well, this shouldn't cost the company too much. how many did they sell? a dozen? <g>....
3Com Offers Refunds for Dearly Departed
Audrey
Net device's short lifespan prompts vendor to buy it
back from direct-sales customers.
Tom Mainelli, PCWorld.com
Thursday, April 26, 2001
Owners of 3Com's Audrey Internet appliance unsettled by the company's
sudden decision to kill the product--and the device's recent loss of some
functions--can now return it for a full refund. That is, if they bought the
product directly from the company.
3Com remains proud of the product it launched last October, and will
continue to honor its one-year warranty, says spokesperson Bob Ingols.
But as a gesture of goodwill to customers, the company will return the
product's $499 purchase price to customers who bought it through 3Com's
Web site.
3Com decided to offer a refund because some people may not want to
keep a product that was on the market so briefly, Ingols says. Another
factor: Audrey's Internet Channels feature no longer works. The feature,
which let users instantly connect to services such as weather forecasts and
financial news, required relationships with providers that are no longer in
place, he says.
Eligible owners can call a toll-free number (877/949-3266) to request a
return-shipping container, Ingols says. The company sends a container,
owners return the product, and 3Com refunds the money. Owners have
until June 1 to claim their refund from 3Com, he says.
Customers who purchased their Audrey through retailers--online or in the
real world--need to contact their seller to find out if a refund is offered, he
says.
Life, So Short
3Com launched Audrey with much fanfare and strong reviews. Ingols won't
discuss Audrey's sales numbers, but he says it was soon clear that the
product's market would take longer to develop than 3Com had anticipated.
It would also require a larger investment than the company was willing to
make. 3Com isn't alone: The entire Internet appliance market has failed to
take off as industry experts once expected.
Despite Audrey's short shelf life, Ingols expects few people will return the
product for a refund. Aside from the lost channel feature--which he says
was far from a killer app--everything else still works.
The company hasn't publicized the refund offer, and there still is no
mention of it on 3Com's Web site. However, Ingols says that shortly after
announcing the product's demise the company e-mailed the news to
customers who purchased directly from 3Com.
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