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Best Buy discontinuation of Insignia Connect: Difference between revisions

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{| class="wikitable"
{{incomplete}}
|📝
{{IncidentCargo
|'''This article is under active development.'''
|Company=Best Buy
|-
|StartDate=2019-11-06
| colspan="2" |
|EndDate=
* Development started: January 2025
|Status=
* Current stage: Writing
|ProductLine=
* Priority: Low
|Product=Insignia Connect
|-
|ArticleType=
| colspan="2" |''This article needs additional work to meet our quality standards. Please help improve it by [[Talk:Best Buy Discontinuation of Insignia Connect App|discussing changes]] or contributing improvements.''
|Type=
|}
|Description=
 
}}
On November 6, 2019, [[Best Buy]] discontinued support for its Insignia Connect app.<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/20191105124635/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/<nowiki/>(November 5th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref> This resulted in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service.  Best Buy did provide compensation to affected customers, 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<nowiki/>(December 12th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</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">https://web.archive.org/web/20241125000759/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6<nowiki>(November 25th, 2024) Retrieved January 15th, 2025 [Note: This source references functionality loss covered in a Best Buy FAQ.  The FAQ has not fully been archived, so the information in the article is the only reference to its contents.]</nowiki></ref><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>https://web.archive.org/web/20191209200148/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/<nowiki/>(November 9th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
On November 6, 2019, [[Best Buy|'''Best Buy''']] discontinued support for its Insignia Connect app.  This resulted in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=2019-09-06 |title=Best Buy is leaving smart home users in the cold, but its Wi-Fi freezer will still mostly work |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6 |url-status=live |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>


== Background ==
==Background==
Insignia is a private label brand that Best Buy uses to stock its own items alongside name-brands within its stores.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Buy Brands. |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285 |archive-date=2024-11-24 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</ref> 


== Affected Products<ref name=":0" /> ==
==Affected products==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!Product
!Product
!Model
!Model
!Affected Functionality<ref name=":2" />{{Citation needed}}
!Affected Functionality
|-
|-
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug
|NS-SP1X7<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240422085625/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-white/5529012.p?skuId=5529012<nowiki/>(April 22nd, 2024) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
|NS-SP1X7<ref>{{Cite web |title=Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart Plug - White |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-white/5529012.p?skuId=5529012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422085625/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-white/5529012.p?skuId=5529012 |archive-date=2024-04-22 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</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.
|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.
|-
|-
|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</ref>
|NS-SP1XM8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Customer Reviews - Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability - White. |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-power-metering-capability-white/5845000 |url-status=live |website=[[Best Buy]]}}([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</ref>
|NS-CH1XIS8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Questions and Answers - Insignia™ - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch - White. |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/insignia-wi-fi-smart-in-wall-light-switch-white/5884100 |url-status=live |website=[[Best Buy]]}}([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.
|-
|-
|Insignia - 720p Wi-Fi Camera
|Insignia - 720p Wi-Fi Camera
|NS-CH1IPC8<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20180422174716/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-720p-wi-fi-camera-white/5971603.p?skuId=5971603<nowiki/>(April 22nd, 2018) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
|NS-CH1IPC8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Insignia™ - 720p Wi-Fi Camera - White |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-720p-wi-fi-camera-white/5971603.p?skuId=5971603 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422174716/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-720p-wi-fi-camera-white/5971603.p?skuId=5971603 |archive-date=2018-04-22 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</ref>
|"[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" />
|"Affected 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" />
|-
|-
|Insignia WiFi Freezers
|Insignia WiFi Freezers
|{{Citation needed}}
|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" />
|"Affected 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 Harm ==
==Consumer harm==
 
===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">{{Cite web |title=FAQs |url=https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130853/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ#collapseNine |archive-date=2019-12-12 |website=[[Insignia]]}}</ref> 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">{{Cite web |title=Insignia Connect Product Validation Site. |url=https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209200148/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ |archive-date=2019-12-09 |website=[[Insignia]]}}</ref>


== See Also ==
===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.


== References ==
===Generation of E-waste===
 
==See Also==
 
*[[Retroactively amended purchase]]
 
==References==
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Best Buy]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
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