Report Summary
Consumer reports that the GFCI outlets failed. Upon researching the product they discovered they could not find a model number or whether or not they were ETL certified. Consumer believes the unit is counterfeit and a safety hazard since they aren't certified.
Product Details
- Product Description: 2 Pack - ELECTECK 15A/125V Tamper Resistant GFCI Outlet, Duplex Receptacle with LED Indicator, Decorator Wall Plate and Screws Included, Residential and Commercial Grade, ETL Certified, White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QRPXWV/
Model none
- Manufacturer/Importer/Private Labeler Name: Electeck
- Brand Name: ELECTEK / ELECTECK
- Model Name or Number: none
- Serial Number: none
- UPC Code: none on the packagin
- SKU#:
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Date Manufactured:
- Retailer: Amazon
- Retailer State:
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Purchase Date:
12/1/2018
- Product Category: Home Maintenance and Structures
- Product Type: Electrical Systems
- Product Code: Electric Outlets or Receptacles (4061)
Incident Details
- Incident Description: I purchased a GFCI outlet from Amazon in December 2018. The outlet failed last month (scorched, but did not cause a fire). When I took a closer look at the instructions/packaging and the outlet itself so I could report the failure to Amazon, I couldn't find a model number anywhere. I thought this was unusual, so I started investigating.
The Amazon listing of this product, as well as the printed instructions, say that the product was Intertek ETL certified. I contacted Intertek to confirm that the product actually passed their tests. I communicated with [[REDACTED NAME], CFE, Coordinator/Claims Associate, Electrical & Wireless – Certification Department, ETL. Her contact info is [REDACTED CONTACT INFO] . [REDACTED] confirmed that this was a counterfeit product that was not ETL certified.
I attempted to reach out to Amazon in several different ways. First I sent an email that went unanswered. Then I started contacting Amazon customer service several times on the phone and through chat. They kept telling me "we will alert the proper department" but nobody gave me specifics. Nobody ever got back to me. I've done quite a bit of [REDACTED] searching and some investigating on Amazon's site, and they don't seem to care too much about giving customers an easy way to report counterfeit products.
Since this is an electrical receptacle that's connected directly to a house's wiring, a failure could be catastrophic -- causing house fires. I need to report this to someone, and keep Amazon from selling this product.
Here is the product I purchased. It's being sold in multiple listings on Amazon (close to 50 of them) by the same seller. They're selling them in a 2-pack, a 5-pack, a 10-pack, different specs, etc. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QRPXWV/. They're all called ELECTEK (or in some places ELECTECK). The packaging for the product says ELECTEK but the Amazon listing says ELECTECK -- yet another clue this isn't a legit product.
I have more information regarding this product that I'd be happy to share. Product packaging, instructions, the units themselves, etc. Plus my correspondence with Intertek.
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Incident Date:
6/1/2020
- Incident Location: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Victims Involved
-
- Injury Information: Incident, No Injury
- My Relationship to the Victim: Unspecified
- Sex: Unknown
- Victim's Age When Incident Occurred:
Comments from the Manufacturer/Private Labeler
Additional Details
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Submitter has product?:
Yes
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Product was damaged before incident?:
No
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Product was modified before incident?:
No
- If yes to any, explanation: I cannot locate the manufacturer
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Have you contacted the manufacturer?:
No
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If Not, Do you plan to?:
No
- Report Number: 20200731-FA46B-2147370765
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Report Date:
7/31/2020
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Sent to Manufacturer/Importer/Private Labeler:
8/21/2020
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Report First Publication Date:
9/4/2020
- Category of Submitter: Consumer
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