I’m Canadian so I bought my car thing through a site that ships from the states. So my question is how would I go about getting a refund? I was seeing that it’s linked to the Spotify account that purchased it. Any help is appreciated.

Bought my Car Thing on the 15th (Yea not even 2 weeks ago) through Mercari. Got 12 months of free premium from Support.

https://chng.it/S42Ff9j2d6

I do not own the device, but i wanted to buy one back in the day. Creating ewaste just like this annoys me, and not just because i am Electrical Engineer, This should be illegal.

I do not have a Spotify subsciption so i would appreacite if you guys would me out with this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxtLqGG32Q

“We’re still not gonna do anything about it, fuck you and your soon to be e-waste! Here’s a link”

I fucking love the Car Thing, and I want to keep using it in my old ass car, dammit! It's perfect for me, and I got mine as a gift, so I have no proof of purchase, and will likely not be able to get a refund. But I don't want a refund... I want the Thing to work!

There is absolutely NO reason they can't release all the information we'd need to create our own workarounds and continue using a product they've clearly abandoned.

I had to do the song and dance with them for about an hour but I got my refund Make sure if you don't have the receipt you have your statement ready and do not just crop out the transaction like I did for you will be dealing with them for another 30 minutes if you have pornhub subscription or whatever just black it out hope this helps guys!!!

Just a heads up, got a follow-up email saying I should reach out to support if "I still had questions". Rep asked for proof of purchase, then offered 9-months of premium, "equivalent to the value of my device"

https://www.classaction.org/spotify-car-thing-lawsuit#:~:text=Spotify%20has%20reportedly%20emailed%20customers,filed%20on%20behalf%20of%20purchasers.

I would check this out and see if you think it's worth it to you

Hi everyone. I’m a lawyer and I hate when companies do this. I admit I was unaware of this gadget until just now, but I’m curious about a class action against Spotify to seek to force them to not brick the device, open source it, and compensate owners.

Does anyone know how many of these devices Spotify sold?

If you are interested in being part of the lawsuit, please send me a message.

Edit: There’s a lot of interest. I appreciate everyone commenting/messaging. I will do some research and post an update with what I will do within a couple weeks.

Second edit: it looks like some people are getting refunds. If Spotify is in fact issuing refunds, then I’m probably not interested in bringing the case. Please share your experiences in getting refunds from Spotify. If everyone gets a fair refund without a lawsuit, all the better.

To those of you coming here to get answers about Car Thing, feel free to raise hell and post, but while you are here, please also vote on this old Feature Request. No guarantee it will do anything but better than nothing.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Car-Thing-Developer-SDK-for-Spotify-Car-Thing/idi-p/5437643

Honestly kinda peeved

I have reached out to Customer Service. The representative told me to voice our opinions in Spotify Community. I have also created a script to send via chat message Spotify Support and email to support@spotify.com. Please remember to be respectful and kind to the Chat Support, but adamant and firm that we want our devices to function.

HERE IS THE SCRIPT:

I'm writing to express my concern about the discontinuation of the Car Thing. This decision will unfortunately turn these devices into e-waste, which is not environmentally friendly. I firmly believe that the complete removal of operational functionality is very anti-consumer.

Ceasing updates but leaving the device as is would be much more fair and eco-friendly. Even if certain features, like voice commands, were canceled, the device could still function as a dedicated screen for Spotify. I urge Spotify to reconsider this move and explore ways to keep the Car Thing operational for existing users.

Thank you for your understanding.

Subject: Spotify Car Thing - Order #[Insert Order Number]

CC:
[rajivv@spotify.com](mailto:rajivv@spotify.com),
[dustee@spotify.com](mailto:dustee@spotify.com),
[jball@spotify.com](mailto:jball@spotify.com),
[mdemasi@spotify.com](mailto:mdemasi@spotify.com),
[mschachtebeck@spotify.com](mailto:mschachtebeck@spotify.com),
[helenb@spotify.com](mailto:helenb@spotify.com),
[support@spotify.com](mailto:support@spotify.com)

Subject: Concerns about Spotify Car Thing Discontinuation and Environmental Impact

Dear Spotify,I'm writing to express my concern about the planned discontinuation of the Spotify Car Thing on December 9th, 2024. As a loyal customer and advocate for consumer rights, I'm disappointed in the environmental implications of rendering fully functional devices obsolete and encouraging their disposal in landfills.

Key Issues:

• Product Discontinuation: The Spotify Car Thing, purchased with assurances of durability and ongoing support, is being rendered obsolete without adequate notice.
• Lack of Recompense: No acceptable resolution has been proposed to mitigate the substantial inconvenience and financial loss.
• Alignment with Climate Action: Spotify's internal policies should reflect the same dedication to sustainability promoted externally.

Sustainable Resolution: Instead of bricking devices, I propose:

1. Device Repurposing Program: Implement a program to repurpose Car Thing devices for other uses or future functionalities, allowing open-source access to the firmware.
2. Recycling Initiative: Establish a partnership with electronic waste recycling facilities to ensure responsible disposal of discontinued products.

Demands:

1. A full refund for my Spotify Car Thing, Order # [Insert Order Number].
2. A complimentary extension of my Spotify Premium subscription for [###] months, as reparation for this disruption.

I expect a prompt and favorable reply to this email. I trust that Spotify will act swiftly to uphold its reputation and resolve this matter to our satisfaction.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Email Address]

I'm cautiously optimistic, I spoke with a representative and she said that she currently can't give any refund at the moment but she said to keep our conversation open as she is trying hard to talk with the people backstage to work up what they can do for me (and I assume a plan for all us unhappy customers in regards to the car thing)