Online giant Amazon has advised customers who have bought hoverboards with unsafe plugs to throw them away.
Advertisement
According to BBC News, Amazon has sent an email to customers who bought specific types of hoverboards, warning them to dispose of the product at their local electrical recycling spot.
The news comes soon after Trading Standards seized 15,000 imported unbranded boards that it had deemed unsafe.
Numerous items were tested and found to have non-compliant plugs without fuses, which increases the risk of the device overheating, catching fire or even exploding.
One of the brands removed from Amazon, Swagway, claims this is all some sort of misunderstanding – their product is top notch and safety is of course their number one priority – and they say that Swagways will be back on Amazon shortly.
“Trading standards officers have detained the boards due to numerous concerns including safety issues with the plugs, cabling, chargers, batteries or the cut-off switches within the boards, which are created to stop the battery from continuing to charge once fully charged”. It said that they should cost around £300 to £600 ($450-900) from most reputable shops, but potentially faulty models are going for as low as £100 ($150) “on auction sites and social media accounts”.
In the email to United Kingdom customers, Amazon said it has requested refunds on behalf of customers.
Amazon also emailed customers who had UK-compliant plugs on their hoverboards, to provide them with safety advice on the battery and plug use.
British retailers are following Amazon’s lead calling for customers to return hoverboards.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating at least 11 reports of fires related to hoverboards in 10 states in the past year, a spokeswoman said Monday.
“Consumers who have already purchased a hoverboard should contact the retailer and for their written assurance that it’s safe and in particular that it has a compliant plug with a fuse”.
Despite the hoverboards’ popularity, there have been multiple allegations that the devices can catch fire.
Advertisement
Recently three leading American airline groups banned them, saying their batteries present an “unacceptable fire hazard”.
