I’ve been trying to get my hands on as many viral products from TikTok shop as possible, to give you the most honest reviews possible. The latest one to get sent to me is the shiatsu massager.
I’ve seen countless reviews from countless creators absolutely adoring the €40 neck massager. And after a few minutes with it, i can understand why. It’s not bad. The design seems clever, with arm loops that both give you a great way to rest your arms but also a natural way to ensure the massager has enough pressure to satisfy tired neck muscles.
Oh, how I wish this review could continue to go the positive route.
First, I have massive doubts about just how good the motors are on this machine. Whether or not they’ll last over a few months is anybodies guess. The massager has a heat setting, but while I’ve seen the red light, I’ve never felt any heat off it.
Far more concerning is the simple fact that TikTok shop sent me a massager that has a 2-prong EU charger. There wasn’t a proper Irish 3-prong plug, or even an adapter to make allow it to work. As it was shipped to me, the only way to make it work would have been bypassing socket safety – an obvious no no.
The power connector is bespoke too, not a common connection like USB-C, ultimately meaning that TikTok shop has stood idly by while a seller sent me a product in an unfit manner.
I contacted the CCPC for comment and they said, “electrical goods sold in Ireland must be safe and suitable for use in Irish sockets (Type G, 230V) under the European Union (Low Voltage Electrical Equipment) Regulations 2016 and domestic legislation on plugs and sockets. Mains powered appliances sold to Irish consumers must be compatible with a standard three-pin wall socket. If a product has a two-pin EU plug, it should not be sold to consumers in Ireland. Electric shavers and electric toothbrushes are exempt and may be supplied with a moulded-on 2-pin Europlug designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit.
In relation to TikTok Shop, sellers must obey local regulations in the market where the product is sold. For Ireland, this means meeting CE conformity and safety standards for electrical products and meeting domestic requirements for the correct plug type.
If a consumer receives a product with an EU plug, it is not fit for purpose without a safety approved conversion plug being fitted, and they should report it to the CCPC and contact the seller for a refund or replacement under the Consumer Rights Act 2022″.
So. Can I call this a review? No. Because simply put you can’t nor shouldn’t be buying any of these.
