[SpicyBolt]

Not a chance I'll get a car w monthly fees. I'd sooner look for a car that includes the features I want, since I already paid for it. Though, unfortunately, there will be enough people willing to pay "just a little bit", that this will undoubtedly grow over time. Can't wait till I have to pay $0.25 every time I want to roll down my window. Iirc, bmw was trying to charge a monthly fee for heated seats..

I don't mind monthly fees if it involves an ongoing service that requires elements external to the car. The OnStar advisor who responded instantly, and sent help instantly when my wife was in a crash that totalled our Volt, would be one example. Yes, I know there are now automated alternatives, but my wife appreciated the human connection at the time.

Anyway, our money, our choice. I guess we are contributing to the endemic of companies charging for such stuff though.

We all willingly pay for cellular service. Nobody buys the phone expecting a free lifetime connection.

 

[SpicyBolt]

It's a joke, and why OnStar will continue to lose money and circle the drain.

Where did you get that information?

I found this just now with a Google search.

Why Wall Street Loves This New Car Option That Drivers Hate | The Motley Fool

Consumers are resisting automakers' attempts to use in-car electronics to deliver additional services and revenue, but that is likely to change.

www.fool.com

 

[SpicyBolt]

When your revenue stream mostly relies on customers forgetting to cancel a useless/outdated service, that means it's a shitty business. There are still people who pay for AOL internet, I know because one of them is a nearly 80 year old family member (who even after explaining they are wasting money) still won't get rid of it. They simply don't know better things exist.

The handful of times I've interacted with OnStar people - the only thing they care about is getting your credit card number. They didn't care what my problem was or how to fix it, but tried to make it seem like all could be solved if they just had my CC number on file. "Oh sir, we can totally help and make sure your family is okay in case pirates attack you and cause a rollover, we just need to have a CC on file"

I'm fine with you hating OnStar, and believing it's a shitty business. It makes no difference to me.

I was just wondering where you got the information that it "will continue to lose money and circle the drain".

 

[SpicyBolt]

It's old tech, 20 years ago it might have been great, but everyone carries a full on computer in their pocket or on their wrist with more advanced sensor suites. Every interaction with OnStar had one goal, get my credit card number. Nevermind trying to solve the problem I called about... I'm very "be nice on the phone type" but when they push so hard I literally had to say "stop talking, I'm not giving you my CC number" that's pretty bad. It's not that person's fault, they are reading from a script, they are doing what someone is telling them to do.

They gatekeep the few features they have through their aging cellular network, they could honestly get a lot more interest out of me if they allowed things like interfacing with the car directly, wifi/bluetooth/nfc, there's tons of low cost cheaper and faster options but why innovate when you can just ask for a CC number and hope the customer forgets about auto billing?

You will get little argument from me. At the moment anyway, enough people seem to continue to support OnStar with their $$$$ such that it's not circling the drain. At least if the article I linked is to be believed.

Auto billing is widely used by many companies, and if people just let GM take their money every month for a service they no longer even use or like, that's on the customer. Personally, I only pay once annually as it's cheaper that way. So, I sit up and take notice when the billing notification comes around. I'll often call and ask for and receive a loyalty discount too. I know, it's a bunch of BS, but that's my choice to deal with it. And OnStar is improving, at least a bit. My subscription now includes a portable emergency phone app for up to 7 users, at no extra charge.

I have a partial season ticket package to the Minnesota Twins. I pay in monthly installments via Auto bill. If I quit going to games and don't cancel, I'm the idiot. It's not the Twins fault if I pay for tickets I don't use, until the day I die.

You are a smart guy, and would never let any company Auto pay you for stuff you no longer want, like OnStar. So, you are happy not having that service, and I am happy having it. Our money, our choices. Nothing really to argue about. After all, I won't convince you to sign up for OnStar, and you won't convince me to drop it.