Hoverboards, also known as self-balancing scooters, have been effectively declared unsafe. To date, no hoverboard with UL certification has been sold in the U.S., which means the ones you already own are on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's hit list. They are dangerous and you need to know what to do with them.
It's the stark reality hoverboard aficionados face after the CSPC sent a strongly worded letter to all hoverboard retailers, manufacturers and importers, warning them that hoverboards without UL certification will be turned away at the border and potentially seized from retailers. Consumers worried about the safety of their devices may be wondering how these companies plan to help.
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What follows is a live list of the retailers who sold hoverboards over the last 18 months and what they plan to do about them. We'll list if these companies are offering refunds or conducting recalls. If a retailer doesn't respond to our queries, we'll make that clear. If they’re offering free, UL-certified replacements, we'll let you know. Whatever the plan is, you'll find it here.
Amazon
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Maybe
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
Amazon has not made any official announcements about hoverboard sales, but quietly took down all of its hoverboard listings on Feb. 23, a few days after the CPSC issued its advisory.
The retailer hasn't said anything publicly about offering refunds. But the CPSC says customers who bought hoverboards from Amazon can ask for a refund on the company's contact page.
Amazon has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Yes
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? Yes
"In an abundance of caution, we are removing the hoverboards from sale pending our investigation into compliance with these new standards," a Bed Bath & Beyond spokesperson told Mashable. "In addition, if a customer is unhappy with a hoverboard, or any other item purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond, they may return the item to any of our stores and receive a refund with proof of purchase."
Brookstone
Stopped selling hoverboards? No
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
eBay
Stopped selling hoverboards? No
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
Modell's
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
NewEgg
Stopped selling hoverboards? No
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
Sharper Image
Stopped selling hoverboards? No
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
Target
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Yes
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? Yes
"We have paused the sale of hoverboards on Target.com," a Target spokesperson told Mashable. "Guests who have purchased a Swagway or Razor Hoverboard from Target.com and are at all concerned about product safety may return the item in store or online."
Before halting sales, Target had offered hoverboards only online, not in stores.
Toys 'R' Us
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? Yes
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to stop selling Hovertrax on our website, and are working closely with Razor, the manufacturer, to test the item against the latest safety standards," a Toys "R" Us spokesperson told Mashable.
No information was immediately available about potential refunds. Toys "R" Us had sold the hoverboards online but not in stores.
Walmart
Stopped selling hoverboards? Yes
Offering refunds? Unknown
Issued a recall? No
Responded to Mashable? No
Additional reporting by Jonathan Ellis