To retain loyal fans disgruntled by the recent Note 7 fiasco, Samsung has come up with a 50% discount offer on Note 8 handsets. However, the offer is currently only available for Note 7 owners in South Korea.
The Note 7’s collapse is costing Samsung millions in operating profits (Reuters)
Reuters was the first to report on the upgrade program. It accessed a statement from Samsung on Monday that said Note 7 owners can trade up for a Galaxy S8 or Note 8 smartphone launching next year.
The statement mentioned that users in the upgrade program will need to pay only half the price of a Galaxy S7 device, rather than the full amount, before exchanging to the S8 or the Note 8.
The company said the availability of such a program in other markets will be dependent on the situation in each country.
Besides refunds or exchanges, Reuters report noted that Samsung has already offered financial incentives amounting to 100,000 won ($88.39) to affected customers in South Korea.
Samsung has permanently discounted the Note 7 production. In the U.S., the company’s Note 7 Refund & Exchange program gave customers several options, including $100 bill credit if they exchange a Note 7 for any Samsung smartphone or $25 in credit if they exchange a Note 7 for a refund or other branded smartphone.
It has been almost two months since the first explosion incident was reported. The electronics giant is still unable to solve the mystery behind the overheating and battery explosions.
Samsung is now putting all efforts in the promotion and marketing of its crucial Galaxy S8 release. According to known sources, the device could hit the market by end of February or beginning of March. Samsung’s reputation for overall quality is taking a huge hit. Only time will tell if the upcoming Galaxy S8 can restore the trust and add value to the brand.
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