Samsung Australia has updated their Note 7 replacement announcement page with details on how to determine if the Note 7 you’re are getting is a new ‘safe’ model or one of the previously potentially faulty devices (which it simply shouldn’t be). Samsung will be placing a black square on the barcode sticker as well as placing a blue S on the packaging, as shown below:
You can see above the original packaging sans the little black square and new S and the updated packaging with it included.
This will be fine if you are in the physical presence of the box when you’re purchasing the device, however, if you’re buying online it may be a little risky. Samsung hasn’t come out yet and said how they will handle rogue sellers who are distributing old stock.
So far they have handled this very well and there’re no reasons to think that will stop.
If you are purchasing a Note 7 and don’t have the box or you suspect it may be “dodgy” you can contact Samsung with the IMEI number (see here for how to find the IMEI on a Samsung device) and Samsung will confirm if it is a safe or at-risk device.
We will continue to work with Samsung Australia to make sure you are as up to date as possible. Just remember whilst Samsung has the best intentions there will be some people who will attempt to profit from this, we’d never advise you don;t buy a Note 7, just may buy it somewhere reputable. If you’re buying one second-hand in the future, just make sure to check the IMEI number first.
How do you think Samsung is handling the Note 7 issue? Let us know below.
I think Samsung have handled the recall situation quite well . Took my Note 7 into my local Telstra shop today to hand it in and half way through the process the tech guy popped out the back and reappeared with a S7 Edge loan phone . Didnt even have to ask . Good one Telstra and Samsung .
So well that the US Federal Government are stepping in to manage the recall, because they think Samsung are moving nowhere near fast enough to get these engineering disasters off the streets.