Spotify’s recent announcement offering refunds for its discontinued Car Thing dashboard accessory has stirred up reactions among customers. Priced at $90, Car Thing was pulled from the market just five months after its launch in 2022. Now, Spotify has revealed plans to deactivate all remaining Car Thing devices by December 4, 2024, prompting users to seek refunds through contacting Spotify support and providing proof of purchase.
This move comes in response to a class action lawsuit filed against Spotify by disgruntled Car Thing owners in the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit targeted the device’s short lifespan and impending deactivation, underscoring users’ dissatisfaction with the product.
Originally intended as a dashboard-mounted screen and remote control for the Spotify app, Car Thing failed to gain significant traction among consumers, especially given the prevalence of existing car integration systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, despite its initial struggles, Car Thing found a new lease of life after being heavily discounted, with some users repurposing it for alternative uses outside of the car environment.
Spotify’s refund offer arrives amidst a tumultuous period for the company, marked by price hikes for its music streaming service and significant layoffs affecting nearly a fifth of its workforce. While the refund gesture is welcomed by some, the process of obtaining refunds requires users to locate old receipts and may involve receiving payments in multiple installments. Moreover, concerns have been raised regarding the environmental impact of the now-defunct Car Thing devices, highlighting broader issues surrounding electronic waste management and the sustainability practices of tech companies.
As Spotify grapples with these challenges, it faces heightened scrutiny from both its user base and environmental advocates. The company’s handling of the Car Thing situation underscores the complexities of product lifecycle management in the tech industry and serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing environmental concerns in tandem with consumer satisfaction.
