AT&T Quickfire could overheat, spontaneously burst into irony if charged incorrectly
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Feb 25th 2009 at 12:34PM
Follow the break for AT&T's email to customers.
Please take special care when charging your Quickfire GTX75 mobile phone. There have been a few reports of significant overheating of the phone when the AC Charger adapter is inserted incorrectly and forced into the phone.
The clearly marked, embossed arrow on the AC Charger adapter should always be face-up on the same side as the display screen of the Quickfire when it is inserted into the phone. See the diagram below for proper positioning and insertion of the AC Charger adapter into the phone. You should never force the AC Charger adapter into the phone.
If you have any questions, please call 1-800-801-1101.
Sincerely,
AT&T
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hey Ya @ Feb 25th 2009 12:39PM
If you can actually fit the plug in the wrong way, there's something wrong with that plug design.
123doode @ Feb 25th 2009 1:08PM
i just got that text message saying to go there. [http://www.att.com/wapmyaccountqf/]
is this why they got pulled from shelves?!
I demand a replacement!
Kattleox @ Feb 25th 2009 1:07PM
I can already see the terrorists attempting to make an IED, only to have the phone combust in their face--burning them to death--the night before.
Kris @ Feb 25th 2009 10:36PM
If you want a replacement for the Quickfire and it's less than 30 days since purchase, AT&T will let you exchange. If it's more than 30 days, then AT&T Exchange by Mail will replace the Quickfire with the Samsung Propel.
Hayden @ Feb 27th 2009 9:31PM
did you have to send in the quickfire to get your new propel. or was it like you get two pones for the price of one. One to use and one to catch fire and burn down your house.
Tito @ Feb 25th 2009 2:45PM
While I do believe that someone dropped the ball in the design department for not making it idiot-proof, let's not lose sight of the fact that there is not anything wrong with the device itself.
AT&T is just covering their legal backside for anyone stupid enough to force the charger in the wrong way. Especially in light of all the laptop batteries, etc. exploding and catching fire.
It's like someone taking a polarized wall outlet plug and shaving it down so you can fit it in backwards... of course you're going to fry whatever it is you do that. The current is going the wrong way!
Hey Ya @ Feb 25th 2009 3:33PM
I haven't actually seen the design, so I can't really speak to the stupidity of the user. I guess it all depends on how much force is actually necessary to pull this off.
If the plug goes in just as easily the wrong way as it does the right way, is that really user error?
Considering I've never heard of this being a problem with any other phone, I'd guess that this problem has a lot more to do with the phone than the people using it. If this is so easy to mess up, why don't we hear stories like this all the time with a bunch of different devices?
Hey Ya @ Feb 25th 2009 3:35PM
... to that end... When was the last time you needed directions for a plug?
If a plug has to be explained, something is wrong with the design.
Tito @ Feb 25th 2009 4:23PM
I don't have one either, so I'm not 100% certain, but from what I read in the AT&T email, it indicates that there is some force necessary to put it in the wrong way.
While I agree that it could have / should have been designed differently (as I said above) it seems as though this is occurring because *idiots* are putting it in the wrong way, and when there is resistance they shove it and force it instead of thinking "hmm.. this might go the other way..." (which is the first thing I would think).
That would be like someone taking a polarized plug, trying to put it in the wall outlet the wrong way, and instead of realizing it goes the other way, jams it in with all their might until they get it to go in... then complain when whatever electronics heats up abnormally or doesn't work later. Granted, a polarized socket is much harder to jam it in, and to that end yes the design very well should have been more obvious, but I don't think it goes in just as easily.
And the main purpose of my post was in response to the person who said they want an exchange over this... simply, the device is fine. It's not like you have a ticking timebomb with a battery waiting to explode... as long as you're halfway intelligent :-)
kathy @ Feb 26th 2009 5:04PM
I agree!!! Just because some dumb people don't pay attn to the arrow..duh!!
My friends liked my phone and wanted a quickfire too. Now they know it is "recalled" due to idiocy and can't get it.
kathy @ Feb 26th 2009 5:07PM
I agree!!! Just because some dumb people don't pay attn to the arrow..duh!!
My friends liked my phone and wanted a quickfire too. Now they know it is "recalled" due to idiocy and can't get it.
alex @ Feb 25th 2009 4:06PM
this is the definition of irony!!
Johnny @ Feb 25th 2009 4:26PM
I have the device and after getting the text message I purposely tried to put the charger in the opposite way without breaking it. After time, effort and force I barely got the tip in (kind of like one small female hole) :-)
You'd have to be stupid to jam this thing in the opposite way.
val @ Mar 16th 2009 3:47PM
i agree i have the quickfire and just not had all the issues people are complaining about and i know if i am putting the charger in the wrong way because it does not go in when you put it in the correct way it goes in just fine people are something now all of the sudden people are having all these problems since they pulled the phone. yeah tell me another one.
Aaron @ Feb 25th 2009 8:14PM
The headline of this post deserves an award for funniest blog line of 2009! :)
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 26th 2009 12:23AM
i second that. can't remember the last time i actually laughed out loud at a blog entry title lol.
jouten @ Feb 25th 2009 11:25PM
Samsung Propel would be an upgrade compared to this phone right?
JonInAtl @ Feb 26th 2009 6:33AM
@ Jouten
Well, since it's on AT&T... two cans and a string would be an upgrade.
Ashu @ Feb 26th 2009 7:51AM
he he. very well said. sp apt for AT&T but they are still selling millions of iPhones
Nick @ Feb 26th 2009 10:52PM
I sell phones for ATT. The Propel they want to give you in exchange is not like the quickfire. The only real thing in comparison is the FUSE but it is worth more so they won't exchange to it. You have an option of PROPEL and after fighting with them I got an option for the MATRIX which I think is alot closer to it. You lose the touchscreen no matter what. I like the Matrix better cause the keys are a little larger and spaced more then the PROPEL.
Joe @ Feb 27th 2009 3:23PM
No offense guys, but the quickfire is absolute junk to begin with. I work at an At&t corporate store and we have had nothing but problems with the phone since it was released in November. We nicknamed it the quickreturn here in the store because they usually come back before the 30 days for exchange.
andrew house @ Feb 27th 2009 12:34PM
this phone sucks anyway, i had one for two weeks before the touch screen broke on nothing. and without any shortcut keys this phone is a shitter for being able to even pull up your contacts list. useless. sent it back and am now wondering what phone they are going to try and send me. rocking a blackberry curve now. should have never left.
kellen @ Mar 11th 2009 7:47PM
I bought the quickfire phone like at christmas time and i was really stupid haha i was forcing the carger in because it was dark and i was annoyed, so the charger broke -- i bought a new one. But my phone froze and the charging was not being...'complete' sooooo it went back to normal after like 2 weeks. Then it froze 3 days ago and the charging sucked (again). Last night i signed on to MSN like i usually do on my qjickfire fone and it usually gets super hot, i did my chores for an hour and when i came back...the screen was black and now i can't even get it to turn on, not even putting the charger in will fix it =/ what do i do?? thankies.
joan @ Mar 22nd 2009 6:26PM
I do not like this touch screen phone. Will not get another. Now I dislike it even more after knowing it can catch fire.
When I send a message and tap on the word done to get back to the send screen there are more times than not
that I have to tap the done button at least 20 to 40 times before it works.
Peace @ Mar 25th 2009 8:24PM
I got my phone for christmas and i HATE it . do you think i can still trade it in after two months? one reason is im SOOO scared to charge it becuz of the fire incedent! Please HELP!!!!!
BrianS @ Apr 10th 2009 2:20AM
i got the quickfire not to long ago, the second day i had it the touch screen broke, like the screen still worked but the touch screen didn't, the next day i drop it "once" screen broke inside, everyday the screen breaks more and more, now im at the point where im using my backup phone because i can't see. Will they give me a new phone, worse phone i have ever had in my life, expensive phone, yet built so cheezy. answer my question please?