Tips to shop smarter and safer and avoid hazardous products

There are two big issues with product safety: First, when products are recalled, the system for notifying consumers who may have purchased the item isn’t good. And second, while many companies test products they sell to consumers, and while regulators try to make sure products are safe, the vast majority of consumer products don’t have mandatory safety standards and many manufacturers don’t follow standards anyway. 

Here are some ways to find out about recalls, resolve a problem with a product or refund, and maybe even avoid buying an inferior product to begin with:

• Before you buy an item that’s expensive, is for a child or runs off electricity or a rechargeable battery, check for recalls on cpsc.gov/recalls and for complaints on saferproducts.gov
• Consider purchases only from known, trusted sellers or the trademark holder. Companies you’ve never heard of warrant more research. 
• Understand that online purchases are nearly always more risky because there’s not as much transparency and returns can be more difficult or impossible.
• When shopping online, read reviews about the seller and look for an address and a working U.S. phone number in case you need to contact the seller. Also, does the website or listing have multiple typos or grammatical errors? That could be a flag.
• Use extra caution when buying from online marketplaces, resale websites or shops or garage sales. It’s illegal to sell recalled products, but it happens. Check cpsc.gov/recalls before you buy. Use even more caution when buying products being shipped from overseas or from websites that seem unprofessional. International sellers may not comply with U.S. safety standards, and unethical sellers may peddle all sorts of recalled or unsafe merchandise.
• Figure out the shipping time. You may think you’re buying from within the United States. But if delivery takes weeks, it could be coming from overseas, potentially bypassing inspection at the border and documentation of safety testing.
• Read reviews about the product itself. Look at the negative reviews first. Does it break easily? Is it poor quality?
• Look at the brand’s website to find authorized retailers. If a seller isn’t on the list, the product may be a counterfeit.
• Fill out online or mail-in registrations that come with products. At least provide a secondary email if you’re concerned they’ll share your information. Then companies can contact you if there’s a recall.
• Keep receipts or other proof of purchase for large-ticket items.
• With your appliances, electronics, toys or other items used by children, and with any other category of products where recalls are common, search periodically for recalls involving your possessions on cpsc.gov/recalls and search for complaints on saferproducts.gov. New recalls get posted on cpsc.gov/recalls generally every Thursday morning.
• If you experience an issue with a product and want to warn other consumers and report it to regulators, you can file a report at saferproducts.gov
• If a product you own is recalled and you have difficulty getting your refund or other resolution, file a complaint with the CPSC.
  

See our other helpful guides to stay safe:

Counterfeit products: How to tell whether you bought one

How to recognize fake online reviews of products and services

How to find out about food recalls