It's well known that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been declared a fire hazard and has received a world-wide recall. As there has been a recall, it has been suggested that it may be banned from being taken on board aircraft as current FAA policy is to ban batteries that have been recalled.
“The FAA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are working on guidance related to this issue,” an FAA spokesperson told Gizmodo over email. “If the device is recalled by the manufacturer, airline crew and passengers will not be able to bring recalled batteries or electronics that contain recalled batteries in the cabin of an aircraft, or in carry-on and checked baggage.” read the article.
Already, SIA, SilkAir, Tigerair, Scoot, Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways have banned using Note7 from in flight use. And the list grows.
If you are someone who travels on aircraft you cannot afford to take the risk that your phone may be banned from travel -- like hoverboards are banned. You may need to leave your Note 7 behind to take your seat.
Samsung is offering a full refund on the device in many parts of the world including Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States.
Consumer group Choice said Australian customers who had bought a phone outright should seek an immediate refund. “A dangerous phone like this is considered to have a major failure under consumer law, which means the consumer decides what remedy – a repair, replacement or refund – is right for them,” it said in a statement. “If you have purchased one of these phones outright, your best option is to get an immediate refund from Samsung or the place of purchase."
How do I exchange it with Samsung?: Samsung posted a press release providing guidance to Note 7 owners. You can exchange the Note 7 for a new Note 7 (as earlier as next week in the US) or for a S7 or S7 Edge while receiving a refund of the price difference. Samsung will also provide a $25 gift card or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets. See the next question for US carrier guidance.
Can I return it to my wireless carrier?: Yes. If you don't want to exchange your phone with Samsung, the four major US wireless carriers were quick to provide some guidance too. T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon will each allow you to return the device and accessories for a full refund with no restocking fee or shipping charges. Sprint is willing to offer you a similar device to use until the Note 7 issue has been resolved.
Disgracefully, Samsung Singapore is only offering a 1-1 exchange and retailers are not offering refunds. And they are offering a very short window of time to do so, inconveniencing many many people and possibly even illegal: The Lemon Law in Singapore suggests that as a consumer, you would be able to make a claim for a defective product (also known as lemons) sold to you within 6 months of purchase.
Clearly, Singapore customers are getting a second class treatment when compared to the exchange offers other countries are getting. People should be allowed to chose another phone or get a complete refund and simply wait until they see which way things go for the Note 7 in future.
In addition to being able to exchange the Note 7 for a new Note 7, Samsung owners in Singapore should be given the following options:
Allow an exchange for current Galaxy Note7 for a S7 or S7 Edge and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices.
Retailers will each allow customers to return the device and accessories for a full refund with no restocking fee or shipping charges.
And as a gesture of goodwill by Samsung, allow people to exchange for a different colour. Especially as Coral Blue was not an option at the start. (Second class Singapore missing out again?)
additionally,
Accepting that for safety's sake the exchange needs to be done as soon as possible -- 2 weeks is barely enough time, especially for people out of Singapore. Therefore, make the exchange at times that are more convenient to the customer and open up more home delivery slots.
Allow people who will be overseas for the exchange period to swap a phone in the country there are currently in. Samsung is a big company and can work out the logistics.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO SIGNERS: There is an alternative if Samsung Singapore won't come to the party and you want a refund, and If you don't fall in the narrow window of refund that some retailers offer - if you paid for your Note 7 by debit or credit card contact your bank as there may be ways to seek a full refund. Contact your bank for details. But do not delay. (Example document)
(Even if you choose to keep the Note 7 please don't let Samsung treat Singapore Samsung Customers as second class. Please Sign this Petition to Insist that Singapore Samsung owners get the same refund and Return Rights as Samsung Customers elsewhere in the world.)
As Samsung Singapore is doing no more than the bare minimum for its customers, the people who sign this petition humbly request that Singapore's Minister for Industry, S. Iswaran intervene in this matter on their behalf and insist that Samsung Singapore show it's customers the same respect as is occurring everywhere else in the world.
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