The scandal-ridden debut of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has the smartphone’s life hanging in the balance as it continues to make the news in fiery fashion even after the South Korean smartphone maker had to recall, and subsequently replace, initial batches following widespread reports of batteries overheating and catching fire.
With the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission already investigating the recent debacle that saw a replacement Note 7 catch fire on a Southwest Airlines flight, all signs point to a rocky future for the device, as a report out of Farmington, Minnesota alleges a similar fate for another replacement unit.
The Note 7, owned by 13-year-old Abbey Zuis, is alleged to have melted in her hand. Thankfully, the Farmington teenager only suffered a minor burn to the thumb. The phone, however, appears to be in a state very similar to that of the one involved in the Southwest Airlines fiasco, with the battery having burned through much of the phone and its protective cover. 5 Eyewitness News reports having been provided receipts by the teenager’s father that confirm the Note 7 was indeed a replacement unit, and that the CPSC will be taking a look at it as part of their ongoing investigation.
“If the new phones that are supposed to be the replacement aren’t doing what it’s supposed to, there’s no reason my daughter or someone to be injured by their phone,” Andrew Zuis said in support of the notion that Samsung should order another recall.
A second recall may, in fact, be on the cards, if recent rumors are to be believed, though it may very well result in the phone losing all appeal in the market and ultimately being scraped from the Note product line.
In a statement to 5 Eyewitness News, a Samsung spokesperson said: “We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter.”
Every big name in the smartphone industry would shudder at the thought of being in Samsung’s shoes right now. What started off as the makings of a tough but surmountable challenge for the company’s PR team has spiralled out of control and now threatens to leave a permanent mark on Samsung’s reputation as a leading smartphone manufacturer.
(Source: KSTP)
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