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On June 2, 2024,
Spotify, the big name in music streaming, is in a tough spot with its failed hardware project, the Car Thing. What all the fuss is about, how returns work, and what it all means:
The Car Thing Goof
- Spotify’s first hardware product, “Car Thing,” was supposed to be a stylish way for music fans who don’t have built-in screens in their cars to listen to music. The $90 gadget worked as an external remote control and had a four-inch color tablet with voice recognition and pre-set buttons that let users access Spotify.
- However, Spotify shut down Car Thing just five months after it came out in 2022. At first, the company told current users that service would continue. But in May, Spotify said that all Car Thing devices would stop working by December 4, 2024, breaking that promise.
1: “The Refund Saga”
Customers who are unhappy with Spotify have filed a class-action case, so the company has chosen to give refunds for Car Thing orders. People who own the Car Thing can get their money back in the following ways:
1. **Proof of Purchase**: Find that old bill or email bill. You'll need it to show that you really did buy this broken tool.
2. **Get in Touch with Customer Service**: Call Spotify's customer service. Show proof of purchase politely and ask for a return.
You can pay with credit or cash. Your Car Thing may be going to the tech graves, but your money doesn't have to. It's possible that Spotify will give you a return. This could be in the form of a credit or a straight payment.The Fight and Spotify’s Tough Spot
- The class-action case says that Spotify lied to its customers by selling a product that would quickly lose all of its value and become a useless piece of junk. It’s strange that the refunds began on May 24, just a few days before the case. Did Spotify do something ahead of time to avoid legal trouble? Maybe.
- It looks like Spotify’s choice to turn off Car Thing devices was made to save money. Recently, the company had to deal with cuts, the loss of fan-favorite features, and a price increase that caused a lot of stir. Bricking Car Thing could be part of their plan to focus on their core services by reducing their services.
Final Thoughts
Spotify’s experience with the Car Thing should teach tech companies a lesson before they go into hardware. As users try to get their money back and the court fight goes on, the music streaming giant needs to be careful not to upset its customers.
Stay tuned for more turns in this beautiful story!
Please note that the information in this piece comes from sources that are open to the public and is not meant to be taken as financial advice.
Please click on the links given for more information on this interesting event! 😉
Sources:
- Spotify says it will refund Car Thing purchases
- Spotify offers Car Thing refunds as it faces lawsuit over bricking the streaming device
- Spotify to refund Car Thing purchases. Here’s how to get yours.
- Spotify is refunding Car Thing owners — how to get your money back before Spotify bricks it
- Spotify is offering refunds for Car Thing before it stops working
- Spotify will give you a refund for Car Thing after all
