Companies
rarely advocate for the destruction of their products, but given that
some of Amazon’s hoverboards are spontaneously combusting (and
destroying themselves), all bets are off. Now, after already pulling the
product from both United States and United Kingdom sites earlier this
week, Amazon is telling customers to throw away unsafe hoverboards.
“We
regret the inconvenience this may cause you but trust you will
understand that your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority,”
Amazon wrote in an email to customers. Those with boards featuring
“non-compliant U.K. plugs” should proceed immediately to a certified recycling center, and will be refunded for their purchase within three days.
Despite
the initial popularity of the gadgets (especially with the upcoming
holiday season), a closer inspection of the futuristic devices made it
clear that there were some very serious safety hazards associated with
their use. Earlier this month, the U.K.’s Trading Standards seized 15,000 unsafe hoverboards after the London Fire Brigade reported three house fires within 10 days, all traced back to those trendy wheels.
Airlines
have also banned bringing hoverboards on aircraft, as there does not
appear to be any way to ensure that they won’t, you know, suddenly
explode midair.
The
U.K. is not alone in its hoverboard woes, as the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission has also been receiving alarming reports regarding the
gadgets’ safety (or lack thereof). Before allowing manufacturers to
list their products again, Amazon is now requiring safety documentation
and proof that hoverboards have passed certain standards.
If
you are one of the brave souls who owns a hoverboard (and aren’t
planning on following Amazon’s disposal advice), there are a few things you should keep in mind
to keep yourself safe. For one, never leave the device unattended while
it’s charging (like overnight). Be sure to check the plug — if it’s
clover-shaped, you may be in trouble. If you still want to purchase one
of these guys online, do your research and ensure that you can contact
the manufacturing company to vouch for its safety. And of course, if the
price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
By: Lulu Chang (Digital Trends).
Review: Emerging Market Formulations & Research Unit, Flagship Records.
For The # FacebookTeam