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Amazon and country of origin?

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Steveglw
Steveglw Posts: 13 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary First Post
edited 2 June 2020 at 1:58PM in Consumer rights
I'm now starting to pay attention to the country of origin before I buy anything now especially made in China. I thought by law you had to mention the country of origin but I cannot find anywhere on amazon the country of origin before buying.... Is this allowed? 
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Comments

  • unforeseen
    unforeseen Posts: 7,381 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Items may need to have country of origin on them but there is nothing to say that their has to be any mention in the marketing/advertising of said product
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 2 June 2020 at 2:16PM
    I think the specific rules depend on the sort of item you're talking about, and as above I doubt a website generally needs to tell you in advance.

    Not sure how much it helps you anyway as you get things like clothing items which qualify as "Made in UK" because the buttons were sewn on here.
  • Lomast
    Lomast Posts: 870 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    To be honest country of origin is not always a good indicator anyway, I personally know and have dealt with a factory in Shenzhen that knocks out absolutely top of the line products and another in Germany that makes parts I would not touch with a barge pole
  • Spank
    Spank Posts: 1,751 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OP do you mean where it was made or where it's shipped from?
  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    OP you need to be aware that not buying stuff made in China can be rather problematic .
    IPhone  etc is in no way China free . Your post to this forum has possible gone through a couple of Huawei connectors .
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Steveglw said:
    I'm now starting to pay attention to the country of origin before I buy anything now especially made in China. I thought by law you had to mention the country of origin but I cannot find anywhere on amazon the country of origin before buying.... Is this allowed? 
    Well you're going to have a very small shopping list in future then, especially from Amazon.
  • mattyprice4004
    mattyprice4004 Posts: 7,492 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I owned an online retailer for 7 years, and there's no legislation that stipulates I must say where the product was made (and frankly this can change, so I'd be forever updating things). 
  • Mickey666
    Mickey666 Posts: 2,834 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Photogenic First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Lomast said:
    To be honest country of origin is not always a good indicator anyway, I personally know and have dealt with a factory in Shenzhen that knocks out absolutely top of the line products and another in Germany that makes parts I would not touch with a barge pole
    Absolutely right.  Because places like China have built their manufacturing industries relatively recently they have bought in all the very latest production equipment and techniques and are world class, if not world-leading.  People may have many reasons for not buying goods made in China but quality is not one of them.  Similarly places like India.  While the UK struggles to roll out superfast broadband and is seriously disadvantaged by all the legacy copper twisted-pair connecting our homes and businesses, 'Developing' countries just leap-frog right to the front of the technology queue and install the latest and greatest.

  • Steveglw
    Steveglw Posts: 13 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary First Post
    Thanks to everyone for your comments. I have spoken to a trading standards officer in Glasgow who confirmed there is no legislation for any goods being sold (apart from food products) mandating them to state their country of manufacture or origin. They can only get involved for false information therefore misleading the public. I think this is absolutely ridiculous that we the consumer have no way of finding out where it was made till it arrives but even then there is no guarantee of a mention of country of origin.

    This is not me being anti Chinese but I would like to have the option based on my own personal ethical reasons whether to buy the product or not.

    Looks like I need to speak to my local MP and get the ball rolling as it looks like noone else is taking on that challenge... I'm a bit bored now and always like a challenge so wish me luck... 😂 

    Steve
  • pinkshoes
    pinkshoes Posts: 20,527 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    On Amazon it's quite easy to tell by looking at the delivery date. All the UK companies have much shorter delivery date estimates than the goods coming from China, but higher prices! 

    e.g. I was looking for a widget recently. They all seemed to have the same stock photo, but the more expensive ones were the ones with quick delivery dates, so I can only assume someone in the UK has bought these products in bulk then is marking up the price with their niche of quick delivery.
    Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
    Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')

    No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)
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