News November 16, 2017
Supplier Named in Hoverboard Recall
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this week announced recalls on a range of “hoverboards,” saying that the battery packs in the self-balancing scooters pose a risk of smoking, catching fire and/or exploding because they overheat. Counselor has confirmed that at least one ASI-listed company was named in connection with the recalls.
While no injuries have been reported, there have been incidents of property damage, smoking and overheating tied to several of the recalled self-balancing scooters, which are commonly called hoverboards, according to the CPSC.
“Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled self-balancing scooters/hoverboards,” the CPSC said in a statement.
Saint Louis, MO-based Digital Products International (DPI, asi/48039) was named as the importer of recalled iLive self-balancing scooters. From April 2016 through March 2017, about 8,700 of the iLive hoverboards sold for between $170 and $200 at Ace Hardware and hhgregg stores nationwide, as well as through Heartland America catalogs and online at AceHardware.com and hhgregg.com, officials said. Some also appear to have been sold in the promotional products market. “Our records show that we sold fewer than 40 units…into the premium incentive market,” DPI’s Wendy Smith told Counselor. “We do not track individual customer sales, however; that is up to the retailer.”
Representatives for DPI said to Counselor that all the recall-affected iLive hoverboards it carried are out of stock and no longer available for order. The CPSC said the boards in question have model numbers GSB56BC, GSB56RC, GSB65BUC, GSB56WC and GSB56GDC. The model numbers are printed on the bottom of the boards, which have two wheels, one at either end of a platform. Powered by lithium ion battery packs, “iLive” is printed in the center of the hoverboard’s top surface as well as underneath the top deck, facing the ground. “The hoverboards were sold in black, red, white, blue and gold,” the CPSC recall notice stated. “Some units were sold with a black carrying case.”
The CPSC said there was one report of an iLive battery pack overheating and smoking. No injuries or property damage have been reported in connection with the iLive scooters.
“Even though we have received no reports of injuries or damage, we have agreed with the CPSC to implement the voluntary recall,” said Smith. “All the GSB56 self-balancing scooters were purchased prior to the UL2272 standard being enacted. However, even prior to the standard being in place, DPI was very diligent in making sure we were doing everything possible to use only high-quality parts. With the two major risk components, adapters and batteries, DPI was using UL rated and approved adapters and LG batteries. These were also tested and certified by U.S. Customs.”
While no damage has been reported in connection with DPI’s iLive boards, the same couldn’t be said of another board the CPSC recalled. A Sonic Smart Wheels self-balancing scooter caught fire and caused approximately $40,000 worth of property damage to the home of a consumer in Louisiana. Dollar Mania of Bossier City, LA, imported the Sonic Smart Wheels hoverboards, which bore model numbers S-01 or SBW666SL and sold 1,000 of them at its stores in Bossier City and Shreveport, LA, from August 2015 through December 2016 for about $200, the CPSC reported.
Additionally, the CPSC this week announced a recall on Smart Balance Wheel hoverboards sold at Salvage World stores in Hattiesburg, MS, from August 2016 through March 2017 for about $150. In one instance, a board’s battery pack caught fire and/or exploded, resulting in property damage to a Mississippi home, the CPSC said. Salvage World imported the boards and sold about 700 of them. The scooters came in black, white, red, or blue.
In another hoverboard notice, the CPSC recalled about 1,800 Go Wheels self-balancing scooters that sold at Village Mart in Memphis, TN, from October 2015 to March 2016 for about $200 apiece. Four Star Imports of Memphis imported the boards. There was at least one report of a self-balancing scooter/hoverboard overheating. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage.
This week, the CPSC issued three other hoverboard-related recall notices.
Manufactured in China and imported by Drone Nerds of Aventura, FL, certain Drone Nerds self-balancing scooters that sold for $300 from November 2015 through March 2016 at the company’s store in Aventura, FL, and online at www.dronenerds.com have been recalled. About 700 units were sold. No incidents or injuries were reported. Drone Nerds imported the boards.
Meanwhile, the CPSC also announced a recall on the approximately 900 iHoverspeed self-balancing scooters that sold at Amazon.com, iHoverspeed.com and other online retailers from November 2015 to December 2015 for between $290 and $330. Simplified Wireless of New York imported the boards. No injuries or incidents were reported.
Lastly, the CPSC published a notice detailing the recall of Tech Drift hoverboards. Imported by Tech Drift of Los Angeles, CA, the boards sold online at www.techdrift.com and www.amazon.com from December 2015 through April 2016 for between $400 and $500 each. In total, Tech Drift sold about 100 of the recalled hoverboards, the CPSC stated. No incidents or injuries were reported.
For more details on the recalls, head here.