In today's digital world, it's easier than ever to click home products from all over the world – often at temptingly low prices. But behind the cheap price tag and fast delivery from faraway countries, there are risks that many consumers are unaware of. Here's why you should think twice before ordering products shipped directly from abroad:
1. Lowest price may mean lower safety standards
Not all countries have the same rules and requirements for product safety as Sweden or the EU. Products manufactured and sold in other parts of the world do not have to meet our strict requirements – especially not when they are shipped directly to you as a private individual. This could mean that the product you buy is made of hazardous materials, flammable or even life-threatening to use in the home.
2. Direct imports bypass Swedish safety tests
When a company sends products directly from, for example, Asia to you as a customer in Sweden, they do not have to undergo the mandatory safety tests and CE markings that are required to sell the product in Swedish stores. This means that no one has checked whether the product is really safe to use according to Swedish regulations. And if something happens – you are completely on your own.
3. False material descriptions and misleading information
Without any independent scrutiny, companies are free to claim whatever they want about their products. Many describe their goods as “organic,” “non-toxic,” or “certified” – but in reality, there is no one to verify the veracity of these claims. So you might think you are buying something safe and sustainable, when in fact the opposite is true.
4. No customer service, no help, no protection
If something goes wrong – if the product doesn’t work, if it never arrives, or if it causes damage – you are completely unprotected. Swedish consumer laws don’t apply when you buy directly from a foreign company that doesn’t have a base in the EU. There is no customer service to contact, no Swedish Consumer Agency to help you, and it is almost impossible to get your money back.
So what should you do instead?
To protect yourself, your family and your wallet: buy from Swedish or EU-based companies that follow our laws and regulations. Sure, the price may be slightly higher – but the security, quality and consumer protection you get in return is invaluable.
Choosing safe products is not only an investment in your own safety – it is also a way to support responsible production and sustainable trade.
