Introduction:A 10000mAh wireless power bank gifted by Starbucks suddenly smoked and exploded while charging, not only burning scorch marks into the carpet but also raising public concerns about the safety of the brand’s peripheral products. This incident, which occurred in 2023, was only recently exposed by a former employee, who also revealed the indifferent attitude of Starbucks customer service. This article delves into the manufacturing background of the involved power bank, common misconceptions about charging safety, and advice for consumers dealing with problematic products.
Recently, a Taiwanese netizen who once worked at Starbucks shared a startling experience on social media: a 10000mAh power bank she received as a Starbucks gift in 2023 overheated, emitted thick smoke, and then exploded and caught fire during charging, nearly causing a serious accident. This power bank, which features 15W wireless charging, was manufactured by Taiwan’s Life Workshop International Co., Ltd. After the incident, the victim contacted Starbucks customer service for a response but only received perfunctory replies. She was even told by the service representative that “after all, it had been used for two years,” which left her deeply disappointed and sparked widespread discussion about the safety oversight of corporate giveaways and the responsibility of after-sales service.
According to the victim’s account, she received this power bank in 2023 as a gift from the Starbucks employee welfare committee. Even after leaving her job and joining a new company, she continued to use it. However, one day at noon, when she plugged the power bank into a charger, the device suddenly heated up drastically, began emitting thick smoke, and then exploded and caught fire. Everyone present was terrified, and the carpet in her new office was left with two distinct charred holes. Fortunately, the fire was brought under control in time and did not cause further damage—otherwise, the consequences could have been dire.
In her post, the netizen stated that she wanted to use her experience to remind others who might still be using the same model of power bank to pay special attention to charging safety. She also hoped that Starbucks would issue an official statement to inform consumers of the potential risks. However, after contacting Starbucks customer service, the first call yielded only the response that “it would be reported to a supervisor,” and the second call similarly resulted in a vague assurance that the issue would be “reported later.” The customer service representative even responded to her concerns by saying, “After all, it had been used for two years,” leaving her feeling deeply disappointed and helpless.
It is understood that the power bank involved in the incident has a capacity of10000mAhand supports15W wireless charging. It was manufactured by Taiwan’s Life Workshop International Co., Ltd. under commission from Starbucks. Photos shared by the netizen clearly show obvious scorch marks on the carpet and under the table after the explosion. The originally black casing of the power bank had melted, deformed, and shattered into pieces scattered across the carpet. Even so, the blurred letters “STARBUCKS” could still be made out among the debris.
The netizen further explained that she received this power bank as an employee benefit in 2023, and had used it for less than two years after leaving her job, with relatively low usage frequency. However, on the 10th of the month, shortly after returning to her workstation following lunch, she noticed the power bank emitting smoke and strange noises. She immediately took it off the charger and placed it on the floor, after which it exploded and caught fire. She remarked emotionally, “I was also an employee at the time, and the gift I received turned out to be a bomb—it’s hard to believe, and it’s clearly a personal safety issue. But Starbucks customer service didn’t take any appropriate action at all.” She also mentioned that two or three former colleagues had been using the same product, but after the incident, no one dared to use it anymore. She reported the incident to her former employer, hoping only to raise awareness about safety and discourage continued use of this power bank.
In response to the incident, Starbucks stated that they had immediately checked on the victim’s condition and requested the manufacturer to provide compliance and safety certifications (as of press time, these certifications have not been made public). Starbucks also said it would strengthen internal promotion and control over the safety and quality of peripheral products to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
This incident not only raises questions about the quality management of branded giveaways but also reminds consumers to pay special attention to the source of power banks, the manufacturer’s information, and whether the products have passed relevant safety certifications when choosing and using them. For charging devices that have been used for a long time or have exhibited abnormalities, it is recommended to replace them promptly to ensure the safety of oneself and the surrounding environment.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
