Useful Links

Red_y · 03-02-2012, 09:29 PM

Sirius offers an "ala carte" plan where you pick 50 channels out of their total line-up. $8.77 a month including tax. Only some of their radio receivers are compatible with the "ala carte" plan, so you may need to get one of those.

Some channels are premium and have an extra charge, like Howard Stern and certain sports channels. We listen to only about 10 channels so this plan was perfect for us.

Nords · 03-02-2012, 09:30 PM

One word: iPod.

friar1610 · 03-04-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAE

We have XM also, and I always mark on the calendar the date that our subscription ends. About a week or so before that date, we call them and tell them we don't want it anymore. They go into their series of questions, etc., and we tell them no, not interested, please cancel. Then they start offering the huge discounts that you mentioned. When they get low enough, we resubscribe for another year, and mark down the end date on the calendar again. Then next year, we go through the process again. It has worked so far. I think we paid $94 for a year the last time, which I can live with. The key is to make sure you call each year before the subscription ends and the automatic renewal kicks in.

Thanks for your experience. Like every GM car buyer, I got the free six months with the new car. Then I let XM lapse for a month or so and signed up for another year for a significantly reduced annual price. It auto-renews in a year, so I also have it marked on my calendar to be sure to cancel. Although I like having XM, I can certainly live without it for a few months if that's what it takes to get a lower price.

Someone else (Nords, I think) also mentioned i-Pods. That's something else I do and mine will do quite nicely during periods I don't have XM.

W2R · 03-04-2012, 09:56 PM

I got Sirius/XM free for six? months when I bought my Venza, two years ago. I clearly told them every time they called that I do not and would NEVER have an interest in purchasing their service. They have persisted in bombarding me with snail mail ads anyway for the past two years. I don't listen to it at all, even when they give me periods of free access.

After this experience, I would regard lack of pay radio capability to be a "plus" when evaluating new cars.

caninelover · 03-04-2012, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R

I got Sirius/XM free for six? months when I bought my Venza, two years ago. I clearly told them every time they called that I do not and would NEVER have an interest in purchasing their service. They have persisted in bombarding me with snail mail ads anyway for the past two years. I don't listen to it at all, even when they give me periods of free access.

After this experience, I would regard lack of pay radio capability to be a "plus" when evaluating new cars.

Oh great...I bought a Subaru Forester in December, same thing, few months 'free' XM. I never wanted it, I just download music/podcasts and stream via bluetooth when in my car. Plus the few times I tried listening during the 'free' trial period the stations were not to my liking. Now it sounds like I'll be pestered to death when the free trial ends over something I never wanted to begin with. There should be an 'opt out' when you buy the car.

Sesq · 03-05-2012, 11:41 AM

I guess the cheaper price might hit the value proposition - but at that point its kind of like buying clothes. Do you really need/want it, or are you being seduced because "its a great deal".

I had it for while with a new car. It was awesome for the long drives, but superfluous the rest of the time.

Dawg52 · 03-05-2012, 12:04 PM

Never had XM, so don't know what I'm missing. I would love to scale my cable fees back. I could easily get by on the 10 channel or so package for $15/mo. But the darn golf channel has me hooked.

youbet · 03-05-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawg52

Never had XM, so don't know what I'm missing. I would love to scale my cable fees back. I could easily get by on the 10 channel or so package for $15/mo. But the darn golf channel has me hooked.

+1

For me, it's the Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and Sox. (The Bears are on OTA TV except for the Monday night game.) Most everything we watch on cable has an OTA equivalent except sports.

I can afford my cable bill, it just bugs me to pay it.

nun · 03-05-2012, 02:12 PM

My cable and internet bill is an example of expense creep. It got above $125 last month so I axed HBO and saved $20/month. I looked into going to basic cable to save another $30/month, but I had to give up BBC America and Fox Soccer Channel so I didn't do it.

Ally · 03-05-2012, 09:53 PM

We got rid of HBO to save due to the increase in the bill over time. I haven't really missed it.

**Alan** · 03-05-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun

I looked into going to basic cable to save another $30/month, but I had to give up BBC America and Fox Soccer Channel so I didn't do it.

A man after my own heart. My son and I watch hours of footy every week. We have U-verse, and about a year ago the soccer channel was moved from tier 3 to tier 2, so we immediately switched to save the money.

BigE · 03-07-2012, 08:10 PM

Thanks for the input. As of 5pm today, XM stopped transmission (on my way home from work). I'm now bound for NPR and other free radio, like the old lean days before the "creep" started. They (XM-Sirius) called me no less than three times a day for weeks.