I purchased my Car Thing in 2020, and it has been functioning well until recently. When the production halted, I thought it wouldn’t be an issue as mine still operated normally. However, they have now decided to deactivate all devices, turning them into useless gadgets. Has anyone experienced a similar problem? I attempted to apply for a refund, but the entire process has been incredibly complicated and frustrating. It feels unjust that they can render expensive devices worthless overnight. I’m curious if others are facing the same challenges with their Car Thing devices being discontinued.
Been there - their shutdown handling was absolutely infuriating. Mine had become essential for my daily commute, so the timing was brutal. Here’s what worked: I filed a BBB complaint along with my refund request. Their response time magically improved after that. The hardware was actually solid, so I salvaged the screen and controls for a DIY car computer. Not everyone’s into that, but beats the landfill. Real takeaway? Read those terms more carefully. Though honestly, who expects a music company to brick working hardware? Now I’m super careful about anything that needs internet to work.
The Car Thing disaster is exactly why I ditched trusting companies with my car setup years ago. Got sick of expensive gadgets turning into paperweights when some exec decides to cut costs.
I built my own solution that gives me way more control than any commercial device. My car detects when I get in, adjusts music based on traffic, and switches playlists depending on time or destination.
Best part? No company can kill it remotely. If Spotify pulls another stunt like this, my system just switches services automatically. Takes about 30 minutes to set up basic car automation that does everything Car Thing did.
You can trigger actions based on location, time, driving patterns, whatever. Connect your phone, car sensors, multiple music services - all running independently from company servers.
Way more reliable than depending on hardware that gets bricked overnight. Plus you’re not locked into one service or waiting months for refunds.
Check it out here: https://latenode.com
Same headaches here with companies bricking perfectly good hardware. These devices only work because they’re tied to company servers.
I ditched buying hardware that can get killed remotely. Now I build my own car integration that I actually control. My phone connects directly to the car’s system through automation workflows.
Webhooks trigger Spotify playlists based on time, location, or how I’m driving. No middleman hardware that vanishes overnight. I can swap music services without buying new stuff.
My setup does everything Car Thing did, just better. Voice commands through my phone, playlist management, automatic volume that adjusts to road noise detected through the mic.
Two hours to build this vs months fighting for refunds from companies that don’t give a damn about customers.
You can build similar stuff without coding: https://latenode.com
Ugh, exactly why I avoid hardware that depends on company servers. Spotify basically robbed everyone and called it “business strategy.” If you paid by card, dispute it with your bank - usually works better than their awful support.
Had my Car Thing since launch and saw this coming when they stopped making new ones. Companies love pushing connected gadgets but never tell you what happens when they pull the plug. What pisses me off most is how they market these as premium accessories then toss them like disposable tech when it’s convenient. I got a partial refund by being persistent - kept escalating and mentioned my state’s consumer protection laws. Took six weeks of back-and-forth emails but finally worked. Made me realize how much control we hand over when buying hardware that depends on some company’s servers. Next time I’m just getting basic bluetooth adapters that work without needing corporate permission.
This whole mess shows exactly why cloud-dependent hardware is such a gamble. I got burned the same way when another smart device company dropped support after three years - turned my expensive gadget into a paperweight. What really gets me about the Car Thing is how Spotify sold these without being upfront about needing their backend to work. The refund situation’s all over the place depending on where and when you bought yours. I’ve seen people have better luck doing chargebacks through their credit card company instead of dealing with Spotify directly, especially for recent purchases. This is exactly why we need right-to-repair laws - companies shouldn’t get to brick your working hardware just because they shifted their business strategy.