How to Get Your Money Back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Getting money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has some ins and outs depending on when and where the phone was bought. The Note 7 was officially released on August 19, 2016. Almost immediately reports began flooding in to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about the device catching fire. Within two weeks Samsung had announced its own unilateral recall of the phone, independent of any government agency. By September 15th the CPSC had stepped in and issued its own recall. The problem was apparently fixed with a new battery, but on 10/5/16 a report surfaced of a new, replacement Galaxy Note 7 catching fire on a Southwest Airlines flight.

Update: As of 10/26/16, Samsung is offering a full cash refund on all Galaxy Note 7’s. Note 7 owners are encouraged to power down their phones and return them to the point of purchase for either a replacement phone or a full refund. See details below.

How to Get Your Money Back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as of October 2016

As of October 2016 it’s easy to get money back for a Galaxy Note 7. All the phones have been deemed unsafe and recalled by the manufacturer. There’s no option to get a replacement Note 7, though customers who want to stick with Samsung can exchange the beleaguered phones for other Samsung products. The phones can also be swapped for devices from other makers at the point of purchase. Most importantly, Samsung is offering a full money back refund for all Galaxy Note 7’s regardless of when or where they were purchased. To take advantage of the offer, just return the device to the retailer for a full refund. Details about the recall are available at Samsung’s website here. Before you go jumping for the cash back option though, be aware that Samsung is offering a $100 bill credit to those who exchange a Note 7 for another Samsung device.

The earlier version of this article continues below.

How to Get Your Money Back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Run through the list of facts below to see options for getting your money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Generally speaking, all those who still have a pre-September 15 version of the phone can get their money back for it, no questions asked. The device was pulled from shelves at that time and restocked with “safe” versions on September 21. One of those “safe” replacement models has now allegedly caught fire. Anyone wanting money back for a newer replacement Note 7 may run into some hurdles. The table below has the details.

How to Get Your Money Back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7
If bought before 9/21/16All Samsung Galaxy Note 7's bought before 9/21/16 are under recall. Return them for either money back or a replacement. See below for details.
If bought on or after 9/21/16As of 10/6/16, there is no recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7's sold on or after 9/21/16. However, a high profile news story alleges that one such device caught fire on a commercial airline flight. To get money back for a non-recalled phone, see below.
If in doubtAnyone who wants their money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 can try regardless of recall status. There is no federal law requiring a vendor to refund money. State laws generally force retailers to comply with their own stated refund/return policies. Policies for various vendors are shown below.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from VerizonCustomers can get money back for any Verizon smartphone within 14 days of purchase, minus a $35 "restocking fee." After that time an early termination fee of $175 to $350 applies. Verizon will also let customers exchange even new replacement Galaxy Note 7's for any other device they have for sale.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from SprintSprint lets customers return any device within 14 days of purchase. Sprint has also announced that they'll let owners of new replacement Galaxy Note 7's exchange them for any other in their store during the October investigation.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from T-MobileT-Mobile has different returns policies for different devices and points of purchase. That said, they generally give money back within 20 days of purchase minus a $50 smartphone restocking fee. They'll also let customers with new replacement Galaxy Note 7's exchange them under their "remorse" policy.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from AT&TAT&T will give money back for any non-recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 per their returns policy. Phones can be returned within 14 days with a $45 restocking fee. After 15 days they charge a $325 early termination fee minus $10 for each month the phone was owned. The company will also exchange new replacement Galaxy Note 7's for any other device in stock.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from SamsungAny Galaxy Note 7 bought from Samsung can be returned within 30 days even if it's not defective. There may be a 15% restocking fee.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from TargetTarget will give money back for any non-defective electronics product within 30 days of purchase.
To get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from Best BuyCustomers can return any smartphone to Best Buy for money back within 14 days of purchase.
To get money back after the retailer's grace periodThe only way to get full money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 bought after 9/20/16 is to wait and see if those phones also get recalled. As of 10/6/16 that hasn't happened yet.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall: Three Things You Need To Know

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall

money-back-samsung-galaxy-note-7Getting money back for a recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is easy. It’s as simple as contacting the retailer and asking for a refund. Thanks to a recall hammered out with the CPSC, consumers still in possession of versions of the phone can get a full refund. To do that, just click on the CPSC link above or head straight to Samsung’s recall info page here.

Second Galaxy Note 7 Incident

Getting money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 purchased or exchanged after the first recall just got a lot easier. Samsung is now offering money back for any and all note 7’s. After the first recall in September, most Note 7’s were replaced with “safe” versions whose batteries apparently wouldn’t overheat. The trouble with that solution is that one of those newer, safer phones apparently did catch fire. The story so far is that a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 sold after September 21 overheated on a Southwest Airlines flight on October 5th. The runway incident filled the cabin with smoke, forcing the evacuation of all passengers and crew. Emergency vehicles were called to the scene.

Related: How to Get Your Money Back for a Hoverboard

How to Get Money Back for a Non-Recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The section below is now out of date. To get money back for any Samsung Galaxy Note 7, see the sections above. The earlier version of this article continues below.

To get money back for a non-recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7, either contact the retailer or wait for a second recall. Despite media reports of a phone fire on a plane on October 5th, Samsung and the CPSC haven’t recalled the phone as of 10/6/16. Anyone worried that their phone may catch fire should stop using it immediately under the “better safe than sorry” umbrella. Waiting for a second recall of new, “safe” phones bought after 9/21/16 is certainly one option.

Customers who want their money back now can try to do so through their retailer’s normal returns policy. Returns grace periods for various Samsung outlets are shown below. Anyone who bought a Galaxy Note 7 within that grace period can get a full or partial refund. Even phones purchased outside the grace period can be returned, though in some cases heavy fees apply.

Update: As of 10/7/16, All the major phone carriers including Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have announced that they’ll let worried customers exchange even new replacement Galaxy Note 7’s for any other device they have in stock.

  • Best Buy: 14 day grace period
  • Target: 30 day grace period
  • Samsung: 30 day grace period but up to a 15% “restocking fee.”
  • AT&T: 14 day grace period but up to a $45 restocking fee. After the grace period, up to a $325 “early termination fee.”
  • T-Mobile: 20 day grace period with $50 restocking fee on Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s.
  • Verizon: 14 day grace period with $35 restocking fee. After the grace period, early termination fee of $175 to $350.
  • Sprint: 14 day grace period. After that, early termination fee of $350.

That’s all the info available to date on how to get money back for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Check back here for updates as the situation unfolds. Recalls can be a frustrating process, as our article on how to get money back for a hoverboard illustrates.

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