Spotify customers hit back over the failed Car Thing
Spotify are killing their first hardware product and their customers are not letting it go that easily, prompting Spotify to respond.
Disgruntled customers have responded to the news that Spotify‘s Car Thing will no longer work with a lawsuit. After Spotify recommended that customers chuck their devices, some of them brought a class-action lawsuit to Spotify.
Their reasoning is that, if they had known Spotify would kill support for the device at any moment they would not have bought it. They are also criticising Spotify’s lack of a refund for those who bought the Car Thing. The filing reads: “Had plaintiffs and other members of the class known that Spotify manufactured the Car thing with the ability to brick the product at any point after its introduction to the marketplace and in Spotify’s total discretion, they would not have bought a Car Thing, or would have paid substantially less for them.”
Spotify have responded on the down-low. A new support page for the Car Thing suggests that Spotify are offering customers refunds upon request. They write that “individuals seeking a refund can contact customer support with proof of purchase to discuss their options.”
Spotify’s Car Thing was a dongle for listening to Spotify in the car. The device connected via Bluetooth or aux to your car speakers, with a digital display for browsing their music service. However, the product failed to capture hearts as it offered no reason to switch to a Car Thing from simply using your smartphone. After discontinuing the product in 2022, Spotify will now end their service on the device.
In the same support section where Spotify reveal the potential for refunds, they write their reasoning for discontinuing the Car Thing. They state that it is “part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings”, adding: “We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users.”
Other than the Car Thing, we’ve not heard mention of any other physical devices to come from Spotify. It may be that they’ve decided to keep their focus on their digital platform, or it may be that something special is secretly in the works.