A-Gas UK Ltd has hit out at the selling of its refrigerants on internet auction sites including Ebay, which, it claims, contravenes the distribution agreement with customers and could lead to safety issues.
The company only supplies refrigerants through three national wholesalers, while the cylinders are supplied on a long loan agreement, remaining the property of A-Gas at all times – internet sales are therefore classed as theft.
Ken Logan, A-Gas managing director, says: “Our wholesalers only sell to the RAC trade who are registered under F-Gas regulation EC 842/2006 and to City & Guilds 2078 or CITBJ01 on the safe handling of refrigerants.”
A-Gas states that cylinders sold on the net cannot be guaranteed as genuine, while buyers may not have the necessary handling knowledge
Logan says: “Untrained personnel could receive serious injuries or worse from the unsafe handling of refrigerants.”
A-Gas has approached the internet auction sight, asking for the removal of its products; however Ebay has so far refused to take action, stating that it does not adjudicate on third party agreements.
A spokesperson for the company says: “We comply wholly with the law regarding what can and can’t be listed and have strict policies on the sale of illegal or dangerous items on our marketplace. Many items are sold through eBay which are not illegal, but require sensible and careful handling, including for example propane and butane gas cylinders, camping gas and welding equipment.”
“If A-Gas reports the cylinders as stolen, as it asserts they are, then eBay will fully support any subsequent police investigations. However, eBay does not adjudicate on third party contacts and therefore does not remove items based on contractual claims made by a third party.”
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