Samsung offers Note 7 owners $100 off another Galaxy, CPSC announces second recall

Following Samsung’s announcement that it has halted Galaxy Note 7 production, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just stamped its official seal on the second recall. The CSPC advises that old and replacement Note 7 owners in the US should immediately switch off their phones and return them to Samsung.

In a press release, the CPSC mentioned that the reason for the second recall is because “the lithium-ion battery in the Galaxy Note7 smartphones can overheat and catch fire, posing serious fire and burn hazard to consumers.” The report says for handset owners to contact their wireless carrier, place of purchase, call Samsung toll-free at 844-36506197, or go to samsung.com to arrange a return.

The commission also notes that it has received 23 new reports of fires since the September 15 recall announcement, bringing the total up to 96 in the US. Although Samsung has already issued its own recall statement, the CSPC announcement is important as it is illegal to sell recalled products, so the Note 7 is now officially off store shelves across the US.

“Customers’ safety remains a top priority and we ask consumers with an original or replacement Galaxy Note7 to power down and take advantage of the remedies available,” – Tim Baxter, president and chief operating officer, Samsung Electronics America

As the same time, Samsung has made its own announcement to US consumers about the recall. Galaxy Note 7 owners are entitled to a refund or can exchange their device for another Samsung smartphone. For the inconvenience, Samsung is offering consumers up to $100 worth of bill credit for those who switch to another Galaxy handset. There’s also $25 of credit available to customers who opt for a refund or switch to a phone from another manufacturer. The US Note 7 Refund and Exchange Program goes live at 3:00pm ET today, October 13th.

Although $100 worth of credit for a new Galaxy handset might sound like a reasonable deal, you can get better bang for your buck if you’re willing to shop around. Customers can definitely pick up new Galaxy S7, S7 edge, or Note 5 for cheaper than $100 off the ~$870 retail price commanded by the Note 7 at launch. For example, the S7 is available for $672 from BestBuy and Verizon, $639.99 at T-Mobile, and just $559.99 from B&H Photo, if you know which model and carrier bands you require.

Would you opt for another Samsung Galaxy smartphone at this point, or are there better Note 7 alternatives from other manufacturers to pick from instead?