14 DAY TRIAL // The situation is gradually getting worse, as Samsung awaits the results of the CPSC investigation and has stopped production of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea. Today, we reported that Samsung Netherlands stopped shipments of pre-ordered Galaxy Note 7 from reaching customers.
Also today, major US carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T have halted sales of the Galaxy Note 7 and are offering customers the option to bring in “safe” Galaxy Note 7 units and pick another smartphone from the company’s lineup.
Sprint is the latest US carrier to announce that it suspended sales of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, according to SamMobile. The company will be allowing Galaxy Note 7 owners to exchange their phones for any other device.
Sprint stated that “Given recent issues reported in the media, Sprint is halting sales of replacement Note 7 devices pending the conclusion of the investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Samsung. If a Sprint customer with a replacement Note 7 has any concerns, we will exchange it for any other device.”
Third-party retailer Best Buy has also stopped sales of the Note 7 and will be offering existing owners of the Galaxy Note 7 the option to exchange their device for another phone. Other retailers in the US are expected to follow suit and suspend sales as well.
Vodafone UK stopped replacements of the Galaxy Note 7
The situation isn’t much different in Europe where mobile carrier Vodafone UK announced that it stopped pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 7 and the product replacement program until Samsung provides the company with assurances about the safety of the smartphone.
Android Central reports that retailer EE has said the following in a statement: “EE considers the safety of its customers to be of the utmost importance. Following recent media reports of further Note 7 issues in the US and Canada, we have suspended Note7 exchanges and are currently in direct contact with Samsung regarding next steps on the matter.”
There haven’t been reports of Galaxy Note 7 units catching fire in Europe, but it seems that more and more retailers are concerned about the recent incidents. Three and O2 from the UK have also said that they’re in talks with Samsung regarding the measures to be taken when it comes to the Note 7.