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Amazon On Hoverboard Fires: Recycle Fire-Risk Hoverboards — But 14 Hoverboard Models For Sale On Amazon

By Paula Mooney
Published on: 03:19 PST, Dec 16, 2015

Amazon is advising Amazon customers to toss fire-prone hoverboards, reports BBC News?. Amazon has sent a new email to some hoverboard customers, spelling out the fire danger of the hoverboards that some of the hoverboard customers bought via Amazon.

The Telegraph pointed out that the email from Amazon about hoverboards mentioned taking hoverboards to the local recycling place for electronics. However, hoverboards are still on Amazon for sale as of this writing. In fact, searching through the hoverboards for sale on Amazon sorted by the most expensive as of this writing shows at least 14 Amazon hoverboard product pages that are still active, although some of those hoverboards are out of stock. Other hoverboard product pages on Amazon prove that some of the hoverboards are shipped from and sold by Amazon.

It’s not merely hoverboard cases and hoverboard accessories for sale, but hoverboards like the Jetson Electric Glyro Self Balancing Scooter Turbo, White by Jetson that’s listed as “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.” With gift-wrap available, the hoverboard can still be shipped in time for Christmas, reports Amazon.

One of the Amazon reviews on the hoverboard claims that the Amazon customer purchased the hoverboard – although it doesn’t have Amazon’s “Verified Purchase” seal – and alleges that the hoverboard caught on fire while the person was charging the hoverboard. Meanwhile, the hoverboard seller has hit back on Amazon with a reply stating that the Amazon customer left the same review on all of their hoverboard models. Other Amazon reviews for the hoverboard are positive.

Plenty of controversy can be seen in the Amazon review section of the hoverboards still for sale on Amazon. Some Amazon customers challenge the authenticity of other Amazon customer reviews of the hoverboards.

Meanwhile, the Amazon email told those hoverboard owners who have hoverboards with “non-compliant UK plugs” in their possession to get rid of the hoverboards safely. Amazon promised a refund to those hoverboard customers who received the email from Amazon.

According to the BBC, 15,000 unsafe hoverboards were seized from being brought into the U.K. The fire risk was attributed to faulty cords and plugs. In their email, Amazon apologized to the hoverboard customers. Amazon stated that those hoverboard customers who didn’t want to keep their hoverboards should contact Amazon.

“We regret the inconvenience this may cause you but trust you will understand that your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority.”

Hoverboard owners are being advised to not leave their hoverboards alone while they are charging. Specifically, they are advised not to leave the hoverboards unattended overnight while charging to try and prevent the hoverboard from overheating. Lots of the faulty hoverboards come with the clover-shaped plug.

Cheap and faulty hoverboards are giving hoverboards their “death trap” hoverboard reputation, reports Sky News?.

Other hoverboards still for sale on Amazon as of this writing include the blue Razor Hovertrax Electric Self-Balancing Scooter by Razor. It’s currently priced at $599 on Amazon, with the “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com” language. The customer reviews on Amazon for the hoverboard are mixed and full of controversy. While one Amazon customer claims the hoverboard caught on fire in a mall, another Amazon customer challenged the hoverboard owner to prove that his or her hoverboard caught on fire.

All told, plenty of the “ships and sold from Amazon” hoverboards don’t come with the “Verified Purchase” language that proves the customer bought the hoverboard from Amazon. Although the Amazon commentators may have purchased the hoverboard elsewhere and left the review on Amazon, it’s hard to tell if the Amazon customers are telling the truth without photographic or video proof of their hoverboard catching on fire.

[Photo by AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File]

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