Amid growing concerns regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and its exploding battery, AT&T has decided to stop selling the device altogether and stop offering replacement Galaxy Note 7 units.
Not too long ago, Samsung was forced to issue a global Galaxy Note 7 recall after mounting reports of the device catching fire. The company eventually concluded that the Galaxy Note 7 was prone to explode because of a battery defect, so it started replacing the faulty units with "safe" ones. However, reports are again piling up as even these replacement units deemed to be safe are catching fire.
AT&T, for its part, had previously agreed to allow its customers to exchange their Galaxy Note 7 devices included in the recall and get a new, "safe" Note 7 if they want. The carrier has now rescinded its offer and is no longer offering replacement Galaxy Note 7 units until Samsung sorts out this mess. Customers can still exchange their recalled Galaxy Note 7 for some other smartphone as long as it's not the replacement Note 7.
"Based on recent reports, we're no longer exchanging new Note 7s at this time, pending further investigation of these reported incidents," a spokesperson for AT&T told The Verge. "We still encourage customers with a recalled Note 7 to visit an AT&T location to exchange that device for another Samsung smartphone or other smartphone of their choice."
Other U.S. carriers are still selling the replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7, at least for now. T-Mobile is offering the device to both new and existing customers and will also offer refunds or swap the Note 7 with another device if customers decide they don't want a replacement Galaxy Note 7.
Sprint is offering replacement Galaxy Note 7 units for original Note 7 owners, but it is also allowing customers to swap their replacement Galaxy Note 7 for another smartphone. Verizon has the same stance, albeit Big Red has reportedly backordered on replacement units for now and it has no more inventory available.
Samsung is aware of AT&T's decision to back out of Galaxy Note 7 sales and exchanges and said it's respecting the carrier's choice.
"We recognize that a carrier partner has stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 in response to reports of heat damage issues, and we respect their decision," Samsung told CNET, without mentioning AT&T by name.
The replacement Galaxy Note 7 units only hit the market after receiving certification from the Consumer Product Safety Commission following Samsung's recall. After recent reports of replacement Galaxy Note 7 still exploding, the CPSC is again investigating the issue.
"We continue to move quickly to investigate the reported case to determine the cause and will share findings as soon as possible," Samsung said in a brief statement on Friday, Oct. 7. "We remain in close contact with the CPSC throughout this process."
"If we conclude a safety issue exists, we will work with the CPSC to take immediate steps to address the situation," added the company.
