Dive Brief:
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Overstock.com said Wednesday that it would no longer sell hoverboards due to concerns over a major fire hazard.
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Customers who already bought the self-balancing electric scooters can return them for a full refund if a return is initiated within two weeks of the notice, or within two weeks of product delivery, whichever comes first. Overstock says it’s been contacting customers that have purchased the scooters from its website.
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Several reports of fires and even explosions during use of the scooters prompted a warning against them from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating at least 10 hoverboard-related fires in nine states. Several airlines have banned them from being brought on board.
Dive Insight:
Explosions and fire risk are major flaws in a holiday gift, to say the least. Hoverboards have emerged as one of the most popular holiday items this year, but the emerging dangers are likely to throw cold water on that trend. The fires appear to be linked to what NBC News described as “cheap lithium batteries” that over heat when the scooters are being used.
Several airlines have banned hoverboards from flights over concerns of those batteries as well, even though they wouldn’t be used in flight.
The news of safety issues with the popular hoverboards brings to mind the recent cyber hack of Vtech toys. While tech toys have emerged as especially popular this year and could potentially help revive stagnant toy sales, the fact that the Vtech hackers were able to capture data and images on children could discourage such sales.