Community Advice.
Has anyone found a way to check items sold on Amazon passes Australian Testing standards?
Their feedback customer service questions about product seems very difficult to get an answer to.
When you as a question it just gets sent to customers that have previously bought the item.
This item is from a third party seller
Unfortunately it is impossible.
With some products it is possible to search databases to see if they are registered, but this assumes that the product being sold is genuine and not a fake/counterfeit. There are many fake/counterfeit products sold online - one way to determine is it is, is the price. If it is significantly cheaper than reputable Australian businesses with an online presence, then it is likely to be a fake/counterfeit.
Even when some sellers state that it does comply with XYZ, such as it has the EESS tick or AS logo, one can’t guarantee that it is the case. Sellers on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Facebook etc can say anything they like, to try and sell their products.
Not complying with Australian requirements is a risk when buying online, especially from overseas sellers.
If they do state that it does comply with something, and when delivered it doesn’t, this gives potential recourse under the Australian Consumer Law. However, trying can to recourse can be problematic and uncertain as outlined by the ACCC.
The other problem is many online sellers don’t have insurances (business and public liability). If there is a problem, such as their products cause a injury (or worse), the seller disappears never to be seen again. To take action is costly, may involve action in a foreign country and may not give the same outcome if it has occurred within Australia.
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Pretty much that is the reality. Amazon is a marketplace and shipping company for goods that others want to sell.
They may be distributors, importers, or actual product producers. One would have to try and dig down and find out from them.
But these type of soft foam toys have been around for years, so I reckon the biggest risks are that don’t perform anywhere near claims, and they are broken within a very short time.
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And other brands are available elsewhere, including in brick and mortar stores within Australia, for around the same price.
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I was hoping to find a time efficient way of contacting Amazon to check items that are listed on their website and shipped via their supply chain would pass Australian standards. For projectile toys this tougher in Australia. You’d think this would be easy..
There are other items not just the YEEBAY Rocket Air Launch Toy ASIN B098B24R1P…
These magnetic effect chess games have been all over their best sellers lists for months and seem to have vanished… Australian Safety Standards are tougher than the US…recall just announced
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It would be good if this could occur. Businesses which stock and sell their own products should be responsible for ensuring that they comply with Australian requirements. As such a consumer should not need to ask about compliance. This possibly may the the case for Australian bricks and mortar stores which have online presence. Noting even such businesses may have the odd product which doesn’t and is subject of recalls. The risks are possibly lower than…
The internet has opened consumers to buying from stores and products from foreign sources and sellers (such as Amazon, Ebay, Aliexpress etc). Even some Australian bricks and mortar store websites have become ‘marketplaces’ for anyone to sell their products. This increases the risks of potentially buying products which don’t comply with Australian requirements. Those which allow foreign sellers the risks would be higher yet again. The operators of these marketplaces won’t know whether sellers using their platforms are selling products which comply with Australian requirements, at these marketplaces in effect are advertising platforms.
One potential way to try to reduce risks is only buy:
- from reputable suppliers/sellers - this can be difficult to know for dropshipping businesses or marketplaces as the supplier/sellers are often not known.
- products known to be sold in Australian bricks and mortar stores. This assumes the seller is truthful in information about products they sell and one can confirm it is exactly the same product.
- confirm in writing product details and compliance where applicable.
- use payment methods which may provide some protections. Keeping detailed records (such as copies of advertisements, seller descriptions, communications etc) is important should a dispute be lodged.
We try and follow the above. While it isn’t bulletproof, it generally works for us… but not always.
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