Americans from Maine to Texas could have the chance to experience a rare treat on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will likely be visible across much of the United States
In precedent days, eclipse observers thought they were watching the Sun being devoured wolvesAND dragon or Demon.
Of course, we now know that the Sun just isn’t actually eaten during an eclipse. Instead, it does what it all the time does: shine ultraviolet rays on every thing in its path. Therefore, it’s best to never take a look at a solar eclipse without protective glasses.
But not only any glasses will do. The American Astronomical Society has made special arrangements for you to soundly enjoy the overall solar eclipse warned against buying eclipse glasses at the bottom price on online marketplaces resembling Amazon or eBay.
What gives? Why not save a buck on something you’ll likely only use once every couple of minutes?
Turns out, there’s a superb reason for this: fraudulent counterfeit products have made their way into retail supply chains. And a few of them may pose a health risk.
Invasion of faux products
As experts in supply chain managementWe know that counterfeiting has turn into an increasing problem in recent times.
While counterfeit products could be present in brick-and-mortar stores, they are an especially big problem in online marketplaces. Amazon has removed over 6 million counterfeit products from the supply chain only in 2022
There are several reasons for this. First, our recent research shows this consumers are often guided by the status of an online retailer when assessing product quality. Dishonest third-party sellers can benefit from this fact by selling their goods through a reputable online marketplace.
Another complication arises from success services offered by some marketplaces resembling Amazon, where third-party sellers directly ship their goods to the online retailer’s warehouse for shipping and handling. These forms of success services offer retailers a little-known profit: If a product runs out of stock, they’ll “borrow” from the resources of a third-party seller.
Unfortunately, this also signifies that a consumer who agrees to purchase from one seller may very well receive the products – possibly counterfeit goods – from a third party seller. While there are no statistics showing how often this happens, there may be evidence that is a significant problem.
Fortunately, customers are becoming more aware of counterfeit products and are increasingly urging online sellers to separate their stock of authorized sellers from those who are not. For example, Amazon maintains a list of “fenced” resembling Asics and Under Armor, which require authorization before they could be sold.
But these protections don’t apply in every single place. In fact, some brands are vulnerable to counterfeits, resembling Birkenstock, they completely refuse to sell their products through some online sellers. This leaves room for counterfeiters, who often offer the bottom prices.
That’s why the American Astronomical Society recommends eclipse watchers avoid buying safety glasses from low-end sellers on online platforms. And we completely agree. After all, counterfeit sunglasses could be returned, however the damage to your eyes is everlasting. In 2017, a man in California wore fake eclipse glasses left with retinal damage.
How to seek out safe solar eclipse glasses
If you are searching for eclipse glasses, finding a safe pair is not difficult. First, buy directly from one among the American Astronomical Society approved list of brands and manufacturers that is essentially the most reliable way. Unfortunately, a lot of them only sell cheaper, disposable solar eclipse viewers in bulk.
If you would like one pair, your most suitable choice is to buy it in person from a major brick-and-mortar retailer. Many organizations do too giving freely free viewers. If you select one, be sure it was produced by a manufacturer listed by the American Astronomical Society.
If it’s essential to make a purchase on an online marketplace, search for proof of manufacturer authorization. For example, it’s maintained by American Paper Optics, a brand approved by the American Astronomical Society Amazon seller list approved for resale to your viewers.
What in the event you’ve already purchased something from an anonymous seller on Amazon? Let’s say you acquire a pair of sunglasses or eclipse glasses with UV protection. It is difficult to confirm the UV protection properties. Sure, there are standards and certifications resembling UV400 and ISO 12312-2, but as you almost certainly guessed, even these could be faked. For example, you possibly can easily buy whole rolls of UV400 stickers online.
Fortunately, most local opticians can do that Test the UV protection properties of your sunglasses in only a few seconds. In other words, when unsure, confirm.
