What's wrong with fakes?

[whogrewoutoftheterribletwos]

Not trying to start an argument. Just genuinely interested. Have been looking on ebay at ergo carriers and ergo knock offs. Has anyone been happy with a fake? Or are they all just crap. Don't really want to spend £££ on one and even second hand they seem to go for £50+

They havent been through the very extensive testing that genuine ones have, the buckles/stitching etc could break and fail whilst carrying your baby.

That said, i know people have used them without knowing and been happy, im just not sure it is worth the risk. You can pick up 2nd hand ergos for £65/£70

They use dyes and materials too toxic for babies to suck (babies often chew on sling straps etc)

1. fake goods are illegal, and tend to fund all kinds of other nasty things. It's pretty immoral (imo) to knowingly buy fake goods

2. you don't know what the quality is like. it'll be cheaper for a reason, and when it's something like a baby carrier you really need to be sure it's going to be safe

3. if anything did go wrong you'd have no comeback

4. you don't know (dependent on where they're made) what dyes and things could be used to colour them. your baby might suck on it.

5. they're worth the money ;-)

I get the quality isn't quite the same but has anyone actually had one break on them? It's just that £65-70 feels like an awful lot to spend on second hand!

Safety doubts

ah x-post. The dyes thing is something I hadn't considered. TY

Not worth the risk to the baby's safety in my opinion. Th dye could be poisonous or it could break.

Bundaberg put it far better than me!

there is a FB group called Affordable baby slings (or something along those lines!) join that, if you haven't already, you might grab a bargain :)

also bear in mind that when you come to sell it you'll get back a large proportion of your money too.

I've a chicco go carrier cost £18 from eBay brand new and even with my jippy back I've had no problems.

Just so you know it doesn't have to be the huge brands :)

This is a great website for help. Some of the cheap ones are really not good for your baby as they do not allow them to be carried knee to knee and carrying them facing out is also really bad for the hips of your baby.

ruckingmarvellous.com/?page_id=84

Thanks for your replies. DD is 20 weeks and she's getting a bit big for the baby bjorn carrier my friend lent us. Also, it hurts my back quite a bit. I was looking for something that will also do as a backpack-type carrier as she gets bigger, which is why I thought of the Ergo. I've sent a request to that FB page and will check out some of the local second hand sales too.

I ended up with mastitus due to unwittingly buying a very good ergo fake. The straps were not on evenly and one of the buckles dug into my breast causing a blockage. I was lucky to get my money back and bought a genuine ergo from a registered stockist. It was so so much better.

The fact that counterfeit goods are often a source of revenue for groups like drug cartels, gangs, terrorists and other such paragons of human virtue. I had no problem whatsoever with fakes before I started talking to someone whose job it was to bust fake good rings and then did research into it. Now, I can't in good conscience buy one. If I can't afford the real thing, I do without or scale down.

There are other legitimate, good quality carriers in the style of the Ergo for better prices. Connecta, Rose & Rebellion, Action Baby Carrier, Patapum etc.