Found in a thrift store recently:<p>An AC cord, 3-pin (earthed) plugs on both ends, with 2-conductor wiring in between. Spotted 'cause cable was damaged. Even the cable itself carried markings like "3x 0.75mm^2" despite having 2 conductors in it.<p>This was a one-piece cable (with 'non-replaceable' plugs), so came like that out of the factory. Covered in all the usual certification / safety markings.<p>Yes... Chinese made. And <i>certainly</i> not a mistake but intentional deception + cost cutting.<p>I know, many Chinese manufacturers just don't care, and will produce whatever [someone] tells them to produce.<p>But BOY, how much I would have loved to have a word with manufacturer person in charge of that production run, and question their ethics. And maybe beat 'em up or something.<p>"You don't care about (potentially) life-or-death safety of random person using YOUR cord? If found by someone with authority, ENTIRE batch of such cords will be recalled, with you or your customer footing the bill, and you don't care about that either?"<p>I really have a hard time grasping the level of negligence displayed there. And "sorry I had no idea" doesn't apply - you're an AC cable manufacturer, for f%#! sake.<p>Sadly it's 100% certain such deadly-accident-waiting-to-happen products are commonplace out there. I've got more examples from <i>personal</i> experience alone.