Many residents in Portland are excited for the solar eclipse on August 21 that a number of them have ordered eclipse glasses from Amazon for better viewing pleasure. Several of those buyers have been receiving recall notices from Amazon, however.
On Saturday, KGW’s photography staff got an email from Amazon explaining that the solar filters the station ordered for the August 21 total solar eclipse were not confirmed safe for viewing.
The lens caps supposedly had the proper ISO number. 12312-2, which has been verified to be compliant with international safety standards. Amazon said, however, that the supplier failed to confirm that the item came from a recommended supplier. Amazon then issued the warning and wrote: “We recommend that you DO NOT use this product to view the sun or the eclipse.”
Many other buyers received similar emails from Amazon for the eclipse glasses just as stores are quickly running out of the hot sale items with just a week to go before the eclipse. Some verified sellers of the said glasses say their products are also under Amazon recall. Many are shocked by Amazon’s move with just a week before the much-anticipated event.
At least a dozen KGW viewers said they received recall notices from Amazon Saturday. Some of those who ordered saw ads guaranteeing that the eclipse glasses they were purchasing is “CE and ISO tested
Amazon announced they are issuing full refunds. A spokesperson for the company said they are only responding “out of an abundance of caution.”
Amazon also clarified that customers who did not receive emails of recall were able to purchase glasses that were safe to use. The company, however, did not reveal how many glasses were actually recalled, and how much money they refunded.
Eclipse glasses sale has shot up this month, one company even selling three times its monthly average. 95% of current sales are attributed to the solar eclipse. Suppliers affected by the recall shared their businesses will be severely affected by Amazon’s move, even as they insist their products are NASA-approved.
Amazon encouraged its customers to refer to the NASA and AAS websites for more information about how to safely view the solar eclipse.
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