How Sheltered Are Your Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses? Inexpensive Fakes from Online Marketplaces Pose a Risk, Supply Chain Experts Say

Americans from Maine to Texas will have a special occasion on April 8, 2024, when total solar eclipse will be observable in most of the United States

In old times, eclipse observers believed they were watching the Sun being swallowed by wolvesAND dragon or Demon.

Of course, we now know that the Sun doesn’t actually get eaten during an eclipse. Instead, it does what it always does: dump ultraviolet rays on anything in its path. That’s why you should never look at a solar eclipse without protective glasses.

But not just any glasses will do. To make sure you can safely watch the total solar eclipse, the American Astronomical Society has specially He warned against by purchasing eclipse viewing glasses at the lowest price on online sales platforms such as Amazon or eBay.

What’s going on? Why not save a dollar on something you’ll probably only apply once for a few minutes?

It turns out there’s a very good reason: Fraudulent counterfeits have infiltrated retail supply chains. And some of them may pose health risks.

Invasion of imitation products

As experts in supply chain managementWe know that in recent years the problem of counterfeits has become increasingly grave.

Although counterfeits can be found in brick-and-mortar stores, they are a particularly massive problem when it comes to online shopping. Amazon has removed over 6 million counterfeits from its supply chain in 2022 only.

There are several reasons. First, our recent research shows that consumers often take into account the reputation of an online retailer when assessing the quality of a product. Dishonest third-party sellers can take advantage of this fact by selling their goods through a reputable online marketplace.

Another complication comes from the fulfillment services offered by some marketplaces, such as Amazon, where third-party sellers ship their goods directly to the online retailer’s warehouse for shipping and handling. These types of fulfillment services offer a little-known benefit to retailers: If a product runs out, they can “borrow” inventory from a third-party vendor.

Unfortunately, this also means that a consumer who agrees to buy from one retailer may in fact receive goods – possibly counterfeits – from a third-party seller. Although there are no statistics showing how often this happens, there is evidence this is a grave problem.

Fortunately, customers are becoming increasingly aware of counterfeits and are increasingly urging online retailers to separate their stock of authorized sellers of goods from those that are not. For example, Amazon maintains a list of “gate“brands such as Asics and Under Armour, the sale of which requires a permit.

But these safeguards do not apply everywhere. In fact, some brands are susceptible to counterfeiting, such as Birkenstockcompletely refuse to sell their products through some online retailers. This opens the door to counterfeiters, who usually offer the lowest prices.

That’s why the American Astronomical Society recommends that eclipse viewers avoid buying protective eyewear from sellers offering the lowest prices on online marketplaces. And we completely agree. After all, imitation sunglasses can be returned, but the damage to the eyes is irreversible. In 2017, a California man wearing imitation eclipse glasses was left with retinal damage.

How to Find Sheltered Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses

If you’re looking for eclipse viewing glasses, it won’t be demanding to find a safe and sound pair. First, by buying directly from one of the American Astronomical Society approved list of brands and manufacturers is the most reliable way. Unfortunately, many of them only sell cheaper, disposable devices for viewing the solar eclipse in bulk.

If you need just one pair, the best option is to buy them in person at a vast brick-and-mortar store. Many organizations also giving away free viewersIf you decide to purchase one, make sure it is made by a manufacturer listed by the American Astronomical Society.

If you have to buy something from an online marketplace, look for proof of the manufacturer’s authorization. For example, American Paper Optics, a brand approved by the American Astronomical Society, maintains Amazon Seller List approved for resale to their viewers.

What if you’ve already bought something from an anonymous seller on Amazon? Let’s say you bought a pair of sunglasses or eclipse viewing glasses with UV protection. It’s demanding to verify the UV protection properties. Of course, there are standards and certifications, such as UV400 and ISO 12312-2 standardbut as you probably guessed, even these can be imitation. For example, you can easily buy entire rolls of UV400 stickers online.

Fortunately, most local opticians can check the sun protection properties of your sunglasses in secondsIn other words, when in doubt, verify it.