Samsung explains how the US Galaxy Note 7 recall will work
Device swaps will begin 'as early as next week,' or exchange now for a GS7 / GS7 edge.
It's been less than 24 hours since Samsung announced its worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note 7, and owners are probably wondering exactly what's next. The major US carriers have already provided information on what they will do for customers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon), and now Samsung is laying out its plans for direct support. If owners want to exchange for another Galaxy Note 7, they can do that as early as next week. Their other option is to exchange the device for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, plus replacement of any Note accessories and a refund of the price difference.
For their trouble, Samsung says it's offering a $25 gift card or bill credit from "select carriers" when swapping for a new device through the replacement program. Owners should contact the retailer where they purchased the device, or call 1-800-SAMSUNG for more information. Continuing its message from earlier this morning, the company says it has identified "the affected inventory" but it's still voluntarily replacing devices for all interested owners.
It seems like a lot of trouble and not much payback for owners who have already picked up the phone. While sales of Galaxy devices have been a bright spot for the company this year, we'll have to wait and see how much momentum is lost because of these problems.
Update: And even with these details, the saga might not be over yet. Consumer Reports has specifically called Samsung out for failing to issue an "official" recall that would involve the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. That would require clearer information about what's wrong and what owners will do next, but so far Samsung hasn't done it. According to Recode, officials have "concern" about the process, but have not officially commented on the recall.
