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

In addition to the bot being blocked, Embodied noted that warranties, repair services, the relevant parent app and manuals, and support staff will no longer be available.

“I can’t offer a refund”

Embodied said it was “unable” to offer most Moxie owners refunds due to its “financial condition and impending termination.” The potential exception is for people who have purchased 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 emphasized that this is not a guarantee.

The startup also acknowledged complications for those who acquired the expensive robot through a third-party lender. Embodied advised such customers to contact their lender, but it’s possible 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 customer data from Embodied and determine how it can use it, according to Embodied’s terms of service. Otherwise, Embodied said it “securely” deletes user data “in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable law,” which includes deleting personal information from Embodied’s systems.

Another smart gadget bites the dust

Currently there is some I hope Moxies can be resurrected. Things look bleak for Moxie owners, but we’ve seen failed smart device companies like Insteonto rise before. It is also possible for someone to release open source version of the product, such as that created for Spotify Car Thingwhich Spotify officially brick today.

But Moxie’s short-lived, expensive nature is exactly why some groups, like right-to-repair activists, are pressuring the Federal Trade Commission for tighter regulation of smart devices, especially regarding disclosure and commitments around software support. With smart gadget makers trying to determine how to navigate challenging economic landscapes, owners of various types of smart devices—from AeroGarden indoor garden systems for Snoo bins— had to deal with the consequences, including broken devices and paid features. Last month, the FTC noted that smart device manufacturers that don’t commit to software support may be breaking the law.

For Moxie owners, the frustration comes not only from wasted money and the creation of e-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 Technica.