Samsung to resell refurbished Galaxy Note7 phones: Reports

The Galaxy Note7 recall last year cost Samsung billions of dollars in lost profits and hammered its global credibility. Around three million devices were returned to the firm.
The Galaxy Note7 recall last year cost Samsung billions of dollars in lost profits and hammered its global credibility. Around three million devices were returned to the firm. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

SEOUL •The world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung will start reselling refurbished Galaxy Note7 devices next week, after a humiliating recall over exploding batteries last year, reports said yesterday.

Samsung Electronics has declined to comment on the reports.

The recall debacle cost the South Korean giant billions of dollars in lost profits and hammered its global credibility. Around three million Galaxy Note7 devices were returned to the firm, but campaign groups including Greenpeace expressed concern that discarding them could harm the environment.

Citing industry sources, South Korea's Yonhap news agency and other news reports said Samsung would start selling refurbished devices with new batteries and updated software under the name Galaxy Note Fandom Edition.

They will be priced below 700,000 won (S$870) and sales are slated to start July 7, Yonhap said.

The recall was deeply embarrassing for Samsung but it has just launched a new flagship device, the Galaxy S8, to positive reviews and strong orders.

In April, it posted its biggest quarterly net profit for more than three years, although it has come under pressure on wider fronts.

Lee Jae Yong, the Samsung group vice-chairman and heir to its leadership, is on trial for bribery in connection with the sprawling corruption scandal that led to president Park Geun Hye's downfall.

Lee is accused of bribing Park and her secret confidante Choi Soon Sil with millions of dollars to seek government favours. He was effectively head of the group since his father had a heart attack in 2014.

His indictment in February sent shockwaves through the company and triggered the announcement of a major reform of its top-down management style.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 28, 2017, with the headline Samsung to resell refurbished Galaxy Note7 phones: Reports. Subscribe