Sonos is finally ending its controversial Recycle Mode policy that forced users to manually brick their older devices for get 30 percent off their next Sonos purchase through the companys Trade-Up program.
The move was quietly instated last week, asnoted by The Verge, and is likely in response to criticism over the program and the companys sustainability practices.
The Trade-Up program was started to ostensibly help users properly dispose of and recycle their e-waste, and the recycle mode was used to keep user information safe by wiping all data stored on Sonos smart speakers and other products, but it also rendered them completely unusable after 21 days.
Now, Sonos Trade-Up program still exists and youll still get the 30 percent discount, but you no longer have to turn your old devices into paperweights so you can get it.
Youll even be able to continue using your older Sonos productsor legacy devices, as the company calls themas long as you hold onto them, though theywont be getting any more software patches or new features after May 2020and may not be compatible with modern Sonos devices.
You wont be able to magically reverse previously recycle-moded devices, but its nice to know you dont have to abandon perfectly usable products anymore.
Users who want to use the Trade-Up discount will find the new steps for recycling their devicesoutlined on Sonos website, this time sans Recycle Mode.
The steps will help you properly dispose of your speakers at a nearby e-cycle facility or will guide you through packaging and sending your devices back to Sonos.
Instead of a Recycle Mode, Sonos is asking users to simply factory reset their devices before getting rid of them to wipe any stored datawhich probably shouldve been the case from the beginning, but at least the company finally got the message.
