First, from the recall pages:
First Recall:
We have identified that certain Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks (Model: A1263) manufactured between January 1st, 2016, and October 30th, 2019, which were sold between June 1st, 2016, and December 31st, 2022, only in the United States may pose a fire safety risk due to a potential issue with the lithium-ion battery. This issue can cause the battery to overheat, leading to melting of plastic components, smoke, and fire hazards.
Most of these devices, if not all, were sold up to 2022, or 3 years ago. I do have some power banks that are 3 or 4 years old, so I'd check my inventory. Anything older than that is probably already experiencing age-related charging or discharging issues...and might not even be in use anymore.
2nd Recall:
As far as I can tell, model numbers beginning with A16 are more current, and might have been made/sold as late as 2024 or 2025. To me, these are the ones to be concerned about. Either retire them, or fill out the recall form and see if you can get a replacement.
what kind of customer service is this, for the US? Not only no refund, but leave the recycling to the local authorities?
So many of the affected models aren't something you would have bought recently. And as I noted above, it's very possible you may have retired those older affected units already just due to being old and not because of any recall-related issues. That is, if you had bought one in the first place.
I've liked Anker in the past, but going forward - no thank you
Why? They're not treating you unfairly. If you have one of the older units, do the thing, fill out the form, and get it replaced with a brand-new replacement item. Why would you be offended at not getting a refund when they're still going to make you whole?
Yikes, that’s a lot of potential causes (impurities, improper insulation, extreme heat and shock during manufacture) and not very good support for US buyers.
Those listed causes are basically part and parcel with ANY new battery, ESPECIALLY with any of the lithium type. Your battery probably sat in a hot cargo carrier during the slow-boat trip from China to whatever port you get your stuff from. The world is the world. It's big and it takes a lot of time to move something from where it was made to where it will be used. And it goes in big crates and gets handled by a lot of people, not all of whom are gentle.
Anker also increased their prices very quickly even when tariffs were just being discussed, I don’t know how they’ve handled it since with the panic dying down. MacRumors has heavily promoted Anker products with posts that earn them affiliate commissions, I wonder if their relationship and promotions will continue in the future or if this is a “fooled me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” situation.
There are two types of manufacturers: Those who have had recalls, and those who will have recalls.
Said it before, Anker stuff is not only ugly but cheap YouTuber junk.
That's your opinion. I've never had any trouble with anything from Anker, nor from its subsidiaries, including Eufy, which makes and sells security cameras (with batteries in them).
Consumer protection in the USA? Ha! What is that?!
Come on now, don't be so dramatic. We have lots of consumer protection in the US. Nobody can make/sell anything with a battery inside of it without jumping through a lot of hoops before, during, and after manufacture.
I'm guessing Anker probably knows a fair percentage of these items in the USA will just get tossed in the regular household waste stream.
Lots of guessing going on here.
Wouldn't be the first time for a sanitation truck to go up in flames because of lithium batteries. But why would they care, they got their money?!
All these flavors and you choose salty. Sanitation trucks going up in flames is NOT the fault of a company that makes products that contain batteries unless that company directly put the batteries in the regular waste stream. You know this. Why do you give a pass to the people who throw batteries in the regular waste, but want to hang the companies who make products?
If you're so righteous about exploding trucks, then why don't you do something about it? It sounds to me like your neighbors need to be educated. I'd be happy to be corrected if you could come up with some kind of proof that Anker is sneaking around in your town and putting their batteries in people's trash cans before the trucks make their pickups each day. Or maybe you think Anker is sneaking around at 2 am, breaking into municipal parking lots and maintenance garages just to surreptitiously put their evil batteries in the garbage trucks so they can blow up during their pickup runs the next day.
Did you know that you can bring things for recycling to your local waste collection facility? Yep. But you have to stop whining about a company that makes consumer products, and maybe lift a finger and find out where that place is. Hey, ask Siri; she might know. Or, if you have a Best Buy in your city, you can take things there. I recently recycled an old Bose home theater system at my local Best Buy, along with some old speakers and a non-functional cooker. Best Buy takes up to 3 home appliances...but hey, if you have 4, they probably won't chase you off their property. And they'll take batteries too. Just dump 'em in a bucket. They'll even give the bucket back to you, lol.
Alternatively, you can recycle batteries and batteried devices at your local Staples store.
Best Buy and Staples both have documented their recyling policies on their websites. And they both sell Anker products.
I'm really thinking maybe you should tell your neighbors about these options so that they will stop putting their batteries in the regular trash. I mean, because if there are trucks blowing up because of batteries, it's probably your neighbors doing it. Oh, and stop blaming manufacturers for your local problems.
I've purchased exactly one Anker product, a bathroom scale, years ago. Haven't touched a product of their's since and won't again as their products and business practices always seem to come up short.
You've given exactly ZERO examples of how they "always seem to come up short". Honestly, I suspect you're just jealous or mad about something else. Asking for a friend...are you okay?
I think that Anker, on balance, is doing the right thing here. They're having a recall, and half of the stuff being recalled is probably obsolete anyhow. They're replacing the recall items (with a gift card), which is not a bad deal at all, especially for that old stuff that's been sitting in your damp basement or hot garage since 2021.
So they don't offer a refund. Big whoop. Most manufacturers wouldn't offer a refund either. They're STILL making you whole, so I think people need to calm down.
