Samsung Electronics' Experience Store in Kyiv, Ukraine / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Electronics is expanding its customer service in Ukraine, expressing its willingness to share in the difficulties faced by Ukrainian customers amid the Russian invasion, the company said, Tuesday.
The Korean tech giant's Ukraine branch said on April 16 that it will operate customer service remotely for customers who want to fix their Samsung mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs and smartwatches.
The company continues to operate its offline customer service centers in areas where business activities are available. And in other places where service centers cannot be operated, it will provide a free pick-up service for users of mobile and wearable devices who can send their devices to the service center or call a courier.
For the remote customer service, Samsung is cooperating with Ukrainian logistics company Nova Poshta. Samsung joined the Ukraine market back in 1996, selling its home appliances and mobile gadgets there.
"Despite all the challenges facing Ukraine today, the company remains with the Ukrainians, guaranteeing quality service to all who need it, and supporting the work of as many service centers as possible," Samsung's Ukraine branch announced, regarding why it decided to expand its customer service.
"Samsung Electronics is looking forward to the day when we will all be able to safely enjoy life again in every corner of Ukraine. Nowadays, when the most important thing is people's lives and health, the company provides service centers in those regions where it is possible."
In line with the customer service expansion, Samsung also removed the letter Z from its foldable phones ― the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 ― in some European countries such as Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as the letter Z is being used as a symbol of the Russian army.
As part of its humanitarian efforts for Ukrainian refugees, the company also donated $6 million to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in March.
Not only Samsung but other Korean companies are also actively supporting Ukraine despite the worsening conditions. LG Electronics is supporting Ukrainian refugees who fled to neighboring countries by providing home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens through international aid organizations. Hyundai Motor Group also donated $1 million for emergency relief.
