Cheap gadgets are one of the best gifts that you can buy for the upcoming Christmas season and New Year celebration. However, experts warned that these affordable products could lead to dangerous accidents.
Electrical Safety First (ESF) suggested that people should stick with reputable websites of trusted retailers instead of buying cheap electronics from third-party sellers, according to Your Money.com's latest report.
The safety charity explained that if shoppers go to online marketplaces, they are increasing the risk of buying dangerous devices that present fire risks.
Battery from Amazon leads to fire accident
According to BBC News' latest report, a laptop catches fire after a battery from Amazon was fitted into the device.
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40-year-old Rachel Kent, the laptop's owner, purchased the battery on Amazon from a third-party seller.
"It was about 22:30, I was at home in my kitchen about to take my two dogs for a walk. My laptop was on a hard table, charging," she said via BBC News.
"I heard a very loud crackle and bang from the laptop," she added.
Kent explained that she saw the laptop exploded once more, then it caught fire, spreading across the table. She went to the garden with her dogs to get away from the explosion.
ESF claims baby toys are also dangerous
Lesley Rudd, Electrical Safety First's chief executive, said that people are likely to make the same purchases of other items in the run-up to the Christmas season.
Sue Davies, the head of consumer protection in the safety agency "Which?," said that they found some extremely dangerous items, such as baby toys, and Christmas lights, that are sold on the online shopping platforms.
These products are also considered as sub-standard or counterfeit products. But since they are cheap, people will more likely buy them to be gifted over the upcoming festive period.
She added that this winter, shoppers are relying more on online shopping. This is why online marketplaces must be provided with more legal responsibility for the safety of the items they are offering.
For more news updates about gadgets and other studies regarding device safety, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
