Thousands of pairs of Snapchat Spectacles sit unsold in a warehouse. Snapchat Spectacles did not live up to the hype.

Only 0.08% of Snapchat’s users bought Snapchat Spectacles. Snapchat Spectacles are a pair of smart-glasses that record video for Snapchat. The glasses have a camera lens that records short video that synchs with a smart phone. Snapchat Spectacles did not live up to the hype.

Internal Snap data shows that less than 50% of buyers kept using the Snapchat Spectacles a month after purchase. A large percentage of buyers stopped using the product after just one week.

So what is the reason that Snapchat Spectacles did not live up to the hype? For starters, the design of the glasses did not appeal to customers. Some call the glasses ugly and others do not like the aggressively bright coral and teal colors. Another reason is that Snapchat generated a lot of buzz for the Spectacles but then waited 5 months to sell them. Snap announced the Spectacles in September 2016. But Snapchat did not launch the Snapbot vending machines that sell Spectacles until November. Furthermore, they did not start selling online until February 2017. After five months, an eternity in the technology fad cycle, the Spectacles were note cool by the time they were buyable. Everyone already watched the videos of glasses on the Internet and the holiday season had passed.

Snapchat Spectacles did not live up to the hype because Snap failed to show creative ways Spectacles can be used. In addition, many buyers were disappointed by the fact that the Spectacles hooked up to Snapchat rather than their own camera roll.

Furthermore, the concept of camera glasses freaks people out. The Spectacles do have an obvious recording light signal. But, people still question whether or not they are being filmed. This makes people uncomfortable around the Spectacles and users feel uncomfortable wearing them.

In conclusion, Snapchat Spectacles did not live up to the hype.