I just got an e-mail from Blu Cigs, a U.S. supplier of electronic cigarettes that seems pretty urgent.
Yes, I know I haven’t reviewed them yet, but I am on their e-mail list as a customer because I bought their starter kit and some cartridges a short time ago and just haven’t got around to a review yet. I was actually going to start working on it this week. Now, I am not so sure.
Anyway, the e-mail is a “recall” on their heavily touted “Blu-Pack.”
The Blu-Pack as seen in the picture above (retails for $9.95) is an carrying case for Blu electronic cigarette batteries and cartridges that doubles as a mobile battery charger. This Blu pack was definitely a novel idea and I have talked to a couple people that have used it and they really like it.
In a nutshell, their e-mail to customers states that the lithium polymer battery in the Blu-Pack could rupture the battery case and that the customer should discontinue use of the faulty Blu-Packs and dispose of them as instructed until replacement Blu-Packs can be shipped to customers.
As a valued Blu customer, we will replace your current Blu Pack at no expense to you
Sony, Dell and many other laptop and cell phone manufacturers have had similar problems with lithium battery packs.
This is a shame because Blu electronic cigarettes have really been on the rise in popularity and I was really looking forward to reviewing it. I may risk it and review it anyway with my faulty Blu-Pack.
Further details of Blu’s promise to replace all the faulty Blue-Packs out there with new ones are in the e-mail to all their customers which I have published in full below.
Kudos to the folks at Blu for promptly attempting to resolve this issue. Hopefully they will follow through with the replacement of all the units and this won’t cause them to go out of business in the process.
Here is the e-mail I got from Blu:
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IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
Dear Blu Customer:
Our battery manufacturer has identified a potential safety issue that could lead to the overcharging and rupture of the Lithium Polymer battery incorporated in your Blu Pack battery charger. This potential safety issue could cause the Blu Pack to overheat and rupture the battery case. If the battery case ruptures, it could result in combustion of the gases and create a fire hazard.
IMMEDIATELY STOP USING YOUR BLU PACK AND DO NOT PLUG IT IN TO THE WALL CHARGER.
YOU MAY STILL CHARGE YOUR INDIVIDUAL BLU CIG BATTERY BY USING THE WALL CHARGER AND USB CHARGER PROVIDED IN YOUR STARTER KIT.
To charge your individual Blu Cig Battery using a wall outlet, simply plug your individual Blu Cig Battery into the USB Charger, plug the USB Charger into the Wall Charger, and plug the Wall Charger into the wall outlet.
You may also charge your individual Blu Cig Battery by plugging your individual Blu Cig Battery into the USB Charger, and then plugging the USB Charger directly into your computer’s USB Outlet.
DO NOT CHARGE YOUR INDIVIDUAL BLU ECIG BATTERIES WITH THE BLU PACK.
The battery manufacturer has implemented changes to the current design that will eliminate the risk of overcharging. We anticipate receiving the newly designed Blu Packs within 4 – 6 weeks. As a valued Blu customer, we will replace your current Blu Pack at no expense to you. A new Blu Pack will be shipped to you when replacement units are received from the manufacturer.
Although the risk of an overcharging event may be limited, you are instructed to immediately stop using your existing Blu Pack. We will replace your current Blu Pack with the new, improved Blu Pack and instruct you on how to properly dispose of your current Blu Pack. We apologize for any inconvenience.
IN ORDER TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF YOUR CURRENT BLU PACK:
Go to: http://72.3.227.101/drop-off-your-old-batteries.php?c=142&w=9100&r=Y
Enter your zip code to find a recycling center where you can drop off your Blu Pack.
Alternatively, if you want to dispose of the Lithium Polymer battery in the Blu Pack yourself, please follow these instructions:
- Blu Pack must be cool to start process.
- Submerse the Blu Pack into a 5 gallon plastic bucket or tub of salt water (do not use metal). This container should have a lid, but it does not need to be airtight. Fill the plastic container with 3 – 5 gallons of cold water and mix in 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. Be sure to mix the salt water before you add your Blu Pack. Drop the Blu Pack into the salt water. DO NOT USE REGULAR WATER WITHOUT SALT ADDED, OR IT COULD CAUSE A CHEMICAL REACTION.
- Allow the Blu Pack to remain in the tub of salt water for at least 2 weeks.
- Remove the Blu Pack from the salt water, wrap it in newspaper or paper towels, and place it in the normal trash. They are landfill safe.
CONTINUED USE OF YOUR BLU PACK MAY BE HAZARDOUS. IMMEDIATELY STOP USING YOUR BLU PACK AND DISPOSE AS DIRECTED ABOVE.
YOU MAY STILL CHARGE YOUR INDIVIDUAL BLU ECIG BATTERIES BY USING THE WALL CHARGER AND USB CHARGER PROVIDED IN YOUR STARTER KIT.
CARTRIDGES AND ACCESSORIES MAY STILL BE ORDERED PENDING AVAILABLE INVENTORY.
Customer Service
Email: customerservice@blucigs.com
Toll Free: 1-888-207-4588
Sincerely,
If you feel that you have received this notice in error, you may request to be removed from the mailing list by unsubscribing here.
blu
P.O. Box 12711
Charlotte, NC 28220-2711