How Samsung Botched Its Galaxy Note 7 Recall

Georgia Wells, John D. Mckinnon, and Yun-Hee Kim, reporting for the WSJ:

In announcing the recall, however, experts say, the South Korean company neglected to first coordinate with safety authorities in the U.S. According to U.S. law, the CPSC must be notified within 24 hours after a safety risk has been identified, and recall announcements are generally then carried out jointly.

The U.S. agency didn’t issue a statement until Sept. 9, a week after Samsung’s initial announcement.

“This is completely unusual; companies just don’t issue recalls without the CPSC,” says Pamela Gilbert, a partner with Washington’s Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP and a former executive director of the CPSC.

Samsung should have just ripped the band-aid off in one motion, and officially recalled all Note 7 units immediately. None of this nonsense about issuing a software update that limits the devices to a 60 percent charge. Just take them all back.

The official recall was issued today. It should have been issued two weeks ago.

★ Thursday, 15 September 2016