Electrical products on bol.com: how it works & what you need to know
Selling electrical products on bol.com can be very profitable. Often, there are nice margins on these products, especially if you can import them from China. Electrical products tend to sell like hotcakes. However, there are a few things you need to pay extra attention to when selling electrical goods.
You are responsible
First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that you're responsible as an importer when you import a (electrical) product from outside the European Union. For this reason, you should always strive for good quality products and the accompanying documentation. Your products must always be safe for the European market.
CE Marking
To ensure safety, all electrical goods you sell on the European market must have a CE marking. A CE marking indicates whether a product complies with European laws and stands for Conformité Européenne.
The definition of a CE marking has two goals. The first goal is to promote the free movement of goods within Europe, and the second goal is to harmonize legislation within Europe regarding product safety and health.
The CE marking is recognizable by the CE logo and must always be on the product itself or on a data plate (sticker) attached to it. If this is not technically possible, a CE marking on the product packaging is also sufficient.
Products with a CE marking may be traded in the entire EEA (all EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). If a product does not meet European requirements, it simply cannot be sold in Europe.
Your supplier and a CE Marking
When you import a product from outside the EEA, you need to check if the manufacturer has applied the CE marking correctly. A tip is to always ask your supplier to send you the documents stating that the product has a CE marking.
If you import from China, there may be misleading signs. Instead of 'Conformité Européenne', the CE stands for 'China Export'. The difference between these signs is crucial, as they are not the same thing!
The first step is to find out if your product is eligible for CE certification. If you offer electrical goods or toys, you can assume that your product needs a CE marking.
The CE marking must always be applied by the manufacturer. It doesn't matter if the manufacturer is based inside or outside the EEA. When importing products from outside the EEA, we as the official importer are required to be responsible for ensuring all documents and certificates are in order.
Getting a CE Marking
The guideline for obtaining a CE marking is that the manufacturer (or importer) has their products tested by a 'notified body'. A notified body is an independent, government-appointed testing authority. These authorities conduct tests that the manufacturer must pay for.
Among other things, the tests check the safety, health, and environmental aspects of the products. For electrical goods, for example, it is not allowed to cause disturbing electromagnetic radiation.
It's possible that the manufacturer will pay you to conduct these tests. If you have a private label product, it's recommended to have these tests carried out in China, as long as it's done through official international institutions, of course. In China, having these tests conducted by the same international institutions is significantly cheaper than in Europe.
Important to know
A good supplier often knows exactly which EU standards their product must meet, but it's always necessary to double-check this yourself. So, always ask for the test reports and verify their authenticity and validity.
Make sure you always have the correct safety regulations in place for your products. The user manuals must be written in the language of the country where your product is being sold. This is because it's crucial that the user can read what they need to do in potentially hazardous situations that can't be avoided with the product.
Cheap can be expensive
If you want to offer electrical products on bol.com, you should carefully consider whether this is a product that is well-made in terms of quality. It's recommended to find a manufacturer that's a bit more expensive but has everything in order, rather than a cheap manufacturer that doesn't have the right documents.
Since importing electrical products comes with significant risks, it's wise to consider whether you think this risk is worth it. Selling electrical products on bol.com is possible and can be very lucrative, but prioritize the safety and documentation of your products.
