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
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.