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motorise my blinds

Why Big Retailers Are Still Selling Non-Compliant Blind Motors in Australia — And Why No One’s Stopping Them

  • Writer: Craig Radcliff
    Craig Radcliff
  • Jun 12
  • 4 min read

Posted bPosted by Craig Radcliff, Owner – Motorise My BlindsSmall business owner advocating for compliance and consumer safety.


🚨 The Problem

Right now in Australia, major retailers — including Amazon, Bunnings, and Spotlight — are openly selling non-compliant blind motors that appear to breach Australian electrical safety laws.Right now in Australia, major retailers — including Amazon, Bunnings, and Spotlight — are openly selling non-compliant blind motors that appear to breach Australian electrical safety laws.

These products:

  • Lack the RCM mark — a legal requirement for all electrical and RF devices

  • Are not registered in the EESS database, meaning they may not meet Australian standards and may not be legally permitted for sale

  • Contain lithium-ion batteries, a known fire risk when poorly manufactured

  • Are sold with no Responsible Supplier registered in Australia, which is required by law

These appear to be non-compliant devices being sold in plain sight — and regulators have been made aware.

Despite formal complaints, no action has been taken.


📋 Evidence of Non-Compliant Blind Motors Being Sold in Australia

Between March 11–18, 2025, I submitted formal complaints to:

  • EESS (Electrical Equipment Safety System)

  • ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority)

  • ERAC (Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council)

  • ACCC (Product Safety Australia)

In these reports, I:

  • Named specific products and model numbers

  • Provided product URLs, photos, and database results

  • Identified suppliers (e.g., Amazon Export Sales LLC, Windoware)

  • Explained legal obligations for retailers and importers

Their responses:

  • EESS said some products weren’t "in-scope" despite including lithium batteries and RF chips

  • ACMA refused to verify anything without a detailed list — which I provided

  • ACCC auto-replied and said they might share the report

  • ERAC simply redirected me back to state authorities

I gave regulators everything. They still did nothing.

These three product lines were the focus:

  • DM25DS RV Motors sold by Amazon Export Sales LLC via Amazon.com.au (not a third party)

  • Selections Roller Motor Kit from Spotlight

  • Riva-branded roller motors sold in-store by Bunnings, linked to Windoware

And these are just a few — many more appear to be sold across eBay, AliExpress and beyond.

EESS database search showing no Responsible Supplier listing for Amazon Export Sales LLC, the direct seller of motorised blind motors on Amazon.com.au.
EESS Responsible Supplier search result showing no listing for 'Amazon Export Sales LLC' — the seller of DM25DS RV Motors on Amazon.com.au.

🔥 The Fire Risk No One Is Talking About

Most of these motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries — the same kind involved in e-bike and scooter fires.

Many are sold without verified:

  • Battery certification

  • Charging circuit protection

  • RF compliance testing

  • EESS registration or RCM approval

Without these safeguards, they pose a serious fire risk in Australian homes.

Cheap batteries and unregulated internals mean:

  • No thermal cut-off

  • No protection against overcharging

  • No confirmed local supplier or accountability

And these motors are often installed out of sight, charging constantly behind roller blinds or inside window frames.

Imagine a fire starting from a $30 motor while you’re at work.

Now imagine your insurer says:

“Sorry, this wasn’t an approved product. Your policy doesn’t cover it.”

That’s what’s at stake.


🧍‍♂️ Why Small Businesses Like Mine Are Speaking Out

At Motorise My Blinds, we:

  • Use RCM-certified products from trusted brands like Automate, Somfy, and ShawSmart

  • Register devices properly

  • Say no to grey imports and unsafe electronics

Yet we’re expected to compete with:

  • Multinational retailers bypassing compliance

  • Drop shippers importing direct from overseas

  • Authorities that ignore breaches unless someone gets hurt

If small businesses are expected to follow the rules — why aren’t the big ones?

🧾 What I Told the Regulators — And What They Told Me

I named names. I showed my work:

  • Amazon is selling DM25DS RV Motors under its own business — not a marketplace seller

  • Spotlight offers the Selections Roller Motor Kit, which appears unregistered and uncertified

  • Bunnings stocks Riva motors from Windoware, with no confirmed RCM compliance

All of them appeared to fail the EESS database search at the time of reporting. If unregistered, they would not be legally permitted for sale under Australian law.

Responses:

  • ACMA: "We don’t verify compliance for the public."

  • EESS: "Not in-scope."

  • ERAC: "Talk to the states."

  • ACCC: "Thanks for your submission."

I was detailed. I was specific. And I was ignored.

✅ What Needs to Happen

If Australia’s product safety laws are to mean anything:

  • Investigations must begin into the sale of non-compliant lithium-powered motors

  • EESS registration and RCM enforcement must apply to all — including Amazon and Bunnings

  • Penalties should apply to sellers, not just importers

  • Businesses doing the right thing should not be undercut by illegal competitors

Right now, it’s open season on compliance — and that’s dangerous.


🧯 It’s Not Just Blinds — This Problem Is Everywhere

Since researching this issue, I’ve found hundreds — if not thousands — of unsafe electrical products being sold online in Australia, far beyond just blind motors.

These include:

  • Smart plugs and strip lights

  • Rechargeable gadgets with lithium-ion batteries

  • USB power devices, sensors, and more

Many of them:

  • Lack RCM marks

  • Are not registered with EESS

  • Are sold without a responsible Australian supplier

  • Come with forged compliance documents from overseas sellers

And they’re available right now on Temu, eBay, Amazon, and AliExpress.

This isn’t a one-off problem — it’s a systemic failure in how product safety laws are enforced in Australia.

If I can spot these issues as a small business owner, surely the regulators can too.


📣 Why I’m Going Public

This isn’t just about fair competition. It’s about public safety.

If a fire starts from one of these motors, who’s liable?

  • The consumer?

  • The retailer?

  • The manufacturer in China?

And will your insurance cover it if the cause is an illegal, unapproved device?

I’ve done what I can behind closed doors. Now I’m speaking up — because the system clearly won’t.


This article reflects the findings of one small business owner based on publicly available information and official regulator responses at the time of writing.


Craig Radcliff

Founder – Motorise My Blinds

 
 
 

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