I'm glad I didn't snap up a Swegway as a Christmas present this year after all, because Amazon has reportedly stopped selling them due to safety concerns.
We've already written about the various dangers associated with hoverboards but now it seems Amazon has opted to stop stocking them altogether.
BBC Newsbeat reports:
Major "hoverboard" maker Swagway has confirmed that Amazon has stopped selling its products in the UK and US. The company said it welcomed the move but that it has met all of the safety requirements requested by Amazon.
I can't seem to find any hoverboards for sale online at Halfords, either.
Trading Standards seized hundreds of hoverboards at a UK airport last month amid concerns that substandard versions of hoverboards, swegways and self-balancing scooters might pose a fire risk, and it's been widely reported that use of cheap and imitation versions of hoverboards which may not have been adequately tested for British safety standards could result in injury, death or fire.
The Guardian reports:
A number of hoverboards that had been sold on Amazon have now disappeared, including al five models once reviewed by consumer affairs site Best Reviews. That site now warns would-be buyers that "for the time being, we are not recommending any hoverboards until they are proven to be safe".
If you've bought a hoverboard for Christmas and have concerns about safety issues, do raise them with the retailer or through their Customer Services department. Remember, too, that your rights as a consumer mean you are entitled to cancel the order and get your money back up to 14 days after receiving the item.
UPDATE 16/12/15:
Sky News has reported that Amazon have been contacting customers to advise them to dispose of their 'hoverboards'. In an email sent to customers who bought hoverboards with "non-compliant UK plugs", Amazon said to "dispose of this product ... as soon as possible", adding "your safety and satisfaction is our highest priority" and that refunds would be given to those it has contacted. A second email was sent to customers who had bought hoverboards with "rechargeable lithium ion batteries and plugs" containing tips and advice following similar fears over safety of the gadgets.
Retailers Argos, Smyths Toys and John Lewis are the latest who have stopped selling hoverboards whilst safety concerns are addressed.
The Retail Ombudsman Dean Dunham had a warning for UK retailers stocking 'hoverboards' as he said in a statement:
"I would urge UK retailers to take the responsible step of removing unsafe hoverboards from sale or face the risk of the full force of the Consumer Protection Act, under which the retailer can be held liable for any injuries caused by unsafe goods.
"Consumers who have already purchased a hoverboard, perhaps as a Christmas present, should contact the retailer and ask for their written assurance that it's safe and in particular that it has a compliant plug with a fuse."
If you have a hoverboard or swegway you are urged to contact the retailer who supplied it to get assurances over it's safety.
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