Samsung recently started issuing a global recall for every Galaxy Note 7 out there because of exploding batteries, and now it's announcing how customers in the United States can get a replacement for theirs.
The South Korean maker is kicking off the exchange program as early as next week, and by then, those who bought the phablet can go directly to the retail store where they got it or phone in 1-800-SAMSUNG to swap in their device via mail.
According to a recent press release, Samsung is offering two options to those who are eligible for a trade-in:
• Exchange current Galaxy Note7 device with a new Galaxy Note7 (as early as next week)
• Exchange current Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices
In a bid to make up for the inconvenience the issue may have caused, the company is also giving away a $25 gift card or a $25 phone bill credit to those who participate in the program.
Prioritizing safety, Samsung had to cease selling the Galaxy Note 7 to the general public, currently conducting an investigation on the matter at hand. As of Sept. 1, it has received 35 cases across the world.
"[B]ecause our customers' safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7," the manufacturer says.
Carriers in the United States have also stopped selling the Galaxy Note 7, and Samsung has yet to say when the smartphone in question will be up for sale regularly again.
It's worth pointing out that the smartphone maker started the year off successfully, but this major battery issue is definitely grounding its hold on the market. By the same token, its rival company Apple is set to officially unveil the iPhone 7 on Sept. 7 at its big event, and if it doesn't get the Galaxy Note 7 out in the wild soon, it'll potentially lose a number of sales to the Cupertino brand.
To boil things down, Galaxy Note 7 owners should save the date and turn in their devices next week to avoid the possibility of exploding batteries.
With all said and done, are you one of the customers who bought a Galaxy Note 7 early? If so, feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know what you think of Samsung's exchange program.
