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Roku TV bricked until agreeing to new terms of service (programming.dev)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by DaleGribble88@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world

300 comments fedilink hide all child comments

See title - very frustrating. There is no way to continue to use the TV without agreeing to the terms. I couldn't use different inputs, or even go to settings from the home screen and disconnect from the internet to disable their services. If I don't agree to their terms, then I don't get access to their new products. That sucks, but fine - I don't use their services except for the TV itself, and honestly, I'd rather by a dumb TV with a streaming box anyway, but I can't find those anymore.

Anyway, the new terms are about waiving your right to a class action lawsuit. It's weird to me because I'd never considered filing a class action lawsuit against Roku until this. They shouldn't be able to hold my physical device hostage until I agree to new terms that I didn't agree at the time of purchase or initial setup.

I wish Roku TVs weren't cheap walmart brand sh*t. Someone with some actual money might sue them and sort this out...

EDIT: Shout out to @testfactor@lemmy.world for recommending the brand "Sceptre" when buying my next (dumb) TV.

EDIT2: Shout out to @0110010001100010@lemmy.world for recommending LG smart TVs as a dumb-TV stand in. They apparently do require an agreement at startup, which is certainly NOT ideal, but the setup can be completed without an internet connection and it remembers input selection on powerup. So, once you have it setup, you're good to rock and roll.

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[–] ofcourse@lemmy.ml 225 points 8 months ago (4 children)

I reached out to Roku support regarding this. The rep told me “why are you complaining. You are the only one.” He then disconnected the chat. I’ve reached out to my state’s AG to report this. No action so far but waiting. If there are enough complaints, that might help move the needle.

What Roku is doing should be completely illegal - bricking the product after purchasing it for full price if you don’t agree to waiving your rights.

[–] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 92 points 8 months ago

Sounds like a class action lawsuit to me.

[–] jkrtn@lemmy.ml 78 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Sue them in small claims for the price of the device.

[–] WetBeardHairs@lemmy.ml 33 points 8 months ago

Sounds like a good way to get a new tv and move away from roku. They're really piling on the ads lately and making their os really slow.

[–] soggy_kitty@sopuli.xyz 27 points 8 months ago

If they actually said that to you word for word that's an open and shut case for suing them

[–] FlavoredButtHair@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Damn, had no idea roku chat could be that useless.

[–] refurbishedrefurbisher@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 8 months ago

Inb4 it's ChatGPT like Air Canada.