this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025
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The recall process is kind of annoying, but it seems fair if it works. They gave me the option of a $30 Amazon gift card (which is more than I paid for it), or a replacement/updated charger.
They insist you take two photos, and one of them has to include the serial number. The serial number is incredibly small, and it's very low contrast on the black version of the charger. Getting a photo that actually shows the number was nearly impossible. They also require that you affirm you will "safely dispose of the device" per their instructions.
I'm still waiting to hear if they approve my request, but it's only been a day.
Edit: it's been 7 days since I filed the recall, and they finally acknowledged that they received the request. It seems like they're kind of swamped with requests. As a result, "the earliest estimated shipping date is September 2025". I opted for the replacement charger; I'm not sure if the Amazon gift card option would have been faster.
They've clarified that their disposal instructions are just "Stop using it. Store it safely. Don't throw it in the garbage. Take it to a facility that accepts lithium batteries." I don't find those instructions particularly helpful, but Best Buy has accepted used power bricks in the past, if that's an option for you. I just walked in and said "You guys take these, right?", and an employee said yes, and took it from me. Couldn't have been much easier!
It’s nuts how companies get to pass on the disposal costs of a defective product to the consumer. “Contact your local municipal waste handler” as a million batteries get thrown in the landfill.
I agree that this is a sickening amount of e-waste, and companies should be responsible for processing/recycling their own waste, but what's the alternative in this case? Mail the faulty batteries back to Anker?
Yes, because mailing would be dangerous and they’d be forced to collect in an expensive way. Maybe they’d be more careful about generating faulty products then.