Amazon Shuns Selling Hoverboards: Fire Risk Demands for Stringent Implementation of Consumer Act

Online marketplace Amazon has shunned selling hover boards and tipped customers to throw them out. Amazon has acted sharply over rising concerns that some of the boards for sale are unsafe since they catch fire. Trading Standards, product safety watchdog, opined for going through a safety checklist to refrain from buying dangerous product.

The firm has cautioned its buyers who purchased hover boards, about ‘non complaint UK plugs’ and also advised to dispose of the product at a recycling center. Compliant customers will automatically be refunded by next three days. The shunning will be applied both for store and online selling.

Hover boards are self balancing scooters and are also known as ‘rideables'. Gyroscopes are used to counter-balance and control the speed of the wheels - while some models are capable of travelling at up to 12 mph. Department of Transport has limited its mobility within a personal property with consent from the owner.

Amazon decision comes amid Trading Standard seizes 15,000 unsafe boards, brought in to the UK, since the product fails to pass the Quality check due to cables, chargers or plugs that may get fire. Retailers Argo, John Lewis, Tesco also announces to follow Amazon, according to a report published in BBC .

Qantas, Emirates and American Airlines also have slapped banning on lithium ion- powered boards. Qantas won’t accept self balancing boards in carry- on or checked baggage for any domestic or international flight. The banning is applicable for two wheeled hover boards, air boards, smart scooters, mini Segways as well as single-wheeled uni-wheels and air-wheels and effects from Wednesday, reports The Age .

Worth for around $800, hover boards are tipped to a huge seller during Christmas. But the self balancing devices have sparked safety concerns after fire incidences originating from these devices; have been reported in England, United States and Hong Kong.

The event of shunning hover boards selling has been confirmed by one of its major builders, Swagway. It has accused Amazon of unilateral banning despite its efforts to meet all the safety requirements requested by Amazon. News beat has been reported to conduct search, only to detect sale of accessories, according to report published in The Nation Pakistan .

Trading Standard has suggested the customers to attend the device physically while charging, and check the plug. The watchdog also advised to remain careful about genuineness of the product as well as seller while purchasing online. Anyone who finds such products for sale has been requested to contact the Citizens Advice helpline. Earlier, it has served cautionary notice to the retailers for removal of such devices with commitments for stringent implementation of Consumer Protection Act.

Amazon, the online sales store has decided to shun selling of self balancing scooters or hover boards after Trading Standard, Product Safety watchdog confiscated some 15,000 hover boards, those have been brought to UK for selling. Non compliant UK plugs, faulty chargers and cables have caused fire incidences in UK, USA and Hong Kong. Moreover, faulty design containing lithium ion- powered battery emits radiation that may cause fire and so aircraft have also slapped ban on carrying any sort of self driving scooters.