Trademe and 'unsafe' electrical items

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pinkydot

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#488253 1-Jul-2011 13:47

what about those multi plugs for international adapter that sell on 1 2 3 dollars shop?
a lot of overseas tourist come here just to buy those to use on their electronic stuff when they are here.
Those pretty sure didn't tested for safety

mattwnz

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#488360 1-Jul-2011 17:36

Shouldn't these cheap chinese imported electrics be tested by importers, or be required to have some form of safety standard sticker on them. If they were made in NZ , they would no doubt be required to conform to NZs standards, so why isn't imported stuff.Cheap products in the short term could end up being very expensive in the long term. I don't mind what trademe are doing, as it is protecting buyers, but it shows that something isn't right, if they need to do this.

Skolink

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#488446 1-Jul-2011 21:42

mattwnz: Shouldn't these cheap chinese imported electrics be tested by importers, or be required to have some form of safety standard sticker on them. If they were made in NZ , they would no doubt be required to conform to NZs standards, so why isn't imported stuff.Cheap products in the short term could end up being very expensive in the long term. I don't mind what trademe are doing, as it is protecting buyers, but it shows that something isn't right, if they need to do this.

Imported products are subject to exactly the same requirements as locally manufactured ones. Unfortunately since most items are not on the 'high risk' prescribed items list it is up to the importer to ensure such items are safe. Most rely on the dodgy test reports provided from Chinese test labs as proof that the items are safe.
The Ministry of Economic Development Energy Safety Services is responsible for enforcing electrical appliance safety standards. They do sometimes buy items and have them independently tested. They could enforce the rules a bit more though.

Cheap products can work out pretty expensive in the long run for the importer too - in fines and product recalls.

hairy1

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#488503 2-Jul-2011 08:20

Here is the official response from Trademe:

Dear Matthew,

Thanks for contacting us.

We can confirm that it is illegal to sell electrical items that have a non NZ plug fitted, or require an adaptor.

This being the case, we suggest going back to the seller, and asking for the product to be returned and refunded, as the item cannot be sold on Trade Me.

If you have further questions regarding this issue please reply and we will answer your email as soon as possible.

Regards,

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

richms

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#488622 2-Jul-2011 15:26

Someone saying that something is illegal without them quoting an act/legislation/thing from the big lawyer-book whose name I forget right now is just opinion or something.

Friend used to sell parallel imported phones.

No hassles from ESS other than a few years back where they did something about people selling those god-awful grey Chinese adapters. Use an approved travel adapter and they did nothing.

The fact that they are not doing anything about phone parallel importers who would be a hell of a lot easier to find and do something about than random trademe sellers says a hell of a lot more than opinion from a generic CSR at trademe. The no non-NZ plugs rule is just trademe policy because in general if someone has gone to the effort of importing stuff with a 3112 compliant plug on it, they will have got all the SDOC inorder for what they are importing.

Travel adapters are in the same class of goods as powerpoints and lightswitches where you need actual testing and an approval number. cellphone chargers are an appliance.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#488699 2-Jul-2011 22:47

richms: The no non-NZ plugs rule is just trademe policy because in general if someone has gone to the effort of importing stuff with a 3112 compliant plug on it, they will have got all the SDOC inorder for what they are importing.

Travel adapters are in the same class of goods as powerpoints and lightswitches where you need actual testing and an approval number. cellphone chargers are an appliance.

This isn't quite correct. Any new products sold in NZ have to meet AS/NZ 3820 (or the standard covering the individual product). A key part of this is that they must have a AS/NZ 3112 plug.

The MED even made this clear in 2004 but clearly aren't big on enforcement.

All appliances sold in New Zealand must be fitted with the correct, Approved, New Zealand plug of an appropiate rating

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

richms

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#488706 2-Jul-2011 23:10

Thats just a presentation, no rulings, no prossecutions of anyone other than people selling things without SDOC documents or the very unsafe adapters to date that they have published. I dont know how one would go about getting the documentation together for an imported samsung phone etc to support the SDOC.

IMO, there clearly is a case to prevent the sale of US plugged things with generic adapters, since that plug is a giant turd.

However the rules dont make any difference between any of the countless chargers etc that have 2 US pins (sometimes folding, sometimes not) and a supplied clip or slide on adapter that has a 3112 plug on it and a generic adapter and a charger made for wherever.

Their time is better spent put towards finding the importers of counterfeit laptop adapters that fail any and all EMC testing and slap it for sale with a legit 3112 to cloverleaf cable and make it all look legit to people that believe what trademe say about a NZ plug being safe.

If they do start to go after people with legit foregn chargers with parallel imported phones selling them with approved adapters then I would only conclude that this is being driven by those that import in volume and is no different to the region code fiasco with dvd players.

Richard rich.ms

old3eyes

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#488749 3-Jul-2011 09:57

What so wrong with the US formated plug pack?? I have two Samsungs here one with a US plug and one with a NZ one and they are identical except for the plug. Both rated at 100 ~ 240 Volts. I also have another fone here with a British plug on it with an adapter..

Regards,

Old3eyes

richms

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#488779 3-Jul-2011 12:29

Non insulated pins and a small face make it a hazard that you can touch the pins on it, particually when used with the unsafe travel adapters which have a small face on them.

Richard rich.ms

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