Not long after reports that Samsung would tweak Galaxy Note 7 production over the exploding-phone problem, a new statement on Samsung’s own site looks ready to end the Note 7.
The note telling customers to stop using the phones reads:
Because our customers’ safety is our highest priority, Samsung will ask GSM operators and retail partners worldwide to suspend sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while investigations continue.
Customers who own an original or replacement Galaxy Note 7 should power the phones down and stop using them. We recommend taking advantage of the other options we offer.
Stopping sales worldwide is a big move, though many partners had already done it for Samsung. Last week you would have struggled to find a Note 7 to buy anyway.
No way back
What hurts Samsung more is that the replacement Note 7 units given out as “safe” are not trusted either. Asking people not to use phones the company previously called safe damages the brand. Twelve more Note 7 incidents in the US last week did not help.
Samsung says it is talking with regulators worldwide to find a solution.
This move also looks like proof there will be no return. Even with “find a solution” language, trying to sell the Note 7 again after telling every partner to stop and recalling every unit would be hard.
