Samsung ear buds causing irritation for some customers
When people had to work from home due to the pandemic, sales of home office equipment surged and that included items like headphones and ear buds.
Some companies issued new high end wireless and noise cancelling models like Samsung, which released the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro in January of this year.
Johnny Cheng of North York bought a pair for about $260, but said when he started using them he felt irritation in his ears almost right away.
“I started to have itchiness every time I put them on,” said Cheng.
Cheng says he didn't wear them very often, but each time he did the irritation got worse so he stopped using them as they became too painful to wear.
“I started getting itchiness within both ears and one of the ears was getting really red and hot liquid started to flow from my ear," said Cheng.
When he did a Google search he found some other users around the world had also had a bad reaction to the ear buds.
A Samsung message forum with customer comments showed users complaining of “allergic reactions,” “burning sensation in my ear,” and ears that had become “wet and inflamed.”
Cheng said when he contacted Samsung Canada someone did take down his complaint, but he said no one got back to him.
“They are very comfortable and everything is perfect in technical specs. It seems it's the silicone, that there is something in this material that is causing people irritation," said Cheung.
CTV News Toronto reached out to Samsung Canada and a spokesperson told us “Customer satisfaction is Samsung’s top priority.”
“Although rare, certain people experience a reaction to wearing ear buds. This can be as a result of a variety of factors such as allergies, wearing the ear buds for prolonged periods, exposure to sweat or skin care products and other usage habits. We encourage customers to follow the care and use instructions for the device and encourage any customer with questions regarding their Galaxy Buds Pro to reach out to us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG.”
Consumer Reports has advised that cleaning headphones and earphones is necessary after prolonged use.
In Cheng's case, he said he only used the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro several times. After we contacted Samsung Cheung was issued a full refund.
Some people may be more prone to irritation when using ear buds. If it happens to you stop using them and if you have headphones or ear buds you may want to check the cleaning instructions as cleaning can also help them sound better and last longer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.