Samsung began exchanging Galaxy Note 7 smartphones at airports

Samsung has decided to organize special points at airports where owners of fire-hazardous Galaxy Note 7 smartphones will be able to exchange devices or return them and receive compensation, reportsPhone Arena .

Samsung has now set up a number of exchange points at select airports in Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. As the publication notes, it can be assumed that the company will extend this practice to other countries.

Samsung's message says that if for some reason the company is unable to exchange a smartphone at an Australian airport, its representatives will contact the owner of the device at the destination, where they will coordinate the return or exchange of the Note 7.

Recall that on October 11, Samsung completely stopped production of the Galaxy Note 7 due to reports of fires in “safe” devices released after the discovery of defects in smartphones sold by the company in August. Previously, due to numerous cases of overheating, fire and explosion of the flagship smartphone, which went on sale on August 19, Samsung was forced to announce a recall of all Note 7 sold.

At the end of last week, Samsung estimated losses from problems with the Galaxy Note 7 at $3 billion. According to some reports, the company's management intends to abandon the Note brand, since the Note 7 fire story literally destroyed its reputation.

Due to the potential danger posed by Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, many airlines, on their own initiative, have introduced restrictions on the carriage of devices by passengers. In addition, the US Department of Transportation recently prohibited passengers and crew members from bringing fire-hazardous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on board. According to the department's requirements, smartphones are prohibited not only from being carried personally or in carry-on luggage, but also from being checked into luggage. Moreover, if a passenger nevertheless tries to bring a Galaxy Note 7 onto the plane, the smartphone will be confiscated, and the violator will face a fine. Those who check in their smartphone as luggage will face criminal prosecution in addition to a fine.

It is worth noting that Samsung’s initiative to organize exchange points for Note 7 devices at airports in the future may make life easier for many owners of ill-fated devices. So, the day before, Gizmodo published a number of stories from Note 7 users who were caught off guard by the ban on carrying a smartphone on planes while staying abroad. Many of them noted that they did not know how to return or exchange their smartphone, and complained about Samsung’s inaction.