Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
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Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#2Ok, this seems really disgusting.
The post was lacking some context at first but from how I understand this, you can render your sonos device unusable voluntarily and in turn get a new sonos device for a little cheaper. This happens by marking the serial number of your device on the sonos servers as "recycled" making reactivation impossible.
And they're somehow marketing this "feature" as environmentally friendly because it somehow in some twisted sense means you recycle your old device for a new one.
I'm speechless.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#3Ok, this seems really disgusting. The post was lacking some context at first but from how I understand this, you can render your sonos device unusable voluntarily and in turn get a new sonos device for a little cheaper. This happens by marking the serial number of your device on the sonos servers as "recycled" making reactivation impossible. And they're somehow marketing this "feature" as environmentally friendly bec…
Truly disgusting.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#4Why is that not incredibly illegal?
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#5> Someone recycled five of these Sonos Play:5 speakers. They're worth $250 each, used, and these are in good condition. They could easily be reused.
Then the owner should have sold (given?) them as-is, rather than trying to double dip by telling Sonos they were going to recycle them for parts (for which they pay you $120) then not doing so.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#6IIRC Logitech used to do this with warranty replacements on Harmony remotes—don’t know if they still do. It made purchasing one used risky.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#7Well, this is where the industry is going. The latest buzzword we hear in the industry is called "product as a service" — you buy a product, but still don't own it. You have to keep paying them for using your own property or else they remotely brick the device.
First gen Ipods were a prime example, but now everybody seem to want to do the same.
We recently had a prospective client who had an idea of very cheap internet connected Ipod clone, who of course had a "genius business model" of jacking the price n-fold after sale under a threat of remote bricking.
I'm very glad we refused.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#8Ok, this seems really disgusting. The post was lacking some context at first but from how I understand this, you can render your sonos device unusable voluntarily and in turn get a new sonos device for a little cheaper. This happens by marking the serial number of your device on the sonos servers as "recycled" making reactivation impossible. And they're somehow marketing this "feature" as environmentally friendly bec…
Seems ripe for a hacking attempt. Being able to kill hardware with software always seems dangerous.
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#9Why is that not incredibly illegal?
Why would it be illegal? And what’s the difference between illegal and incredibly illegal anyway?
Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused
#10What’s intensely frustrating about this is that audio equipment is one of the few areas where old high end kit is still absolutely fantastic for current users. I have an NAD 3020 from the 1980s which works perfectly with the same pair of speakers that it was bought with. I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed.