The British branch of online retailer Amazon on Wednesday urged customers to throw away defective “hoverboards”, or two-wheeled self-balancing electric scooters that have become a craze ahead of the Christmas season.
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“Amazon said some of the boards it sold were unsafe because they had “‘a non-compliant United Kingdom plug” and should be disposed of at a recycling center.
Another email sent to everyone who bought the boards warned that Trading Standards has raised concerns about their safety, in particular their rechargeable lithium batteries and plugs.
Inspectors found issues with the plug, cables, charger, battery, or cut-off switch within the boards.
She also said hoverboards should not be recharged overnight or without someone present and recommended buying batteries and chargers that have been certified by a national testing laboratory.
It says: “We regret the inconvenience this may cause you but trust you will understand that your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority”.
Concerns over recent reports of Back to the Future-style hoverboards catching fire have caused one of the largest Internet retailers to pull the products from its online marketplace (temporarily, at least) in order to conduct a safety check, various media outlets are reporting.
The item is expected to be a big seller this Christmas and, as is common, this has led to a number of cheap imitation products being sold.
“As safety is on the forefront for Swagway, we applaud Amazon for taking these steps to weed out the low-quality boards”, said spokeswoman Lauren Song.
However, some hoverboards seem to be still available on the US Amazon website.
Do not charge them unattended, especially whilst you sleep.
London Fire Brigade recently put out a warning after a hoverboard caught fire while being charged in a bedroom.
Dean Dunham, the UK’s chief ombudsman, has said that the shops themselves could be held responsible for any injuries suffered from these gadgets. That means the batteries can overheat and catch fire.
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Companies that continue to sell hoverboards they deem safe should also advise customers at the point of sale of the Crown Prosecution Service’s position that it is illegal to ride them on public roads or pavements, he said.
