gfunkdave

If you like the service and would keep it otherwise, who cares how they try to get you to renew? Wouldn't you rather, you know, have a service you like? If you're going to keep the service, you won't need to deal with the retentions people.

Mary2e

I was on the fence, because right now, the car is only used on the weekends. So, even if I could get a cheapo deal to renew, because of this I won't.

If I used the car daily to commute I probably would keep it, since, so far, I enjoy it.

ScottC

When/if you cancel, they'll keep sending letters offering a $25/6 month deal. Sadly, they send them in a bright yellow envelope made to look like an emergency telegram from your bank.

Mary2e

Hmmm... that may be worth it. But honestly, if I'm driving, I don't have time to play with the radio to see what's on there So I'm probably not using it enough to make a good judgement.

Still, their practices are what I object to, and I may do so with my $$$$. Ditto for OnStar.

RichMSN

I love XM. I listen to MLB, the NHL, and Howard Stern. I also listen to Octane and the Pulse (2 music channels). My cars never have terrestrial radio on anymore (unless the Badgers are playing).

I have 3 year deals on all 3 of my vehicles (including my summer car - a Mustang Convertible). No, it isn't cheap. But I like having the ability to move my subscriptions to new radios when we buy new cars.

When we bought our latest vehicle (a Hyundai SantaFe), I only targeted manufacturers who put XM receivers in the cars. Even though the company is now SiriusXM, those cars with Sirius receivers cannot get MLB games because of the original contract with MLB and XM and that's a deal-breaker for me.

My latest purchase is the TTR1 (Internet Radio). It cost me only $79 (including shipping) directly from XM and I can listen anywhere I have a WiFi signal or even wired ethernet. Right now, it's on my desk in my home office. Great sound, IMO.

I actually thought it was a newer product, but apparently it's been out for a while.

http://www.amazon.com/Sirius-TTR1-Ta.../dp/B002Q0W82A

I've death with their customer service a number of times (mainly when I've switched vehicles or bought a new vehicle) and they've been very easy to deal with. I've never tried to cancel (since I have no intention of doing so).

nmenaker

you sure you didn't get six months for 29$, that IS another plan in the system.

nmenaker

this IS pretty standard practice for any recurring or subsequent subscription plan companies. A mobile phone would be the same, storage facility, cable, satellite TV, etc., and is not unique or shady or specific to XM/sirius.

Truth is, a simple phone call cancels the service per the next billing date. Yes, one has to be transferred and offered pricing that is very appealing but can easily say NO at that point and be done with it. It is not difficult.

Mary2e

If it were simple, then they wouldn't transfer you to retention, right?

As well, I had to cancel my parents on-star, and even after I said, no, the offers kept coming and it took about 15 minutes to actually get it cancelled.

It's not the auto-renew that's the problem - it's the jumping through hoops to cancel or get rid of auto-renew that is.

nmenaker

I am pretty sure that if one calls and says, I simply need to cancel, I don't want retention I can't afford it, etc., they won't transfer one to retention.

But, just as a comparission. This year, I cancelled my directv, ATT DSL, Sprint hotspot and ATT phone. Each and every call I was transferred to a "retention/sales" specialist and asked "why, was I certain, would a lower price point keep me as a customer". It IS pretty standard practice for any company since acquisition is much more costly than maintenance of an existing customer.

My only point is, this is not unique to sirius and also isn't more difficult.

Many people have actually called sirius to "cancel" simply in the hopes of getting a lower priced offer (which does happen about 97% of the time) and indeed, within 60 seconds they are cancelled. Which, sadly wasn't their objective but the company did exactly what they wanted in about a minute. Seems pretty reasonable.

Global_Hi_Flyer

No surprise at your experience. None at all. GM owns OnStar. They owned (for a long time) a large stake in XM. They also owned DirectTV. All three of which were hard to cancel.

I got duped into an auto-renew (as in, I was told there was none) on an internet service contract one time. Contract renewed (should have gone month-to-month) and I was moving so I needed to cancel. They tried too stick me with full value of the contract, which was in the hundreds of dollars. It was really ugly, and nearly involved my retaining lawyers. In the end, we reached an accommodation.

IIRC, ADT alarm company used to operate that way (auto-renew with large penalty fee for early termination), though they'd waive any termination costs as long as you signed a new contract at your new residence. That's one reason I dumped them several years ago and never looked back.

I never had an AOL account but when they bought Compuserve I went to cancel my old CS account (I kept CS back then because of their extensive international dial-up POPs that charged out of your basic allowance). It was painful, with an hour of time on the phone.

The cell companies don't understand why I won't do a 2 year contract. This discussion is one reason why. Likewise cable, alarm system, and similar service providers.

TWA884

Our new car came with only a 90 days trial subscription. We did not sign up. They kept making us progressively better offers after the trial period lapsed.

gfunkdave

Funny, when I had ADT I moved to a new place with one month left on my contract. I called them and the lady couldn't have been nicer. She said "Oh, I wouldn't give you a hard time for an extra month", canceled the service, and waived all the fees. I guess I was lucky in getting a helpful rep.

How do you avoid it? Do you just pay full price for the phone?

nmenaker

Well, a 2-year contract is well, a 2-year contract.? Of course one CAN cancel it, at a cost and as spelled out in the 2-year contract agreement. I don't see why not being able to cancel a 2-year contract would be ambiguous?

The worst offenders, IMHO are gym memberships.

Global_Hi_Flyer

Guess you were luckier than I with ADT. Of course, my experience dates back several years - and there was no subsidy on the equipment.

I avoided it on VZ by doing one year when they still offered same. I've avoided it on TMoo and ATT (and Sprint) by buying phones that don't require contracts (refurbs, full price, etc.). I don't need the latest-aand-greatest as they really don't deliver value to me.

And you've described precisely why I won't do a 2 year deal.... if I don't do 'em, no need to cancel 'em. The exceedingly high cancellation fees (and limited pro-ration) just drive the point home. Much better to buy something on the used/refurb/no-contract market.

That doesn't stop some folks from abusing the customers, like my recent experience with ATT where we were clear from the outset that there was no contract, the documents show there's no obligation/termination fee, yet the online site showed a 2 year term. B**tards.

Apparently there's a significant portion of the population that agrees, given the increasing popularity of prepay.

Not having a gym membership, I will take your word for that...

Mary2e

I've actually paid more for my phone so I don't have to have a 2 year contract. Right now, I'm on month to month.