Following several safety issues reportedly caused by low-quality third party iDevice power chargers, including the death of a woman in China, Apple has announced an iDevice charger trade-in program to allow customers with counterfeit chargers to exchange them for genuine Apple products at a relatively minimal cost.
Apple requires all third party firms manufacturing iDevice accessories to obtain MFi Certification (“Made for iPod, iPhone, and iPad”). Although information remains incomplete, it appears that the recent safety issues stem from uncertified accessories made by unauthorized manufacturers.
While Apple’s licensing agreements explicitly deny liability for issues arising from the use of unauthorized software and hardware, the significant safety issue posed by malfunctioning chargers, coupled with consumer backlash in China following the aforementioned death, prompted Apple to take its proactive position.
Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third party adapters may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues. While not all third party adapters have an issue, we are announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters.
Customer safety is a top priority at Apple. That’s why all of our products — including USB power adapters for iPhone, iPad, and iPod — undergo rigorous testing for safety and reliability and are designed to meet government safety standards around the world.
The “USB Power Adapter Takeback Program” begins Friday, August 16. Apple customers worldwide who bring their iDevice and third party charger to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider can obtain a genuine Apple USB power adapter (or 12W USB adapter for iPads) for $10, about half of the products’ regular price of $19. The company will then dispose of the potentially dangerous third party charger in an “environmentally friendly way.”
Apple notes that this program is all or nothing; the company’s retail support staff won’t be able to advise customers on the safety of their existing third party chargers. So if you’re not sure about the safety of your third party charger, and want the peace of mind of using only genuine Apple products, you’ll have to shell out $10 for the privilege.
The program is limited to one discounted charger per device and runs until October 18, 2013.
