Contents:
You'll be cuddling your new baby, sleeping horizontally and wearing real shoes very soon. We live in a world where anything we want can be ordered online, and if that item is too expensive cheaper, knock-off versions of all kinds of everyday products are just a scroll away. A counterfeit purse or a cheaply made pair of shoes probably isn't going to hurt the end user, but a fake car seat absolutely could, and unfortunately, they're ending up in the back seats of parents' cars.
Luke's Children's Hospital had come across two families in possession of brand-new car seats that were missing vital safety features including five-point harness chest clips , Motherly began looking into where such car seats are coming from and why American consumers would be buying them. Our investigation revealed that both generic knock-offs and more sophisticated counterfeit versions of specific high-end car seats are sold by third-parties through popular and trusted online retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
The good news? If you know what you're looking for these fakes are easy to spot and avoid, and when we alerted Amazon and Walmart. The car seat technicians with St. Luke's Pediatric Education and Prevention Programs in Idaho could not believe what they were seeing when they came across the first fake car seat.
For people who deal with car seats day in and day out, the missing chest clip was a dead giveaway that something was wrong, but for new parents who don't have much experience with car seats, it's an easy thing to miss. Luke's, the first car seat was noticed by a car seat tech who was helping the parents of a newborn baby prepare to leave the hospital. She noticed it was missing its chest clip, and was quite flimsy. Bryan says the family explained that the car seat was part of a three-part travel system they'd received as a gift.
They were told the gift-giver had ordered it through Amazon. The travel system was branded as "SafePlus," a name similar to a product line of a popular European brand. The car seat tech at St. Luke's told the disappointed family their car seat was not safe for use. That was on a Friday. The following Monday St. Luke's was doing a car seat check event in Meridian, Idaho when a mom approached with her seat.
While car seats can only be traded in at a Target store, the coupons picked up can be applied to both in-store and online purchases. With bottles that are safe for the top rack of the dishwasher , cleaning them is as easy as letting the machine work for you. Lauren Levy September 7, at This site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The exact travel system that St.
She was looking for some reassurance after a friend had questioned the safety of the seat. The mom was disappointed to learn that her fancy leather travel system again, given as a gift , wasn't safe for her baby. The families involved told St. The exact travel system that St. Luke's had come across was also listed on Walmart. Again, both Amazon and Walmart promptly removed the links to the items in question when Motherly alerted the retailers, but similar items can still be found online.
But these systems may seem inexpensive when compared to some trendy high-end brands with a similar silhouette and bassinet attachment. That's the case when it comes to the Doona. One Amazon reviewer seemed very pleased with a fake knock off Doona they purchased the listing was removed when Motherly alerted Amazon to it.
In a review dated December 29, , the purchaser wrote: It's easy to collapse and put into any vehicle and strap it down without any issues.
I'm putting it to good use and getting my money's worth. Mazar's team has tested multiple counterfeit versions of the Doona in the same lab they use to test the real thing. The dupes failed flammability tests, tested positive for dangerous chemicals in the textiles, and in the crash test the dummy babies fell right out of the car seats.
Those making the fake car seats use materials that appear to be similar to those used on the real thing but aren't as strong or fire-retardant as the authentic version. This results in expensive dupes that offer little actual protection to babies, and according to Mazar, can actually be more dangerous. They for sure, one hundred percent are unsafe," says Mazar. The sale of counterfeit and unsafe car seats is something the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of and taking steps to prevent.
At the retail level, both Amazon and Walmart tell Motherly they too are concerned about third-party sellers using their sites to sell unsafe car seats. We expect that all products, including items sold by third-party marketplace sellers, comply with legal regulations and safety standards. After investigating these items, that were sold by third-party sellers, we have removed them for not complying with our policy. An Amazon spokesperson provided a similar statement: Selling partners are required to comply with all relevant laws and regulations when listing items for sale in our stores.
Those who do not will be subject to action, including removal of selling privileges and withholding of funds. The items in question have been removed. The specific links that Motherly highlighted have been removed, but the problem persists. We checked both sites again the morning of February 14, and still found listings for other non-compliant car seats.
Look for the proper labels: According to the NHTSA, "parents should always check for labeling that states 'This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards' on the warning label with a yellow header. If a label with this statement is not present on the seat, it is likely a counterfeit or noncompliant seat. Do not buy it or return.
Non-compliant seats often feature poorly worded safety labels that seem to have been translated to English from another language. Strange or generic brand or seller names: The car seats in Idaho were branded "SafePlus," and one of the online listings for it was titled: Josie Bryan from St. Luke's recommends that parents research which brand names are sold in brick-and-mortar U. When you're buying something on Amazon or Walmart. Instead, look for items that are shipped and sold by the retailer itself.
Serial numbers to register your product: If you've received a car seat as a gift, one way you can be certain of its authenticity is to register the product with the manufacturer using its unique serial number. According to the folks at Doona, the most sophisticated counterfeit operations will often print copies of the stickers that belong on the Doona, but they will use a serial number already in use or a fake serial number. Registering your product's serial number allows you to check its authenticity, and allows the manufacturer to contact you if there is ever a recall or issue impacting your car seat.
Bryan recommends parents purchase through brick-and-mortar stores. For online purchases, Mazar suggests parents check a brand's website to make sure the site they're purchasing through is an authorized retailer of the brand. Related Topics: Police investigating whether Smollett staged attack with help of others. Officials considering closing Highway 37 after levee breach in Novato. Neighbors feel lucky to be alive after Sausalito mudslide. Track the rain on Live Doppler 7. Building a Better Bay Area: BART Week. AC Transit investigating bus driver who drove through flooded intersection.
I did have to order them in separate transactions. I purchased a different color online than the one they carried in the store to get it for a slightly lower price. Thanks so much for sharing your score with us! Super happy you could grab the savings!
Is this a good deal or a great deal? It varies depending on which car seat you are looking at but for many of them it is a great deal and one of the cheapest prices you will see all year. Love it! It will fit both of our older kids, with just a strap readjustment. Hi there!
Shop for britax car seat coupon online at Target. Free shipping on purchases over $35 and save 5% every day with your Target REDcard. Shop for graco car seat coupons online at Target. Free shipping on purchases over $35 and save 5% every day with your Target REDcard.
I just spoke with customer service to be certain! You can trade in a car seat base to grab a coupon! Looking for Amazon or Paypal. Jmfrey gmail. Your email address will not be published. Respond to this post. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! What are ya waiting for?! Latest Deals. Reader Fav.
Latest Coupons Coupons. Latest Coupons. Print Now. Hip2Save Tested. Latest Recipes. Team Fav. Easy Air Fryer Empanadas. Latest Tips.
Good Luck. About Us. How Coupons Saved My Life. Subscribe to Newsletter Login Register. Sep 09, 9: Shopping for a new car seat? Share this: