Subscribe = pay forever!

[BayGBM]

Have you noticed that everything is becoming a subscription service where you never stop paying?  TV streaming services… Satellite radio…?  Music streaming services…?  In the old days you paid for something once (like a compact disk) and you were done; now everything is turning into never ending payments.  If you work in an office your IT/budget guys will confirm that Microsoft Office is now a subscription service and your organization must pay an annual fee to keep using it; same thing for Adobe Creative Suite.  In the old days you could buy Photoshop or InDesign and use it without limit.  Now, if you stop your monthly payment the software stops working.  Last month my AMG turned one year old. I received both a text and an email from MBenz telling me that several features on my car will now "expire" unless I subscribe to keep them active.  I think BMW does this as well.

About five years ago I had Terminix treat my house; the effect lasted about two years.  After that I started doing it myself with bug killers I bought at Lowes.  I recently got quotes from three different exterminators to treat my house again and they each said I needed a subscription (monthly payments and quarterly treatments) to keep the pests away. WTF?  Even USAMuscle.com and musclegallery.com are subscription services (bodybuilding related).  Maybe some of you are too young to remember the one-payment-and-you’re-done dynamic, but old guys like me do not like this new business model where the payments are monthly and never end.  Bay no Likely!

[joswift]

You do know you can cancel a subscription...

[The Scott]

I have music and movie services that I subscribe to but I also own and play DVD(!), BluRay, 4K, VHS, SVHS, CD, Cassette, Laser Disc and Records (I have seven turntables in rotation/use.  I recently took 17 'tables to the Goodwill as I did not use them anymore and thought they would be of use to someone else.  Goodwill was happy to get them as Vinyl is quite popular again.

I can watch or listen with the internet is up.  When it's down, I can still watch or listen because  I have hard copies of that which I enjoy the most in music and film.  I am of course, olde. 

[Dave D]

It’s crazy, my insurance and my phone are charging me monthly too!

[NarcissisticDeity]

[MAXX]

youtube is free and better than the garbage produced by HBO, disney, netflix or what not

I managed to stay out of any subscriptions what so ever.

but yes it's a trend and I get your point but you can stay away from it if you want no problem

[LurkerNoMore]

Have you noticed that everything is becoming a subscription service where you never stop paying?  TV streaming services… Satellite radio…?  Music streaming services…?  In the old days you paid for something once (like a compact disk) and you were done; now everything is turning into never ending payments.  If you work in an office your IT/budget guys will confirm that Microsoft Office is now a subscription service and your organization must pay an annual fee to keep using it; same thing for Adobe Creative Suite.  In the old days you could buy Photoshop or InDesign and use it without limit.  Now, if you stop your monthly payment the software stops working.  Last year my AMG turned one year old. I received both a text and an email from MBenz telling me that several features on my car will now "expire" unless I subscribe to keep them active.  I think BMW does this as well.

About five years ago I had Terminix treat my house; the effect lasted about two years.  After that I started doing it myself with bug killers I bought at Lowes.  I recently got quotes from three different exterminators to treat my house again and they each said I needed a subscription (monthly payments and quarterly treatments) to keep the pests away. WTF?  Even USAMuscle.com and musclegallery.com are subscription services (bodybuilding related).  Maybe some of you are too young to remember the one-payment-and-you’re-done dynamic, but old guys like me do not like this new business model where the payments are monthly and never end.  Bay no Likely!

Yes, Adobe no longer produces CDs/Downloads for their complete products to sell.  Instead you get to use the product on a month to month basis as long as you pay for that time.

What car features did they say would expire?  Mine is a 2020 and when I got a notice from them, I asked the salesperson and he basically told me that unless it was Sirius, then there was really no reason to pay for any renewals.  Because they are not going to let anything with car's mechanical/electrical/safety systems expire.  And for things like navigation, I could plug my iPhone in and it would link to the screen (which it does).

[falco]

It’s crazy, my insurance and my phone are charging me monthly too!

Preposterous! Even the gym i train charges me monthly.

[B_B_C]

Have you noticed that everything is becoming a subscription service where you never stop paying? 

it not like you to be so behing on this news
microshit office slut has been a rental item for years as has autodick and other soft-rip-off-wear
Just "Tech" copying the centuries old concept of groundrent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_rent

[Rambone]

Bay no likey subscriptions

[IroNat]

Check out a VPN.

You can pay for a couple years upfront for not much.

Some people even use it to watch fee based content for free.

[BayGBM]

You do know you can cancel a subscription...

Thank god you're here! 

[MajorDomo]

Have you noticed that everything is becoming a subscription service where you never stop paying?  TV streaming services… Satellite radio…?  Music streaming services…?

yes- and I try not to sign up for any recurring payments. There is legislation regarding the ability to cancel online btw- apparently some of these companies try to make it damn near impossible to cancel- some even require a certified letter!

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/federal-trade-commission-proposes-rule-provision-making-it-easier-consumers-click-cancel-recurring

[IroNat]

yes- and I try not to sign up for any recurring payments. There is legislation regarding the ability to cancel online btw- apparently some of these companies try to make it damn near impossible to cancel- some even require a certified letter!

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/federal-trade-commission-proposes-rule-provision-making-it-easier-consumers-click-cancel-recurring

Yep, don't do it. 

[Krankenstein]

Torrents.....crack streams....

Fuck continually paying for shit like that

Waze, Google Maps.....all free that come up on car when phone is near / plugged in

[oldtimer1]

Almost all gyms and jui jitsu schools require access to your credit card for monthly deductions.  Good luck trying to cancel.

 I train at home now but prior to covid I was training at a mom and pop type gym that had 30 year old plus equipment.  You could pay with cash for three months and they threw in a month for free.

At a posh gym across town that had something 30 treadmills, all new equipment; beautiful flooring and lighting they play a different game. No cash allowed. Sign the multiple page contract electronically.  Told the wife I didn't want them having access to my credit card or bank account. She went and got me a three month gift card to the place. I showed up with my gift card and they said we need your credit card. I refused and asked for the money back for the gift card.  A manager came over and said let him work out here for three months. I signed the electronic contract but with no credit card they were fucked. Never took me to court or sent me a letter.

 It's getting more appealing than ever to work out at home. I have an elaborate set up but truth be told you don't need it. Adjustable dumbbell have evolved from the "antique" design of power blocks. Nuobell is one example.  They look like a regular dumbbell and the weight is changed from a quick click of the handle.  Have an adjustable bench with chinning option/dip attachment then you could do so many exercises while storing the set up in a small corner of a room. Dumbbell squats, dumbbell lunges, stiff dumbbell dead and split Bulgarian squats are few options for legs alone.

[Krankenstein]

Almost all gyms and jui jitsu schools require access to your credit card for monthly deductions.  Good luck trying to cancel.

Find out when your renewal date is, cancel before that date....one last payment and you're done.  Hand the front desk a cancellation note.  Keep copy on file.  Block the gym from any charges the day after your next payment comes out.

Not too difficult

[Mayday]

The worst is the annual one. You pay, forget all about it, miss notification emails because the spam is out of control, then you get whacked a full year again and you have no leg to stand on to reverse it.

It’s a good model for casual users who no longer have to pay price for all eternity. With more competition came the end of 12mth contracts as standard. We don’t pay for updates or new versions anymore either.

This is the ‘you will own nothing and you will be happy’ thing.

[Brenda Steunbeer]

Subscriptions are a way to squeeze the last dollar out of every customer / user. Amazing how many people fall for that old trick. BMWs, Youtube, Cloud services, socials, even when you buy a new heating system for your house they try to make you sign up for service subscriptions.

It often is a form of blackmail. If all companies start doing it it will be difficult to avoid.

People now have so many expensive ones, netflix and such. Must cost them a fortune each year.
(I have zero subscriptions, hate the concept)

[Humble Narcissist]

Almost all gyms and jui jitsu schools require access to your credit card for monthly deductions.  Good luck trying to cancel.

 I train at home now but prior to covid I was training at a mom and pop type gym that had 30 year old plus equipment.  You could pay with cash for three months and they threw in a month for free.

At a posh gym across town that had something 30 treadmills, all new equipment; beautiful flooring and lighting they play a different game. No cash allowed. Sign the multiple page contract electronically.  Told the wife I didn't want them having access to my credit card or bank account. She went and got me a three month gift card to the place. I showed up with my gift card and they said we need your credit card. I refused and asked for the money back for the gift card.  A manager came over and said let him work out here for three months. I signed the electronic contract but with no credit card they were fucked. Never took me to court or sent me a letter.

 It's getting more appealing than ever to work out at home. I have an elaborate set up but truth be told you don't need it. Adjustable dumbbell have evolved from the "antique" design of power blocks. Nuobell is one example.  They look like a regular dumbbell and the weight is changed from a quick click of the handle.  Have an adjustable bench with chinning option/dip attachment then you could do so many exercises while storing the set up in a small corner of a room. Dumbbell squats, dumbbell lunges, stiff dumbbell dead and split Bulgarian squats are few options for legs alone.

Call your bank or credit card company and tell them to block any payment to that company.

[BayGBM]

Yes, Adobe no longer produces CDs/Downloads for their complete products to sell.  Instead you get to use the product on a month to month basis as long as you pay for that time.

What car features did they say would expire?  Mine is a 2020 and when I got a notice from them, I asked the salesperson and he basically told me that unless it was Sirius, then there was really no reason to pay for any renewals.  Because they are not going to let anything with car's mechanical/electrical/safety systems expire.  And for things like navigation, I could plug my iPhone in and it would link to the screen (which it does).

 
Expired services

•   Stolen Vehicle Assistance
•   Remote Vehicle Finder
•   Theft Notification and Parking Damage Detection
•   Car-to-X Communication
•   Valet Protect
•   Parking for Navigation
•   Weather forecast
•   Online Map Update
•   Personalization
•   Vehicle Locator
•   Geofencing
•   Vehicle Tracker
•   Weather map
•   Remote Engine Start
•   Local Search
•   Live Traffic Information
•   Remote Door Lock & Unlock

[SOMEPARTS]

Have you noticed that everything is becoming a subscription service where you never stop paying?  TV streaming services… Satellite radio…?  Music streaming services…?  In the old days you paid for something once (like a compact disk) and you were done; now everything is turning into never ending payments.  If you work in an office your IT/budget guys will confirm that Microsoft Office is now a subscription service and your organization must pay an annual fee to keep using it; same thing for Adobe Creative Suite.  In the old days you could buy Photoshop or InDesign and use it without limit.  Now, if you stop your monthly payment the software stops working.  Last month my AMG turned one year old. I received both a text and an email from MBenz telling me that several features on my car will now "expire" unless I subscribe to keep them active.  I think BMW does this as well.

About five years ago I had Terminix treat my house; the effect lasted about two years.  After that I started doing it myself with bug killers I bought at Lowes.  I recently got quotes from three different exterminators to treat my house again and they each said I needed a subscription (monthly payments and quarterly treatments) to keep the pests away. WTF?  Even USAMuscle.com and musclegallery.com are subscription services (bodybuilding related).  Maybe some of you are too young to remember the one-payment-and-you’re-done dynamic, but old guys like me do not like this new business model where the payments are monthly and never end.  Bay no Likely!

Keep voting for "you will own nothing and be happy" platform and this is the result. Everything good or service is the equivalent of a utility bill in a socialist country.

[Darren Avey]

I subscribe to amazon because it's shows Neighbours

[LurkerNoMore]

Expired services

•   Stolen Vehicle Assistance
•   Remote Vehicle Finder
•   Theft Notification and Parking Damage Detection
•   Car-to-X Communication
•   Valet Protect
•   Parking for Navigation
•   Weather forecast
•   Online Map Update
•   Personalization
•   Vehicle Locator
•   Geofencing
•   Vehicle Tracker
•   Weather map
•   Remote Engine Start
•   Local Search
•   Live Traffic Information
•   Remote Door Lock & Unlock

The remote door lock and unlock is surprising.   Your fob won't do it anymore?

The rest you can accomplish with an iPhone and AirTag.

[Dave D]

Expired services

•   Stolen Vehicle Assistance
•   Remote Vehicle Finder
•   Theft Notification and Parking Damage Detection
•   Car-to-X Communication
•   Valet Protect
•   Parking for Navigation
•   Weather forecast
•   Online Map Update
•   Personalization
•   Vehicle Locator
•   Geofencing
•   Vehicle Tracker
•   Weather map
•   Remote Engine Start
•   Local Search
•   Live Traffic Information
•   Remote Door Lock & Unlock

You were going to pay for 3 separate vehicle locator/theft device?

The real scam is if your car was stolen you should be able to call to have it found. It should be illegal that these services don’t help the police with these tracking devices.