Consumers Union Satisfied That Replacement Note7s Safer Than Originals

Consumers Union is satisfied that replacement Samsung Galaxy Note7s are safer than their originals, spokesman David Butler emailed us. CU’s affiliated Consumer Reports issued a public appeal Sept. 2 for an official Note7 recall, but Samsung Electronics America only publicly confirmed its “engagement” with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on a recall effort a week later (see 1609150069). CPSC released its recall notice five days after that, saying the action affected about a million Note7s sold in the U.S. from the early August launch through Sept. 15. About 500,000 Note7 replacements arrived in the U.S. for distribution to consumers starting Wednesday, Samsung said Tuesday (see 1609200067). “Part of why it is so important to involve the Consumer Product Safety Commission in a recall is because the agency must review and approve the remedy and fix,” Butler told us. “This is an important protection for consumers, and it provides them with confidence that their product will work as it should moving forward. We believe this is one process that serves consumers well.” Consumer Reports “immediately urged Samsung to initiate an official recall” through CPSC when “news broke that the phone was catching fire” because companies that work with the agency “and follow its process are doing the right thing for consumers,” Butler said. “While certainly there are aspects of the CPSC's statute that could be strengthened” to prod companies to immediately work through the commission process, “this current situation reinforces why companies should go through the CPSC in the first place,” he said. Samsung representatives didn’t comment Wednesday.