Startup Embodied Will Brick $800 Moxie Emotional Support Robot for Kids, No Refunds

In addition to blocking the robot, Embodied noted that warranties, repair services, the app, and corresponding guides for parents and support staff will no longer be accessible.

“Refunds cannot be offered”

Embodied said it is “unable” to offer refunds to the majority of Moxie owners due to its “financial situation and impending dissolution.” The possible exception is for people who purchased a Moxie within 30 days. For those customers, Embodied said that “if the company or its assets are sold, we will do our best to prioritize refunds for purchases,” but stressed that this is not a guarantee.

The startup also acknowledged complications for those who acquired the expensive robot through a third-party lender. Embodied recommended these customers contact their lender, but some may end up paying interest on a toy that no longer works.

Embodied said it is looking for another company to buy Moxie. If that happens, the new company will receive Embodied’s customer data and determine how it can use it, according to Embodied’s report. terms of service. Otherwise, Embodied said it “securely” deletes user data “in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable law,” including removing personally identifiable information from Embodied’s systems.

Another smart device bites the dust

Currently, there are some I hope Moxies can be resurrected. Things look bleak for Moxie owners, but we’ve seen failed smart device companies like Insteonresurrect sooner. It is also possible for someone to release a open source version of the product, such as that made for The Spotify car thingthat Spotify officially brickwork today.

But the expensive and short-lived nature of Moxie is exactly why some groups, such as right-to-repair activists, are lobbying the Federal Trade Commission regulate smart devices more strongly, particularly with regard to disclosure and commitments around software support. As smart device manufacturers try to determine how to navigate challenging economic landscapes, owners of various types of smart devices, from Aerogarden indoor gardening systems for moses snoo—I’ve had to deal with the consequences, including broken devices and paid features. Last month, the FTC noted that smart device makers that don’t commit to software support can be breaking the law.

For Moxie owners, the disappointment comes not only from wasted money and the creation of electronic waste, but also from the pain of giving a child a technological “companion” to grow up with and then suddenly having it taken away.

This story originally appeared on Ars Technique.