Turns Out You Can’t Surf With Your Samsung

Remember the glory days of Samsung’s World Surf League sponsorship? When we all considered ditching Siri for the seemingly complex android life; when Samsung inspired poverty stricken children to #dowhattheycant; and most memorably, when Charlie was texting Gabs on his illustrious Samsung super-surfboard.

Well, despite Samsung and the WSL cutting ties, the tech company didn’t abstain from surf related advertising altogether. Instead, they pushed forward with pool, beach, and even surfing themed marketing campaigns to promote their products’ water resistance. What a pity the phones are only water-resistant in fresh water up to depths of 1.5 metres.

The Australian Consumers watchdog (ACCC) is subsequently suing Samsung for their misleading advertisements. They allege that the tech giant didn’t thoroughly test their phones in the conditions in which they were advertised, adding that Samsung denied the warranty claims of people who had damaged their phones in water. 

Everything you love, including denied warranty claims!

Samsung however said they are going to defend the claims. ““Samsung stands by its marketing and advertising of the water resistancy of its smartphones, “We are also confident that we provide customers with free-of-charge remedies in a manner consistent with Samsung’s obligations under its manufacturer warranty and the Australian Consumer Law.”

While I’m not a lawyer (I am however currently halfway through season two of Suits), I presume that Samsung will be defending the claim based on the recent wavepool world takeover. Soon enough salt water surfing will be obsolete, and surfing in freshwater – whether that be in a pool, in a river, or perhaps even the Great Lakes – will be the primary platform for surf-related activities. 

Over four million of the ‘water-resistant’ phones have been sold in Australia, so if you’re reading this article on one, just remember to keep it dry until the URBNSURF cove opens up in Melbourne sometime this year.