XM subscription pricing

You are not an idiot, your a consumer. Call them back and ask for an adjustment. If they won't do it, ask for a refund. They will do it. $77 is better than $0.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try on Monday.

Edit: I called XM this morning and ask if I could please have the $88.78 per year promotional fee ($77 + $11.78 Music Royalty) instead of the $142.25 fee that I had foolishly signed up for. Much to my surprise they readily agreed (only had to talk to two people). Now all I have to do is wait and see if it really happens. If it doesn't happen I will cancel but I understand (from some consumer protection groups on the internet) that they make it very difficult to cancel a subscription once you sign up.

 

XM sucks. First they wouldn't transfer my service from my old Sirius account. Then they gave me a price including xm (did I mention they suck?), best of sirius & traffic. Then when I didn't have traffic, I contacted them again. An hour later they quoted me a price & I agreed to a 3 month subscription.
Weeks later I contacted them because I didn't have traffic. We agreed to the 6 month special + traffic + best of sirius. I paid for 6 months, as we agreed.
On Thursday my best of sirius was gone. An hr on the phone with 3 idiots at xm and they told me that I couldn't get the "special" and traffic & best of sirius. They were going to refund my $100 + and give me only the 6 months special with no add-ons.

Yesterday I received an invoice from these stupid people. I must have spoken to them for 45 minutes to 60 + minutes on 4 or 5 occasions and each time some other idiot tells me something totally different.

Did I mention that Sirius sucks? BOYCOTT SIRIUS.

 

You mean their customer service sucks? I agree. But their programming is top notch. I haven't listened to my local stations since I bought the car.

 

I called 1-877-224-8720 and went straight to supervisor who was able to extend me the $19.99+tax for 5 mo rate. They said this is promotional and I would automatically go to higher rate if I don't call before the 5 months is up. Sure beats $142.45/yr.

 

well, mine was supposed to die yesterday, still got it. No letters, no phone calls. Hello cracks, mind if I slip through here?

 

probably not. mine went almost an extra month before it stopped working. no biggie, if it does expire they will send u mailers and call you.

 

I cancelled XM because of how repetitive they were. With that said, I'd be willing to pay under 100 for a full yeah if it includes baseball and hockey. Their alt rock channel was also great. Ethyl or something.

 

I just called and had to ask for the $77 plan after listening to several standard offers. When I mentioned the $77 plan he readily admitted it was available. It will revert to the $12.95 / month plan after a year, but he advised to call back just prior to the expiration for the promotion of the day....

 

D'oh! IT quit this morning. SOB! No letters, no calls. no music

Good thing I had a loaded MP3 CD and an iPod in the car. Looks like I'm making a phone call today.

 

wait for them to call you. it will happen in less than a week or so. i got 6 months for like $35 after taxes

 

Yup i got the same package last night when they called. It was the 3rd time they called

 

I can see getting a good deal while its available, but I just hate getting used to something knowing I don't want to pay what they will charge once the introductory period is over.

Its part of there marketing strategy.

I can see doing an intro deal if I'm just not sure I've explored all that XM has available and simply need more time, but if I know what it is and I know what I"m willing to pay later, I don't like the tease.

Unless they can come up with a reasonable deal for the next 5 years, I prob won't do it.

I still think if they would just lower thier price and quit playing these games they would have much more revenue, but they think they will manipulate us into paying more and everybody will fall for it ..... or "most".

I think their marketing strategy is off..... maybe thats why they are hurting.

Heck, I know they are using satellites and that technology is not cheap, but gps uses it too.... its not "that" expensive!

I don't think the military is sharing thier satellites with garmin and lowrance are they?.. maybe I'm wrong?

I just want an honest deal... I don't mind paying for what I get, but don't want to pay a fortune just to listen to whats already being broadcasted anyway on "my" radio that I bought.

 

Thanks for the tips in this thread! My XM hasn't died yet, but it should soon. Some of the music is a bit too repetitive, but I really love NO COMMERCIALS and feel it's worth paying just to void the ads. :rockon:

Thanks again for the subcription pricing suggestions. I'll wait and see if I get "the call."

 

Some of the stations have commercials. And most of them have enough talk to make you wish they are commercials.

 

A company has to lease channels on communications satellites, quite expensive I'm sure. Companies that use these satellites (DirecTV, XM, et al) use encryption so you have to pay them a fee to use their signal. You can receive it free but it is of no value because you can't use it and it's illegal to build and use your own decryption device.

GPS is free to anyone who wants to use it. The satellites were put up and are maintained by the U.S. Air Force. The system was primarily designed to guide missiles to their targets during the cold war, the civilian applications were also foreseen. There is a way to encrypt the GPS system which decreases it's accuracy by several times so the bad guys can't use it for their missiles too. But this encryption scheme has never, as far as I know, been used and won't be unless we think someone is going to launch GPS guided missiles at us. This is a good example of how a system designed for military application can be used to benefit everyone.

 

It may be less, "so far" but not "no".

You must not listen to Blue Collar Comedy?

Seems anything thats Popular and can sell advertising it will.....

When Cable TV first came out, it didn't have commercials either, until it got popular enough that they realized they could make money going and coming.

You pay your subscription fee to listen to their commercials... what a deal?

 

nearly all the stations have commercials of sort. but (and i dont have a lot of experience with radio despite having it. i only listen to radio when others are in the car. otherwise its podcasts only for me) lets compare it to regular FM. its a very frequent occurance for one station to go to commercials (as we know can be anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes) so i will channel surf to one of 7 other preset channels and see at least 4 to all 7 also in commercial mode.

have never seen that on sat. so sure, they do have commercials (mostly pitching other stations or XM subs, etc. ) but not the same.

 

Thanks for the clarification Tom.

My point is, I know they may be struggling with the cost of these leases, but if they would make this "less elite" by giving a decent honest price that almost no one would refuse, like everything else, the prices would drop because they would have plenty of money.

With risk of changing the subject, its the same with taxes.

If they had a 10% flat tax, the government would have more money than they knew what to do with... but then they wouldn't be able to manipulate those who they want to influence and bless those who they want to bless. They would have less control.... but thats another subject,... point being...... millions of raindrops from the sky adds much more water to your lawn than a few big garden hoses.

 

Your right Dave, for now its tolerable, but its only the beginning.... they will either die due to greed and not enough subscribers, or it will proliferate into Commercials galore..... theres never enough money!

I do what I do for money too.... its up to the buyer to determine if its worth it.