She buys a laser gadget for her cat on Temu and finds herself in court

Temu is once again under fire for selling potentially dangerous and illegal products. A Swiss woman recently paid the price.

Temu, an online shopping site based in China, is known for offering a variety of gadgets at rock-bottom prices. The most downloaded application in France in August 2023, the Middle Kingdom company is facing a growing wave of criticism for selling products that are not only dangerous, such as space heaters or children’s toys, but also illegal in Switzerland.

Many consumers have been caught off guard by these practices and are now facing legal problems. And we know that Switzerland does not joke with the security of property and people on its territory, being the breeding ground for the most secure cloud storage solutions on the market.

A striking example is that of Patricia, a Swiss resident who recently purchased a laser for her cat on Temu, only to discover that the product was considered a weapon in Switzerland, and therefore prohibited.

The laser considered a weapon in Switzerland

In Switzerland, only category 1 lasers are authorized, with a maximum power of 0.39 milliwatts. Any laser exceeding this limit is considered potentially dangerous, with risks of blindness and burns.

This is precisely the type of laser that Patricia had ordered on Temu. Before the package was even delivered, it was opened by Swiss customs, and the laser was replaced by a letter from the Confederation. “ Customs kept the laser. They had informed the public prosecutor, since it was an object prohibited in Switzerland and considered a weapon “, Patricia said in an interview. Unfortunately, several similar, equally illegal devices were also for sale on the Chinese site.

But Patricia doesn’t lose her temper. “ I am outraged to order a simple item on the Internet and find myself with a report to the public prosecutor, a fine and a criminal record », she protests. His case highlights the risks consumers can face when purchasing products on international e-commerce sites. The other online giant of discounted prices, AliExpress, was recently the subject of an investigation for fake medicines and counterfeiting.

The very limited liability of online sales sites

“ Quality is not Temu’s business model. There remains an intermediary like the Alibaba or AliExpress sites. They are legally armored. These sites simply put sellers and buyers in contact. It is therefore up to them to take their responsibilities », Explains Wajdi Baccouche, general director of the marketing agency Eminence.

Despite everything, some are heavily sanctioned, such as the e-commerce site Wish, which ended up being delisted. In fact, the DGCCRF judged 90% of the electrical devices it analyzed and which are sold on the platform to be dangerous.

Following the RTS reports, Temu finally removed the illegal offers from sale. However, the site specifies that sellers are responsible for their products. This statement raises questions about the responsibility of e-commerce platforms in the sale of dangerous or illegal products. Although sites like Temu absolve themselves of any responsibility, it is clear that their role as intermediaries facilitates the sale of such products.

While the penalty has not yet been determined by the courts, Patricia’s experience serves as a reminder for shoppers to exercise caution when shopping online. Particularly when they buy products from abroad, especially since their bill will be higher in the case of orders placed outside the EU.

Source : RTS