After Spotify sent a notice about ending Car Thing's operations, it is now issuing refunds to the customers who purchased the device. The refund will depend on how much a person bought during the sale period. Effective this December, the Car Thing will be another piece of junk in one's vehicle or desktop, as it will no longer work when streaming music.
Spotify Car Thing Refunds Now In Effect After Lawsuit Threats
Spotify has decided to refund customers for Car Thing after all. The company has reportedly "instituted" a return process to offer users their money back in exchange for the device. Users need to have proof that they purchased the Car Thing, complete with receipts and other proof of purchase, so the refund would only be available for first-party owners.
When it was still in the market, Car Thing had many prices. It was initially announced for $79.99 but rose to $89.99 upon wide availability, but later sold for as low as $30.
The class action lawsuit against Spotify for Car Thing's refund was filed earlier today. The initial announcements did not promise users their money for the soon-to-be-defunct device.
Spotify Returns Customers Money for Car Thing
While still fresh news, some customers already report that Spotify has refunded them for the Car Thing's full $90.05 price and returned the credit card charge to the Redditor. They said that customer service accommodated the refund process , and they only had to provide proof of purchase via the e-receipt on their email for the device bought in 2021.
Spotify's Car Thing: The Timeline
When rumors and talks about Spotify's first-ever hardware arrived, many were excited about what it had to deliver, as it is a third-party infotainment system that would deliver music and entertainment to cars. There was also a voice assistant feature with Car Thing, and its design changed over time amidst its experimental stage until it finally settled with its design with the massive knob.
In 2021, Spotify's Car Thing saw its first public availability in the United States, but it was limited at the time, and only a handful of states in the country were allowed to purchase it. Spotify's design allows it to connect to various systems via its AUX, Bluetooth, and USB connections, which helps it adapt to different car stereos or radios.
The Car Thing was made exclusive for the Spotify mobile app streaming, connecting to the device and then to the vehicle's radio or system to deliver the iconic music experience from the Swedish company. However, it did not last, and Spotify is now refusing to continue its operations by killing off Car Thing entirely. The company is now issuing refunds amidst threats of a class action that would have them pay otherwise.
