How safe are electrical items off of E-bay? - Looking for an recessed Power strip for a shelf.

[reoreborn85]

I'm looking for something like this - LINK to insert into a desk. It's the PERFECT thing for my needs but i can only seem to find them on E-bay, Temu, Aliexpress, Amazon (with the same photos of the ones on Temu) etc.


Does anybody know how safe they are? They'll only be used for small draws like phone chargers etc.

How safe are they? Does anybody know where I can buy them that actually checks their electrical items by E.U / UK standards.

thank you

 

[mattylad]

Well, I cannot see a fuse holder normally found in the bottom of the plug.

Make of that what you may.

 

[morqthana]

I'd give it a swerve.

The seller isn't really a UK business, the only director lives in Greece, and if you look you'll see he has a Greek phone number.

The registered address may well be 7 Bell Yard, WC2A 2JR, but then it also is for 8,981 other companies - it's just a mail forwarding office.

Plus the spec for the USB outlets is dire:

I'm sure you can find that sort of thing on sale from a proper UK business, with a better spec - just move away from eBay & Amazon

 

[morqthana]

Well, I cannot see a fuse holder normally found in the bottom of the plug.

Make of that what you may.

And by the looks of it a shrouded earth pin.

So illegal to sell in the UK.

Good luck holding someone in Greece accountable in a UK court.

 

[morqthana]

i can only seem to find them on E-bay, Temu, Aliexpress, Amazon

You didn't look very hard, did you.

The first 3 I found in a few minutes of searching outside of those sites...

Desk Power Units

Deskpower.co.uk are seller of Cavity boxes, Screed boxes, power grommets, access grommets and a large variety of desktop power, underdesk power and a wide range of other electrical and data products designed for light commercial and general office use. we stock many items and dispatch is fast.

deskpower.co.uk

Pop-Up Electrical Sockets & Power Grommets | DCDI

Full Range Of In-Desk Flush Mounted Pop-Up Power Sockets, Grommet & Letter Box Style PDU With Dual USB Chargers And Audio Visual, HDMI, VGA & Data Options

www.dcdi.co.uk

In-Desk Power Outlets | Built-In Desk Power & USB Charging

Discover sleek in-desk power outlets with USB & data ports. Ideal for offices, meeting tables & workspaces. Shop online at Data Room Direct.

www.dataroomdirect.com

 

[reoreborn]

You didn't look very hard, did you.

The first 3 I found in a few minutes of searching outside of those sites...

Desk Power Units

Deskpower.co.uk are seller of Cavity boxes, Screed boxes, power grommets, access grommets and a large variety of desktop power, underdesk power and a wide range of other electrical and data products designed for light commercial and general office use. we stock many items and dispatch is fast.

deskpower.co.uk

Pop-Up Electrical Sockets & Power Grommets | DCDI

Full Range Of In-Desk Flush Mounted Pop-Up Power Sockets, Grommet & Letter Box Style PDU With Dual USB Chargers And Audio Visual, HDMI, VGA & Data Options

www.dcdi.co.uk

In-Desk Power Outlets | Built-In Desk Power & USB Charging

Discover sleek in-desk power outlets with USB & data ports. Ideal for offices, meeting tables & workspaces. Shop online at Data Room Direct.

www.dataroomdirect.com

Well two of those sites are flagging up as possible scams/fraudulent so I won't be going with them and the others hq is in China so once again I won't be going with them.

As stated above I want to buy from a seller whose products meet UK and e.u standards
Thanks anyway.

 

[plugwash]

Does anybody know how safe they are?

While I'm sure there is some legitimate stuff on marketplace sites, the unfortunate reality is that a lot of stuff sold through those channels is frankly terrible. Multi-standard sockets that fit nothing well, undersized conductors, missing earths, non flame retardant plastics, 13A plugs without fuses or that do not meet dimensional requirements. The list goes on.

 

[ebee]

A few months back I gave a pal some advice:-
"Never ever ever buy anything off Fleabay".
A bit tongue in cheek really but more of a Buyer Beware sort of statement.
Thanks to tinternet etc we now can choose from many sources.
Back in the days beforehand the traditional shop, small or large, could get a visit from Trading Standards and they would get a bit of advice about keeping up with Trading Laws.
Nowadays it is a free for all, you get more and more sellers not knowing/not caring what they sell.
I have no doubt that there are actually some decent sellers on Fleabay etc but many are not.
I am not really singling out one seller type but really a whole raft of them too.
It is difficult to see the decent ones out there.
Caveat Emptor becomes the byword in all dealings.

 

[robinbanks]

Never ever ever buy anything off Fleabay

I buy nearly everything off eBay sellers, no problems - just have to make reasonable assessment of what is being bought, from whom. Zero complaints with the quality, performance or safety of the ninja air fryer bought from ninja's refurb outlet on eBay a few months back, for example

Would I buy one of these off eBay (or anywhere?):

Heck no.

The OP is doing the right thing; they found something like what they want to buy, and are seeking advice on where to get it. This particular thing from this particular seller, has been pointed out to be a no, but that doesn't mean that everything sold on eBay is a no, just that you have to have your brain engaged more than just trotting down to Screfix or Wicks

 

[Sureitsoff?]

Well two of those sites are flagging up as possible scams/fraudulent so I won't be going with them and the others hq is in China so once again I won't be going with them.

Interested in why/how you think they are iffy?

 

[morqthana]

Interested in why/how you think they are iffy?

My question as well.

All three are limited companies registered at Companies House.

All three have accounts filings going back several years.

All three have registered offices in the UK, two have "their own", one uses their accountants.

All three have, and have always only had, British directors and other persons with significant control, resident in the UK.

So, reoreborn, who is telling you they are scammers, and which one do you think has their HQ in China?

 

[morqthana]

Caveat Emptor becomes the byword in all dealings.

Which is what the OP is doing.

 

[evdamadiynot]

The plug could easily be cut off and replaced with a fused one
If its only for light use then a 3a fuse fitted.

 

[morqthana]

I think there is a justified concern that a manufacturer who would fit a plug like that in the first place, and who is prepared to break the law, may have done shoddy things in other parts of his product.