[Kafkaesque328]

So I have until the end of this month to subscribe to Sirius XM radio before it expires. I literally listen to 3 channels - Lithium, Howard 100 and Howard 101. If there were no Howard Stern, I would have zero interest in paying for it, but I'm hooked on the Stern and I listen all the time in the car, so its worth it for me to keep it. For those who don't know, the Select Package doesn't include Howard Stern, you have to get Premium Package.

My initial offer was $112 for 12 months for the Select package incl. taxes and fees. I told them I wanted Stern and they quoted me$19.99 a month for premium and I started laughing. $120 for 12 months plus taxes and fees. We haggled a little and now they are offering $120 all in incl taxes and fees. Obviously these bastards will haggle.

Just trying to get an idea of what people are paying before I call back and settle on a price. What is reasonable? Thanks all

[nick1212]

120 for the year

[Kingpin4]

$25 for 5 months.
Wait till it runs out and you'll receive discounted invitations.
Been doing this for the past 5 years.

[Sunnyledge]

I have a subscription for my car as well as my wife's. I've been getting both for the regular price of one.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by Kingpin4

$25 for 5 months.
Wait till it runs out and you'll receive discounted invitations.
Been doing this for the past 5 years.

So let it run out completely?
And then wait?

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

So let it run out completely?
And then wait?

Yup. You'll start getting emails and mailings pretty quick. I've been paying the $25 for 6 months on both cars for a long time.

[xlover]

29+ fees ( another couple bucks) for 6 months per car ( mine and wife)

I have a calendar reminder to call back every 6 months because the agreement requires you to accept auto billing at full rate

I just cut to the chase and tell them I am canceling both cars if I don't get the 6 month rate, haven't had an issue so far. But I indeed would cancel if they refused.... then within a few weeks their lapsed customer crm would trigger and I likely would get calls offering that same deal.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Kingpin4

$25 for 5 months.
Wait till it runs out and you'll receive discounted invitations.
Been doing this for the past 5 years.

That's not for the Premium service with Stern is it? I pay $29 for 6 months but that's the standard service, no Stern.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

So I have until the end of this month to subscribe to Sirius XM radio before it expires. I literally listen to 3 channels - Lithium, Howard 100 and Howard 101. If there were no Howard Stern, I would have zero interest in paying for it, but I'm hooked on the Stern and I listen all the time in the car, so its worth it for me to keep it. For those who don't know, the Select Package doesn't include Howard Stern, you have to get Premium Package.

My initial offer was $112 for 12 months for the Select package incl. taxes and fees. I told them I wanted Stern and they quoted me$19.99 a month for premium and I started laughing. $120 for 12 months plus taxes and fees. We haggled a little and now they are offering $120 all in incl taxes and fees. Obviously these bastards will haggle.

Just trying to get an idea of what people are paying before I call back and settle on a price. What is reasonable? Thanks all

I have Sirius Select - 6 mos @ $30. This is what I've been renewing at for a while (although for a couple of years, it was $25). Includes Howard.

I always renew on the last day of the term. They usually come back with their "best deal" of $99 for 12 months, and then I tell them that's way more than I am currently paying, and they can renew my current promo or cancel. They always seem to find that deal again.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Bob in IL

Yup. You'll start getting emails and mailings pretty quick. I've been paying the $25 for 6 months on both cars for a long time.

No reactivation fee?

[ronanz]

Originally Posted by Kingpin4

$25 for 5 months.
Wait till it runs out and you'll receive discounted invitations.
Been doing this for the past 5 years.

This^^ plus they'll waive the fee.

I personally have gotten into listening to a few different Pod Casts, haven't listened to XM in 3 or 4 months...

.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by ronanz

This^^ plus they'll waive the fee.

I personally have gotten into listening to a few different Pod Casts, haven't listened to XM in 3 or 4 months...

.

I listen to a number of podcasts but I can't let go of the Stern.

[Dreamerbimmer]

I've had my car for just a little over a year and have never had to pay for xm radio (I get the signal). Isn't xm subscription part of the package?

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by Dreamerbimmer

I've had my car for just a little over a year and have never had to pay for xm radio (I get the signal). Isn't xm subscription part of the package?

Usually included for 1 year.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by xlover

29+ fees ( another couple bucks) for 6 months per car ( mine and wife)

I have a calendar reminder to call back every 6 months because the agreement requires you to accept auto billing at full rate

I just cut to the chase and tell them I am canceling both cars if I don't get the 6 month rate, haven't had an issue so far. But I indeed would cancel if they refused.... then within a few weeks their lapsed customer crm would trigger and I likely would get calls offering that same deal.

I had an absolute nightmare canceling in January. They said it was canceled... then sent me collection letters because the credit card I used the last time around was canceled.

I was so pissed when I called that I demanded they reverse the charges immediately and cancel it on the spot. The "customer service" rep on the phone said it would be cancelled... but he was giving me a month free. I insisted that they cancel without any further service, but he said he was going to give me the free month anyway, and I could just ignore it when the service ended.

A month later... they started trying to charge me again. When I called, the rep said, "All of our trial subscriptions auto-renew." I said that I refused the trial and was given one anyway.

They finally laid off when they got a copy of my complaint to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

I got a new car in the meantime and the dealer activated the one-year trial, so they don't have any payment information. The thought of dealing with them again makes my blood boil.

[Haywood187]

Originally Posted by Kingpin4

$25 for 5 months.
Wait till it runs out and you'll receive discounted invitations.
Been doing this for the past 5 years.

Yup, what he said. I have continually called and basically told them no to every offer until they get down to 5 months for $25.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

So I have until the end of this month to subscribe to Sirius XM radio before it expires. I literally listen to 3 channels - Lithium, Howard 100 and Howard 101. If there were no Howard Stern, I would have zero interest in paying for it, but I'm hooked on the Stern and I listen all the time in the car, so its worth it for me to keep it. For those who don't know, the Select Package doesn't include Howard Stern, you have to get Premium Package.

My initial offer was $112 for 12 months for the Select package incl. taxes and fees. I told them I wanted Stern and they quoted me$19.99 a month for premium and I started laughing. $120 for 12 months plus taxes and fees. We haggled a little and now they are offering $120 all in incl taxes and fees. Obviously these bastards will haggle.

Just trying to get an idea of what people are paying before I call back and settle on a price. What is reasonable? Thanks all

They are now advertising 6 months at $30 (which is normally the threaten to cancel price). So you might be able to squeeze them further.

[Kafkaesque328]

I would do 6 months for $30 for sure. They sound like a nightmare to deal with but thats all companies now pretty much. We have had Sprint forever and although its not the best in terms of coverage, it is a lot cheaper than the competition, at least for us but they are an absolute nightmare. At this point there is no way I can go without Stern. Not gonna happen, so I need to see the best price I can get on the premium. Select doesnt have Stern so its pointless for me.

[bimmer456]

I'm paying $5 a month and getting Howard stern.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

I would do 6 months for $30 for sure. They sound like a nightmare to deal with but thats all companies now pretty much. We have had Sprint forever and although its not the best in terms of coverage, it is a lot cheaper than the competition, at least for us but they are an absolute nightmare. At this point there is no way I can go without Stern. Not gonna happen, so I need to see the best price I can get on the premium. Select doesnt have Stern so its pointless for me.

I wouldn't call them a nightmare. It's just an annoying business model.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I'm paying $5 a month and getting Howard stern.

Now that sounds more like it

[RPM90]

Sirius has RIDICULOUS business practices that need to be reported to the BBB.
I'm filing a complaint.

After my initial "free from BMW" service expired I called Sirius and got their "select service" at $89 per year plus fees, which came to around $108.
Ok, fine.
I don't listen to anything other than about 10 music channels that are in their music only package.

I've renewed that package twice.
My current subscription expires 9/27/17, a few days ago.
I called in August to see what price I could get and the rep EVENTUALLY said that I could renew at the same rate I was paying for the same service.
He said he would put that price in my account "notes".
He didn't.

My subscription expired a few days ago.
Today, I called the 888.601.6302 number and a rep answered. He was a pleasant guy, mild mannered and very polite. I'll give him credit on that.
I told him that I would be willing to renew for the same amount I paid last year, which is $89 plus fees and taxes, total around $108.
He tells me that he can't do that, because that offer is now $99 plus taxes and fees.
And of course, no "note" in my account of the offer.
It's only about $11 more with taxes and fees, but that's not really the point.

I tell him that many customers are only paying $30 plus fees for 6 months, which is less than what I am willing to pay for a whole year at $89 plus fees.
So, he offers me 6 months for $30 plus fees.

I then ask him why in the world would he offer me a lower price when I just offered him a higher price? Of course I already knew the answer. The reason is because of the "AUTO renew" at 6 months, which is $16.23 per month including fees/taxes. That comes to 16.23*9 = $97.38 for next 6 months, and all the next, IF you don't call and complain or cancel.
Add that $97.23 to the "special offer" of $30 plus fees/taxes, $36.49 and the yearly cost is $133.87.
Ah, that's more than my "higher" offer for the year.

I asked him why not just give me two 6 months specials and I'll pay for a whole year. OH NO. That's not how Sirius works. The rep tells me that I can call in before my 6 months expiration and ask to renew again at the $30 rate.

Sirius wants people to call in in order to give their lower "promotional" pricing that includes AUTO renewal. That is done in the hope that the subscriber will forget to call in and then Sirius will automatically charge the full price.
So, basically Sirius's business model is to constantly engage in BS monkey business and call in every 5 months at 29 days, or right before a yearly renewal.

The rep was pleasant as I said, but he of course couldn't say anything about the obvious BS that Sirius engages in. So, I asked to speak to a supervisor to get more "clarification". Guess what? Of course the rep was polite and said he would "find one". LOL! Ok. He comes back about 3 minutes later telling me that the supervisors are busy because there are a LOT of calls.
OF COURSE there are a lot of calls because Sirius creates this f'ing circus that makes their customers jump through phone hoops to get better pricing, which YOU CAN get only if you're willing to play their games.