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In a nutshell: Spotify has started issuing full refunds to Car Thing owners after receiving numerous complains following a recent announcement that the device would reach end-of-life status and be rendered useless later this year.
It’s been roughly one week since Spotify announced it would be shutting down Car Thing in December, and it didn’t take long for the complaints to start pouring in. A company representative told Engadget on Thursday of this week that as of last Friday (May 24), customers with proof of purchase could reach out to customer service for a full refund.
Spotify originally said they had no plans to offer a replacement or new version of the device, nor would they be offering any trade-in options or subscriber credit. Some, however, were reportedly able to get Spotify Premium credits from customer service reps for their troubles.
Others took to social media to voice their concerns, while a select group went the legal route by filing a class action lawsuit in Manhattan federal court. According to Billboard, the suit was filed on May 28 although Spotify claims it started issuing refunds days earlier.
It’s easy to see why Car Thing owners are upset. Spotify started testing the device with a limited number of users in 2019 before rolling it out to the general public in early 2022. Later that year, the company quietly discontinued the gadget due to weak demand and supply chain issues, but continued to sell it at a discount on its website.
Car Thing has worked as advertised ever since, but that’ll change later this year. Spotify is pulling the plug on December 9, and after that it will no longer be operational. Owners are encouraged to reset the device to factory settings and safely dispose of it following local electronic waste guidelines.
Personally, I’d hang on to it in hopes of the community one day figuring out how to unlock its full potential for other uses. It’s a neat gadget with loads of promise, and sending it to an early grave seems unjust.
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