Counterfeit laptop batteries that do not comply with American standards are a potential threat to consumers. That’s because they evade government standards for user safety. Of course, illegal batteries might also be perfectly safe. However, we have no way to be sure of this without independent validation. Moreover, if we do not act responsibly they could even invalidate our guarantees.
It’s Everybody’s Duty to Avoid Counterfeit Laptop Batteries
American consumers lose hands down when they purchase laptop batteries that bypass American safety standards. They may be cheaper, but they could cost more in several other ways.
For example, they could overheat, and damage sensitive electronic circuits, thereby invalidating guarantees. They could also catch fire and cause serious damage raising the eyebrows of an astute insurance assessor. Even more importantly they could cost an American their job in the legitimate supply chain. Therefore, purchasing counterfeit laptop batteries has financial, economic and social consequences.
So Is This Actually a Serious Threat Then?
We don’t really know although we suspect many illegal imports ‘slip through under the radar’. Los Angeles Daily News reported a case involving $24 million’s worth of fake Dell and Apple batteries on December 21, 2019.
The sheer volume of batteries selling from a La Puerte warehouse stunned investigators. The illegally trademarked batteries allegedly came from a China factory and were marketed on Amazon and eBay openly. Los Angeles Daily News claims the products did not have internal protection to prevent high temperatures potentially causing fire and explosions.
The case is breaking news and there is little more we know at the time of writing. The crime realized over $23.8 million sales of counterfeit laptop batteries between 2014 and 2019. The offense carries statutory federal imprisonment up to a maximum 50 years if proven. We encourage prosecution in cases where criminals deny legitimate business their markets.
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