Christmas is fast approaching. So too are annoying cheery carols, late night trading hours, and novelty reindeer car costumes.
But in your exhausted Santa-esque state, there’s something shifty you need to be aware of when filling your kid’s stockings this festive season.
Dodgy, counterfeit toys.
It turns out that a range of Melbourne retailers are stocking dangerous fake action figures which do not comply with safety standards. So, if you see a toy modelled off the Star Wars, LEGO, Avengers, Minecraft, Superman, Pokemon, Nintendo or Disney franchises, you might want to take a closer look.
Because that LEGO set actually might not be LEGO… but LEBQ.
This is something parents need to keep an eye on, according to Tom Godfrey, a spokesperson for consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
“Counterfeits are getting more sophisticated,” he told News.com.au.
“So in some cases the toys may well look good from the outside, but what we find is that they won’t meet any of the safety standards. Genuine toys will have all the materials tested, all using the types of plastic that are known to be safe. Counterfeit goods haven’t gone through any of these tests, and so they won’t have an approved mark on the back showing the suitable age range for the product.”
If shopping isn’t your thing, you could always take a leaf out of Jimmy Kimmel’s book this festive season…
So, while the cheaper Star Wars figurines might be tempting at first, they could be putting your kids at risk.
“Genuine toys go through drop testing to see if it’s possible for them to splinter into small pieces, and then a sharps test to check if any of the items pose a danger.
“These requirements change by age, so you’d be looking at whether a small child can take a piece off and put it in their mouth. Counterfeit toys haven’t been put through any of this, so they’re really taking a child’s life into their hands.”
The best way to tell if something’s legit or a cheap knock-off? The price (…unfortunately).
Have you been tricked into buying a fake toy before?
Top Comments
It has nothing to do with them being cheaper.. And everything to do with them not being tested to insure they are an acceptable standard.. Every year we see headlines with small children choking on toys from sub standard suppliers.. Buy less and buy quality.. Would you rather have many many presents under your tree of questionable quality? Or a handful that your children can play with safely?
I have bought these Lego figurines for my son, and I can tell you that we are fine - the house hasn't fallen down around us, he has managed to not put the small pieces in his mouth or anywhere else inside his body. There's nothing wrong with these toys.
We live near a shop where most things are $1, including these Lego men. The area the shop is in, is in the top 18% of disadvantaged suburbs in Australia. So Michelle, there s actually a side to this that you don't see. You may see thes as counterfeit toys, but children only see them as toys. the $1 shop is a godsend to families around here, it means their children can have a few extra pressies to open on Christmas morning, instead of the stuff sent to them by various charity organisations.
I actually work for one of the local charity organisations mentioned above, and I can tell you first hand, the kids LOVE the little Lego figurines from the $1 shop, and their mums and dads have said that it makes birthdays and Christmas much easier.
Michelle, when you have nothing - sometimes a $1 Lego figurine is the world to a child. Consider all angels when writing an article next time
x x
The article is not saying you shouldn't buy cheap toys; it's saying that these particular ones listed could be dangerous as they have not been properly tested under Australian guidelines and could therefore pose a health and safety risk to children. It's not just about them being counterfeit, it's about them potentially being physically dangerous.
Thanks for replying. I understand what the article was about. I more than understand the health and safety risks involved, being a nurse for 10 years prior to social services.
I was sharing MY experience :)
Lots of toys on the Australian market are potentially dangerous. Nerf guns, for example, could injure an eye. Supersoakers, another example, could harbour water bourne bacteria resulting in eye and respiratory infections. A wooden "Wiggles" guitar snapped and pierced in a 3 year olds buttocks requiring surgical removal. These are things I have witnessed first hand while working. Not toys I would buy for my child knowing that, but each to their own
Again, just sharing my experience with these Lego figurines (and the 6-7 other brands not mentioned in this informative article) and sets (no... they weren't mentioned either) which were purchased from regional NSW (so probably available Australia-wide, not just Melbourne), and experiences shared with me.