According to the reports that have gotten to us from our sources, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has leveled an allegation against Samsung and is taking the company to court on the charge that it is misleading customers with the claim that it’s devices are water resistant. As alleged by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Samsung has been displaying phones in or close to environments that are not suitable like swimming pools and oceans since 2016 even though they didn’t have a ground to make an actual representation.
Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims in a statement said, “The ACCC alleges Samsung’s advertisements falsely and misleadingly represented Galaxy phones would be suitable for use in, or for exposure to, all types of water, including in ocean water and swimming pools, and would not be affected by such exposure to water for the life of the phone, when this was not the case”. The lawsuit that has been filed is based on a review of over 300 adverts.
A couple of Galaxy phones have been in advertisements for having an IP68 water resistance, this entails that they are able to last in waters that are 1.5 meters deep for a duration of 30 minutes. However, the point the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is trying to make is that it does not apply to all types of water, and Samsung itself advised that the Galaxy S10 should not be used at the beach. According to Rod Sims, “Samsung showed the Galaxy phones used in situations they shouldn’t be to attract customers,” he claims that consumers are interested in the water resistance feature but they were not provided with an informed choice.
Samsung usually states that the IP68 rating is for submersion in fresh water but it appears the issue the ACCC has with the company is that in its advertisements, Samsung misled customers by having the Galaxy devices at beaches or pools. Devices that are damaged by water are not protected by warranty and if you make it a habit to submerge your device in water, your device will breakdown.
Samsung responds as follows:
“Samsung stands by its marketing and advertising of the water resistancy of its smartphones. We are also confident that we provide customers with free-of-charge remedies in a manner consistent with Samsung’s obligations under its manufacturer warranty and the Australian Consumer Law. Customer satisfaction is a top priority for Samsung and we are committed to acting in the best interest of our customers.”
