that mandates recalls on the shoddy stuff bought from local stores. So getting money back is simpler. Even if the quality by amount of recalls is probably not that far...
noneeeed 2y ago
Likewise. Connecting to the mains is my main red-line on what I've prepared to buy from unknown brands with names that were pulled from a scabble bag.
- mschuster91 2y ago
  I'd add lithium batteries to the list. There's no way short of a teardown you can verify what battery vendor, which quality grade and especially which kind of protection circuitry was used - and even if there's analysis videos from youtubers available, there is no guarantee that the manufacturers haven't swapped stuff around during production runs to account for price and availability changes, or that the manufacturer doesn't suffer from supply chain issues. Granted, established brands can be similarly impacted, but unlike some alphabet-soup dropshipper from Amazon, brands like Anker, Samsung, Apple or the likes have an actual reputation to lose so their incentive to keep safety in mind is way higher (and yes, even they can fail, both Samsung and Apple had their bad battery issues in the past).
globular-toast 2y ago
> But I'm still a bit wary of mains-connected ones. That is wise. YouTubers like BigClive regularly tear down Chinese products and you can bet on things like unconnected earth wires and poor separation between high/low voltage parts. Anything that plugs into mains should come from a known manufacturer and a reputable dealer (not Amazon, AliExpress etc.)

hyperman1 2y ago

I regularly see the same product on AliExpress and in cheap EU shops. Most Ali things have a CE mark. Most of my electronics has an FCC mark, even if it means nothing here. (I presume USA inhabitants see CE marks?) Globalization means it's cheaper to make 1 product, compliant with US and EU, then sell it from AliExpress too. This is exactly what the EU is counting on.

Dalewyn 2y ago
As far as Suspicious Chinese(tm) goods are concerned, I always just assume any claimed certifications are fake with no citable basis.
karma_pharmer 2y ago
Chinese manufacturers claim that marking means "Chinese Export". They have some ridiculous story about how the curvature of the "C" is different when it means "Council of Europe". I know, it's bogus, but this is their explanation.
- hyperman1 2y ago
  China Export is a nasty one indeed. I recognize them by looking at the line between the 2 ends of the C : If the middle left of the E falls on the same line, it's a fake.

gnfargbl 2y ago

> Most smart devices are manufactured outside the UK, but the PSTI act also applies to all organisations importing or retailing products for the UK market. Failure to comply with the act is a criminal offence, with fines up to £10 million or 4% of qualifying worldwide revenue (whichever is higher). -- https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/smart-devices-law https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/smart-devices-law Will the government actually go after AliExpress/Shein/Temu? Dunno, but they have the option.

Vinnl 2y ago
I'm not sure how it works elsewhere, including the UK, but I believe here in the Netherlands, ordering from Aliexpress counts as importing, i.e. if you were to sell that on to others (like a drop-shipper), you're the retailer, but if you just keep it for personal use, then that's at your own risk. Edit: tried to find a source again, [1] is the closest I could find and at least is reliable (but in Dutch). [1] https://www.consumentenbond.nl/online-kopen/bestellen-bij-buitenlandse-webshops https://www.consumentenbond.nl/online-kopen/bestellen-bij-bu...
- gnfargbl 2y ago
  I checked and I think you're correct. Temu's T&Cs for the UK specifically say that > You agree that, where applicable, you will act as the importer of the products purchased -- https://www.temu.com/uk/terms-of-use.html https://www.temu.com/uk/terms-of-use.html So yep, on the face of it, this does look like a pretty big loophole.