Recent Membership "Free Gift"

[StevenJ123409]

 In todays mail, I received an envelope from AARP, which contained a "free gift" for renewing our membership.

It was a circular power tap, with three 120V outlets and three USB ports, for operating connected devices. It also had a top-surface on-off switch and a rather short 24" long cord.

While the utility of the device is well taken, as is the thought behind send something to new and renewing members, I must ask one question - Who made the decision to purchase and distribute a cord-connected appliance which shows no evidence whatsoever of a third-party safety Listing? There is an "FCC" logo on the bottom, implying that it meets interference requirements, but no trace of a UL, ETL, CSA or any other credible third-party safety assessment entity.

What happens if one of these things overloads and catches fire? Who's going to take the "heat," besides the poor member who used it?

I think everyone "assumes" the products they by are safe, but in a cost-conscious, outsourced world as ours, there are too many cheap products, made without due diligence applied, placed into the hands of unsuspecting consumers. 

Why is AARP participating in this type of behavior? Were Listed product "too expensive?"

[MacGuyver55]

I also had a problem with a free Membership Gift a few years ago. It was a multi USB charging station. The unit got so hot during use that I took to placing a trivet beneath it to dissipate the heat, and the entire unit ceased functioning within two weeks. I have just renewed our membership, and the SAME "gift" is being offered. I think I'll be throwing it out without using it.

I think AARP should be exercising A LOT MORE CARE in choosing promotional items!

[GwendolynH6229]

Thanks, for sharing your knowledge concerning the need of safety inspected approval over the electrical gift that is being distributed to an audience of elderly people. We often take it for granted that we are receiving a product that has been inspected for safety and government approved. You mentioned that there was a FCC" logo found but no third-party safety listing, something that I would not have checked for nor understood. Thank you for making me aware of the issue. I will pay close attention to the product when mines arrive.

[neko72]

My father travelled diligently in NE, for UL the oldest independent testing agency in the US.  He worked there for many decades!  Your point is well taken about the safety of any gift.

[StevenJ123409]

I also recently retired after serving UL for 27 years, working to make Solar Electric Power Generation Panels safe for installation on homes and businesses. That's why these issues matter to me personally. 

[neko72]

My father was Laurence Brown, out of the Boston office.  He retired around '82.  He used to go on location to many mills, mainly to test wiring and switches.  Besides all the wiring, he worked on things as small as the animated Annalee Dolls up to the size of fire engines!  I fondly recall as a child, when fiber optic strands were first created/extruded, he brought home a small foot long bundle of fiber.  We made a little lamp from it which splayed tiny light dots all over the room, pretty exciting!  My grandfather was an electrician, my father as well and also my husband.  I was the kid who stuck pins in a socket to see what would happen 😕.