Best Buy discontinuation of Insignia Connect: Difference between revisions
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| | |Company=Best Buy | ||
|- | |StartDate=2019-11-06 | ||
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|Status= | |||
|ProductLine= | |||
|Product=Insignia Connect | |||
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| | |Type= | ||
|} | |Description= | ||
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On November 6, 2019, [[Best Buy]] discontinued support for its Insignia Connect app.<ref name=":0">[https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 Insignia. "Insignia Connect Product Validation Site." November 5, 2019.]</ref> This resulted in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service. | On November 6, 2019, [[Best Buy|'''Best Buy''']] discontinued support for its Insignia Connect app.<ref name=":0">[https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 Insignia. "Insignia Connect Product Validation Site." November 5, 2019.]</ref> This resulted in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service.[https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6] | ||
== Background == | ==Background== | ||
Insignia is a private label brand that Best Buy uses to stock its own items alongside name-brands within its stores.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 Best Buy. "Best Buy Brands."]</ref> | Insignia is a private label brand that Best Buy uses to stock its own items alongside name-brands within its stores.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 Best Buy. "Best Buy Brands."]</ref> | ||
== Affected | ==Affected products<ref name=":0" />== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability | |Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability | ||
|NS-SP1XM8<ref>[https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-power-metering-capability-white/5845000 Best Buy. "Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability - White."]</ref> | |NS-SP1XM8<ref>[https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-power-metering-capability-white/5845000 Best Buy. "Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability - White."] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250825155820/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-power-metering-capability-white/5845000 Archived])</ref> | ||
|Plug can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app. Existing timers that were already set on the plug will continue to function, but are no longer able to be altered. Users also have no method to view the power metering statistics that the plug provides. | |Plug can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app. Existing timers that were already set on the plug will continue to function, but are no longer able to be altered. Users also have no method to view the power metering statistics that the plug provides. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch | |Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch | ||
|NS-CH1XIS8<ref>[https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/insignia-wi-fi-smart-in-wall-light-switch-white/5884100 Best Buy. "Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch - White."]</ref> | |NS-CH1XIS8<ref>[https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/insignia-wi-fi-smart-in-wall-light-switch-white/5884100 Best Buy. "Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch - White."] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250828072452/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/insignia-wi-fi-smart-in-wall-light-switch-white/5884100 Archived])</ref> | ||
|Switch can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app. | |Switch can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|Insignia WiFi Freezers | |Insignia WiFi Freezers | ||
| | |NS-UZ14XWH7 | ||
|"[A]ffected products will still function at a basic level, but any features that rely on its Insignia Connect app and platform will no longer work."<ref name=":2" /> | |"[A]ffected products will still function at a basic level, but any features that rely on its Insignia Connect app and platform will no longer work."<ref name=":2" /> | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Consumer | ==Consumer harm== | ||
=== Compensation | ===Compensation with a catch=== | ||
Best Buy did provide compensation to customers affected by the discontinuation, however, this was only in the form of a partial refund in the form of a virtual gift card that was determined by the product type.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130853/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ#collapseNine Insgnia. "FAQ." December 12, 2019.]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Customers were also only able to redeem up to 10 serial numbers for product refunds, even if they owned more affected products.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Refunds for affected products has since ceased, as the window to apply for compensation only lasted for 56 days after the discontinuation date.<ref name=":3">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191209200148/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ Insignia. "Insignia Connect Product Validation Site." November 9, 2019.]</ref> | Best Buy did provide compensation to customers affected by the discontinuation, however, this was only in the form of a partial refund in the form of a virtual gift card that was determined by the product type.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130853/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ#collapseNine Insgnia. "FAQ." December 12, 2019.]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Customers were also only able to redeem up to 10 serial numbers for product refunds, even if they owned more affected products.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Refunds for affected products has since ceased, as the window to apply for compensation only lasted for 56 days after the discontinuation date.<ref name=":3">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191209200148/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ Insignia. "Insignia Connect Product Validation Site." November 9, 2019.]</ref> | ||
=== Harm to | ===Harm to consumer ownership=== | ||
Consumers were left with products bought full-price, but with altered or reduced functionality. Companies being able to remotely and unilaterally alter the functionality of products they sold undermines the ownership the consumers has over its items. | |||
=== Generation of E- | ===Generation of E-waste=== | ||
== See Also == | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Retroactively amended purchase]] | *[[Retroactively amended purchase]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Best Buy]] | [[Category:Best Buy]] | ||
[[Category:Discontinued products]] | [[Category:Discontinued products]] | ||