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Samsung Kiosks Exchange Banned Phones at the Airport

Following an unprecedented ban of recalled Samsung Note 7 devices on commercial flights by the USDOT, the consumer electronics giant is taking steps to ease the pain for air travelers.

After recalling and replacing Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, then recalling the replacement phones provided in the original recall and finally discontinuing the device altogether, Samsung isn’t especially popular with many of its customers right now. When the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) this week issued a first-of-its-kind emergency order absolutely banning passengers from bringing the devices on commercial flights (on their persons or in checked baggage), Samsung decided it was a good time to attempt to mitigate the growing public relations nightmare.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Samsung officials were on-hand at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this week to help passengers caught off-guard by the unprecedented ban. Company representatives set up a makeshift exchange counter where customers could turn in the recalled phones and, in some cases, walk away with refunds or even loaner phones rather than end up in the unfortunate situation of having to surrender phones to TSA or airline officials prior to boarding.

Samsung officials say the pop-up kiosks are not unique to PHL.

“We are coordinating with various partners to communicate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent order to ban all Galaxy Note 7 devices in carry-on and checked baggage on flights across multiple touch-points,” Samsung spokesperson Danielle Meister Cohen told the newspaper. “We are providing support to Galaxy Note 7 owners by exchanging their devices or refunding them in a wide range of places, including at some of the most frequently visited airports around the country. These on-site reps are there to help customers with last-minute travel support and can be located by calling the Galaxy Note 7 hotline at 1-844-365-6197, but we urge all Galaxy Note 7 owners to exchange their device or obtain a refund before they arrive at their airport. We know this is an inconvenience to our customers but their safety has to remain our top priority.”

A call to the hotline number found that the company has set up similar booths at airports around the country, including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Denver International Airport (DEN). There are also media reports of airport exchange counters popping up at major airports in Australia and South Korea.

[Photo: WMBF News Screens]

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atsak October 24, 2016

Saw one at DCA last week as well.