How to stay safe while shopping this Christmas.
With the recent reports of online sellers attempting to make a profit from selling dangerous items, it’s important for consumers, and particularly parents to ensure that any toys or electronic items that they’re purchasing are safe for use.
This week, second-hand selling experts at for-sale.co.uk share their five expert tips with us on making sure your children’s toys are safe this Christmas.
1. Don’t buy fake versions of sold out toys.
Criminals often exploit the surge in demand for must-have toys, especially if they are sold out.
Don’t buy these fake versions as they won’t have met any safety regulations and can include dangerous materials and pose choking or strangulation risks to your children.
Another tip is if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is and there may be a chance the product is counterfeit.
2. Clean the toys.
If possible, wipe down and sanitise your children’s toys before wrapping them to make sure you get rid of any nasty germs, especially if you are a last minute shopper.
Covid-19 can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours and on metal and plastics for up to 72 hours.
3. Always read the warnings.
Read the label and check the toys for any choking hazards, such as small batteries, eyes on teddies, marbles and dice etc.
Many toys also have an age restriction which is marked based on risks such as choking.
4. Read reviews.
Reviews are a great way to get an insight into the product you are buying.
Parents often leave reviews if the products were suitable or unsuitable for their children, as well as leave warnings for future buyers.
Reviews are a great way to also find out if the retailer has a good reputation.
5. Set up smart security.
If you’re buying your child a gadget such as a laptop or iPad make sure you set up parental controls, this helps keep your child safe and protects your bank account!
It’s also important to watch out for scams when buying toys, especially online.
Make sure the payment page is secure by checking the page starts with ‘https’ and has a closed padlock.
