Cheap heating on Temu or TikTok? In 7 out of 8 cases, you risk a fire

If you see tempting offers on TikTok or the e-commerce site Temu on the auxiliary heaters at a low price, run away! In the majority of cases, these poor quality devices can cause an accident.

It is quite normal to give in to the lure of good deals. Temu is the new trendy e-commerce site that has appeared in recent months in France. The Chinese platform, modeled on AliExpress, offers thousands of items at knockdown prices in all possible and unimaginable universes. However, these lower prices can hide unpleasant surprises. Indeed, these too-good-to-be-true prices posted on e-commerce sites or even social networks like TikTok sometimes hide unpleasant surprises, which can quickly turn into disasters.

Heaters for less than 10 euros that can create fires

Among the devices available on Temu or TikTok Shopping, the commercial platform attached to teenagers’ favorite social network, we find space heaters. These small devices can accompany the heating in the house, and provide a little extra heat in a room.

Only, a study carried out by the British site Which?the equivalent across the Channel of What to choose ?reveals that seven models out of the eight tested do not meet current safety requirements and represent “ a serious risk to customer safety “. Of these models tested, the cheapest cost only £7.20, or around €8.50.

These products can quickly cause fires in the home due to very poor manufacturing quality. However, they were highlighted on the shelves of Temu, or promoted by several influencers on TikTok.

In the absence of regulation, be careful when shopping!

For Sue Davis, in charge of the consumer protection section at Which?“ Cheap electric heaters are a tempting buy for consumers struggling through the cold winter months, but our latest tests have revealed that models sold on TikTok and Temu pose a serious safety risk and should be avoided at all price “. She adds : ” It is vital that the Government urgently gives greater legal responsibility to online marketplaces for dangerous products so that they are forced to take action to prevent dangerous products ending up in homes “.

Lesley Rudd, director of Electrical Safety First, an organization that brings together electrical experts, is even more vindictive: “ The way we shop has changed, perhaps forever, but it is completely illogical that our laws have not changed, leaving people to shop on these online platforms without any protection from dangerous electrical products “.

When contacted, Temu representatives apologized and reiterated that the safety of their customers is at the heart of their priorities. After publication of the study, the incriminated products were all withdrawn from sale. TikTok also reiterated its consumer protection policy and indicates that it removes merchants who do not respect its rules of good conduct.

Our final advice is always the same: be wary of reductions that are too impressive with such significant discounts, particularly on heating appliances, and favor platforms and brands recognized for their experience. It will cost you a little more, but your security is priceless.

Source : BBC