Exploding Note 7's Cause Samsung to Suspend Shipments

[widgeteer]

Yeah I don't think weve seen a global recall for a smartphone on such a scale ever before have we ?

I guess the fact they havent officially launched in Europe till tomorrow the 2nd September gives them the leeway to suspend sales whilst they investigate, however many pre-order customers will have recieved their devices.

It's certainly not good PR, and marring what should have been an easy launch after the sucessful launches of the S7 & S7e earlier in the year.

Biggest issue will be trying to 'regain' the momentum afterwards.

If there's a global recall, I gotta think this generation of Note is dead. Hard to recover from a global recall.

 

[MRU]

I'd think the easiest way to manage it and offer goodwill to existing customers is just to swap out their existing units for new ones. Having to recall hundreds of thousands or even millions of handsets, repair/replace components, then return to customers would be hugely problematic and time consuming, plus irritate the hell out of customers who for the most part, don't likely have backup phones.

I suppose they can't do that as potentially they could be swapping out a good device with one with a dodgy battery. They need to resolve the issue and if that potentially involves re-manufactuer it could be a costly fix. They need to work out if its a batch issue or if its a potential random issue that could affect 'any' of the Note 7's then it would require a manufacturing solution to resolve.

 

[tbayrgs]

This situation really just sucks..for consumers and Samsung. I'm not a big fan of Samsung but honestly hate to see this happen, marring what's been a really good turn around for them. My hope was that their continued progress and success was going to help kick Apple in the behind but something like this is going to likely squash any significant migration of existing Apple customers away from the iPhone, regardless of how good the alternatives may be.

 

[widgeteer]

I'd think the easiest way to manage it and offer goodwill to existing customers is just to swap out their existing units for new ones. Having to recall hundreds of thousands or even millions of handsets, repair/replace components, then return to customers would be hugely problematic and time consuming, plus irritate the hell out of customers who for the most part, don't likely have backup phones.

I agree with you but they need to have the stock to do it. who knows how far reaching the issue is, or specifically what it is? Also, if that's the route they go, that means any new orders will be delayed by potentially weeks.

 

[MRU]

If there's a global recall, I gotta think this generation of Note is dead. Hard to recover from a global recall.

Yeah after the misshap of not releasing a Note 5 in Europe, the damage this could do to the Note brand in Europe is potentially devastating unless they resolve the issue very fast.

 

[tbayrgs]

I agree with you but they need to have the stock to do it. who knows how far reaching the issue is, or specifically what it is? Also, if that's the route they go, that means any new orders will be delayed by potentially weeks.

Doubt new orders will be much of an issue for the immediate future.

 

[bgro]

This situation really just sucks..for consumers and Samsung. I'm not a big fan of Samsung but honestly hate to see this happen to them, marring what's been a really good turn around for them. My hope was that their continued progress and success was going to help kick Apple in the behind but something like this is going to likely squash any significant migration of existing Apple customers away from the iPhone, regardless of how good the alternatives may be.

Agree with this. I'm coming over from iPhone and thinking about sitting out another year of android. Love the Note but it's hardly been issue free for me and this would be the final straw I think.

 

[widgeteer]

This situation really just sucks..for consumers and Samsung. I'm not a big fan of Samsung but honestly hate to see this happen to them, marring what's been a really good turn around for them. My hope was that their continued progress and success was going to help kick Apple in the behind but something like this is going to likely squash any significant migration of existing Apple customers away from the iPhone, regardless of how good the alternatives may be.

Here here. I am a fan of Sammy, actually. I appreciate what they've been doing in the space. I think the GS7E is an awesome phone. I have some reservations about the Note but overall I love the direction. This just sucks.
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Doubt new orders will be much of an issue for the immediate future.

Ouch. Good point.

 

[tbayrgs]

I suppose they can't do that as potentially they could be swapping out a good device with one with a dodgy battery. They need to resolve the issue and if that potentially involves re-manufactuer it could be a costly fix. They need to work out if its a batch issue or if its a potential random issue that could affect 'any' of the Note 7's then it would require a manufacturing solution to resolve.

My thinking was they won't be handling recalls until the issue is identified specifically. The latest reports though make it sound like they're going to recall ALL Note 7s...that's massive indeed.

 

[MRU]

My thinking was they won't be handling recalls until the issue is identified specifically. The latest reports though make it sound like they're going to recall ALL Note 7s...that's massive indeed.

Yeah that seems to be the way the story is unfolding which means it seems to be more than just a specifc poor batch.

 

[mi7chy]

A total recall is unnecessary if it's only affecting batteries outsourced from ITM. Manufacturers keep a database of components that go into a phone, can narrow down affected phones by IMEI/ESN, work with the carrier to send a SMS and letter to affected owners. Similar to car manufacturers' use of multiple OEM parts and handling of recall notices.

 

[Surf Donkey]

Yeah I don't think weve seen a global recall for a smartphone on such a scale ever before have we ?

I guess the fact they havent officially launched in Europe till tomorrow the 2nd September gives them the leeway to suspend sales whilst they investigate, however many pre-order customers will have recieved their devices.

It's certainly not good PR, and marring what should have been an easy launch after the sucessful launches of the S7 & S7e earlier in the year.

Biggest issue will be trying to 'regain' the momentum afterwards.

Turns out the s7e was a fluke. It just brought everything together that Samsung already knew how to do well. I won't be surprised if this is related to USB C as it is new for this phone line. Or maybe waterproofing in combination with it.

But not just on Samsung. Smart phone rollouts are impossibly difficult with the technology, pressure and demand. So much more can go wrong than right. That is why early reviews are mostly worthless. It takes at least a month to declare something a success in this market.

Between the leaking s7 active and this, many converts will go back or will hold off. And too bad for Samsung. Apple had their users hooked on the phablet once they introduced them, so the Note line was was an appealing alternative on what could be a down iPhone release. But this news won't help convert anyone. And with the market pretty saturated, converts is the market you want.

The biggest thing from here is how they respond. And they better do it swiftly. Samsung is running out of thumbs to plug the holes in this sinking ship

 

[macgeek88]

So Samdung takes a dig at Apple with the "you know what it has? An audio jack!". Apple should totally say "We don't have an audio jack but you know what ours won't do? Explode!". It's only fair as Samdung always picks on Apple. Go iPhone 7!

 

[mi7chy]

Apple should totally say "We don't have an audio jack but you know what ours won't do? Explode!".

Apple would be lying because all lithium are potentially flammable. That's why I'm a proponent of moving to battery technologies that not only offer better battery life performance but are non-flammable like metallic sodium.

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...-after-iphone-catches-fire-mid-flight-n543516

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cell-phone-catches-fire-in-man-s-pants-719899715724

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...Phone-Caught-Fire-In-My-Pocket-303150061.html

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/66037216-story

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

So Samdung takes a dig at Apple with the "you know what it has? An audio jack!". Apple should totally say "We don't have an audio jack but you know what ours won't do? Explode!". It's only fair as Samdung always picks on Apple. Go iPhone 7!

It's a great looking phone and a much nicer size than the iPhone 6S Plus, but I too think it's backfired using Apple as a subject to mock. Exploding phones are not great PR and it'll be interesting to see how a recall is handled. If it's into the hundreds of thousands or millions, then that's a lot of people inconvenienced. I wouldn't be accepting a return if I wasn't getting a replacement handset of some sort. As was said above Samsung messed up big time not releasing the Note 5 in Europe and this device was supposed to recover the business they lost last time.

 

[balamw]

MOD NOTE: Since we now have a front page article about this possible recall, let's continue discussion there.

B