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Samsung Orders the Global Shutdown of Both Sales and Exchanges of Galaxy Note 7 (betanews.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BetaNews: Sigh. The Galaxy Note 7. What should have been a wildly popular and successful smartphone has become a synonymous with failure, and fodder for jokes. As everyone knows, the phone has been exploding and catching fire, creating serious risk for consumers. The phone was eventually recalled and replaced, although that process was bungled by Samsung -- there was much confusion. Not to mention, there was criticism that the recall was not initially an official one. With the issues seemingly in the rear view mirror, the scandal was over, right? Wrong. Now, the replacement models are reportedly exploding too. Enough is apparently enough. Following rumors that production of the phone was being ceased, today, Samsung orders the global shutdown of both sales and exchanges of Galaxy Note 7. Samsung has formally issued the following statement: "We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note 7. Because consumers' safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while the investigation is taking place. We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available."

15 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Re:why hasn't apple taken advantage.. by silverkniveshotmail. · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because giving away phones doesn't make any money?

  2. Galaxy 7 by plopez · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Ford Pinto of mobile phones.

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    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
    1. Re: Galaxy 7 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      At least we know the HCF instruction is fully implemented.

    2. Re:Galaxy 7 by Feral+Nerd · · Score: 2

      The Ford Pinto of mobile phones.

      You are charging it wrong.

  3. That is going to leave a mark by dunkindave · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This whole thing has been a fiasco. Bad engineering. Bad public relations. Hiding their knowing that there was a problem. Being forced into a recall, and even then, botching the "fix". I am sure there are a number of people now considering if they want a Samsung phone, whether Note 7 or other, now, or ever, to reside in their pocket. This is definitely going to leave a mark.

    On the flip side, Apple really appreciates that they decided to torch their sales (literally) right as the iPhone 7 was coming out. Glad Samsung decided to join team Apple. :)

    1. Re:That is going to leave a mark by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Reality, Samsung will win back consumer confidence with the simple act of going to user replaceable batteries with the next note, all will be forgotten and forgiven. You just know that is true, oh and maybe toss in a discount for proven one time owners of the note 7, for an even bigger slice of the mobile phone market. After the massive looses on the note 7, the cost of the change will be peanuts and will resurrect the note 7 brand. You could imagine the marketing, they will ignore what has happened and simply say, due to massive customer demands we are bringing back the replaceable battery because Samsung is a company that listens and cares or something similar. They could still try to stick to the current design but that would not sell well at all, and pretty much kill the note as a brand.

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      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    2. Re:That is going to leave a mark by retchdog · · Score: 2

      will Apple also be taking advantage of this moment to hastily shut down the iPhone 6+ "screen death touch" outrage that's brewing?

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      "They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
    3. Re:That is going to leave a mark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      You mean Apple? You're holding it wrong!

  4. No, not just one by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    There apparently were several other reports over the last weeks of replacements catching fire.

    Note that he acceptable number is ZERO. No other phone makers, Android or Apple, appear to have a problem on this scale. No other phone makers, Android or Apple, have had planes catch fire in years on an actual plane...

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    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: No, not just one by Chris453 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Apple most certainly did have one catch fire on a plane: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...

  5. Re:If this were Apple, you'd be up in arms... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 3, Informative

    Nobody is a 'Fandroid.'

    A small subsection of the Applephone users are fanatical zealots. A larger group are just people with phones. And Android phones are just what The Rest Of Us choose to use.

  6. Re:They should bring back the replaceable battery. by MikeMo · · Score: 2

    It is not at all clear that the problem is with the battery. It could just as well be the management hardware and/or software. After all, changing battery suppliers (the replacements) didn't solve the problem.

  7. Re:They should bring back the replaceable battery. by swalve · · Score: 2

    My Note 4 broke pretty much instantly. No more Samsung for me. (Although I do love my Note Pro 12.2.)

    I'm not sure what a user replaceable battery would do. Once the battery catches fire, the phone is going to be burnt up beyond use anyway. And sending owners new batteries is going to be only marginally less painful for Samsung than sending whole new phones.

    Look, I get the idea of user replaceable batteries and SD card slots and all that stuff us geeks love. But in the end, I've never needed to really use either.

  8. Re: BREAKING: If S7 on Fire, Turn It Off by Chris453 · · Score: 2

    It is the Note 7 that has issues, not the S7. At least get the model right...

  9. Re:Refunds? by GrandCow · · Score: 2

    The exchanges being stopped are the "bad" 7's for the "safe" 7's.

    Refunds are issued by the store the device was purchased from. I've seen at least one major retailer state that you could exchange a Note 7 for a different model phone without any restocking fee. I'm not sure how the price difference matters in, but I'd imagine the store would do something for you, and you can be sure that the store will get their money back from Samsung.

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    "Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson