Spotify starts offering refunds to users of Car Thing after it stops working

Spotify has begun offering refunds to users of its in-car hardware, Car Thing,

Spotify offers Car Thing refunds as it faces lawsuit over bricking the streaming device | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/30/spotify-begins-offering-car-thing-refunds-as-it-faces-lawsuit-over-bricking-the-streaming-device/

Car Thing is a device that allows you to use Spotify on your car speaker, and was released in April 2021. It continued to operate even after production ended in July 2022, but it has been decided that it will be discontinued on December 9, 2024.

Spotify's in-car device 'Car Thing' will completely stop functioning on December 9, 2024 - GIGAZINE

In an email announcing the end of the service, Spotify said it had no plans to offer refunds for Car Thing or open source its code, and advised users to 'reset the device to factory settings and dispose of it safely in accordance with local e-waste guidelines.' However, Spotify's policy has drawn criticism from users . Some users have filed a lawsuit against Spotify in the Southern District of New York, alleging that the company 'misled users by selling them a $90 (approximately 14,000 yen) product that stopped working in just three years without offering a refund.'

In response to this, Spotify updated the page reporting the discontinuation of Car Thing on May 24, 2024. A section titled 'How do I request a refund?' was added, along with a paragraph stating, 'If you would like a refund, please contact customer support with a valid proof of purchase.'

Spotify also announced in a statement that, 'We launched Car Thing in the US to learn more about what music people listen to in their cars. We stopped production of Car Thing in July 2022, and now it's time to say goodbye to it completely. Users have until December 9, 2024 to find alternative solutions or contact customer support.'