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How To Buy A Hoverboard And Make Sure It's Safe

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  It's been a roller coaster of a holiday season for hoverboards.

One day, they're the most sought-after gift; the next, they're a dangerous fire hazard.

We've been telling you how they're getting pulled off shelves at some stores, so what should you look for if you're still planning to put one under the tree?

Tony Le says your inspection should begin with the battery.

"You want to make sure the batteries that you get are branded batteries -- Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic," Le explained.

That's what his company, Glitech, uses in its boards, which he says include a kind of circuit protector.

"Like when you're charging your iPhone, when it's fully charged, it would know it's fully charged, and would just stop charging," Le told KYW Newsradio.

Le, whose company is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, says reputable hoverboard sellers will have inventory in this country and do repair work here, too.

"Not all boards are dangerous if they're built according to specification and the company's legitimate," he said.

The safety certification company UL cautions that it hasn't put its seal of approval on any hoverboard, only on some batteries and chargers.

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