Exploding Batteries Force Note 7 Recall
Scattered reports of exploding batteries has forced Samsung to recall the Note 7. Faced with reports of phones bursting into flames while charging, Samsung had to act fast. The Korean giant announced that it would be halting sales of the Note 7 worldwide. Since sales of the new phablet were soaring, this news couldn’t have come at a worse time. Before this incident Samsung was taking the industry by storm with a slew of epic releases. This tragic blunder could be detrimental to the company’s growth. Only time will tell if Samsung will be able to rebound from this game changing flaw.
Exploding Batteries Destroy Samsung’s Winning Streak
Between the wild popularity of the Galaxy S7 & the positive reviews of the Note 7, Samsung was on fire. Unfortunately, some of the Note 7’s batteries also randomly caught fire. Out of the millions of Note 7 handsets that flew off the shelves, 35 people reported that their prized smartphones went up in flames while charging. These odds add up to 0.1%, or 24 faulty phones per million sold. Even though this is a relatively low percentage of faulty phones, it’s no laughing matter. The disastrous effects that these unforeseen fire hazards could cause puts customers in danger. Luckily for Samsung, the problem was reported before anyone perished in a Note 7 induced inferno.
“Products installed with the problematic battery account for less than 0.1 percent of the entire volume sold,” said an unnamed Samsung official. “The problem can be simply resolved by changing the battery, but we’ll come up with convincing measures for our consumers.”
Even though the problem is relatively simple to fix, Samsung is taking no chances. They have issued a worldwide recall of the Note 7, & have promised to make the transition as easy as possible for consumers. According to the latest press release, owners of the Note 7 have two options. The first option is wait one week to exchange their Galaxy Note 7 for a new version that doesn’t have an exploding battery. The second option is to immediately exchange their Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge. Those who chose the latter option will be refunded any price difference. To participate in these bold exchanges customers are encouraged to visit the store they purchased from or call 1-800-SAMSUNG to exchange through the mail. On top of these exchanges any affected customer is eligible to receive a $25 gift card or credit on their phone bill.
Saying this is a major disappointment for Samsung is a huge understatement. On top of destroying sales, this technical blunder will forever live in infamy. Before this issue, Samsung was making headway with 3 critically acclaimed releases. Even when they get this bug fixed, this disaster will continue to put a huge damper on sales. The worst part is, Apple is preparing to release the iPhone 7. The incredible shroud of mystery surrounding the iPhone 7 is making it one of the most highly anticipated smartphones of the all time. If Samsung doesn’t act fast, they will lose millions of sales to Apple.