As we pass into the second week of Samsung’s Australian Galaxy Note 7 replacement program we thought we would stop and take a measure of the progress so far. We have been advised by Samsung Australia that approximately 81% of the original Galaxy Note 7’s have been returned in Australia.
The full statement from Samsung Australia is:
Samsung Electronics Australia can confirm approximately 81 percent of the original Galaxy Note7 smartphones are no longer with Australian customers.
We urge the remaining customers who have an original Galaxy Note7 to contact their place of purchase or Samsung Australia for a replacement or refund.
In the meantime, consumers should back up their data, complete a factory reset and power down their device.
Considering we are just over a week into the official recall program, those are some fairly respectable numbers. We commend all those consumers (and those who persuaded them) who did the right thing and have returned their devices. If you are still holding out please back up your data, complete a factory reset and power down the phone, NOW and go in and organise a replacement.
We know that 81% not in the hands of consumers does not mean 81% of consumers have gotten their preferred replacement option in hand. For those who purchased from Samsung direct we see positive stories of phones being swapped new for only on the spot, and users having no ‘device downtime’.
However, we do monitor the forums of the other resellers and know that this experience has not been equally as positive for everyone. Over in the Optus forums, customers have been reporting a number of incidents with Optus stores not taking back handsets or not being up to date on what’s happening with the recall.
Some Ausdroid readers are also reporting issues with getting stock from Samsung Australia
https://twitter.com/shippper/status/781354018773667840
Day 5 post 21/09/16 promise to replace Note 7 and still no device. I shouldn't have to DM you my details, b/c you already have it
— Hon Weng Chong (@dr1337) September 27, 2016
Samsung has been very pro-active with their recall in Australia and around the world, but replacing even just 56,000 handsets can be a trial even for a behemoth such as Samsung. Hopefully, stock flows through resellers logistics chains to their branches more people will get their replacement devices quickly.
The only question now remains is when the Note 7 will go back on-sale officially.
Do you have a Note 7 replacement story? Let us know below.
