Don't Subscribe So Casually • Hacker News Board

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#11

Post by BloondAndDoom » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:24 PM UTC

sa-code wrote: post #2

I would go a step further, cancel as soon as you subscribe. It's still valid for a month because you've paid for it! If you ever need to use the service again just re-subscribe (and re-cancel) In fact, what is stopping you from cancelling all your subscriptions right now? You can always buy back in when you like

Recently cancelled something early so I won’t forget, they didn’t send my shipment even though I paid for it. They said I cancelled, tried to work with support but given after a point.

So yeah, not all companies do that.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#12

Post by xg15 » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:26 PM UTC

Can be extended to social media accounts as well.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#13

Post by sdoering » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:26 PM UTC

winddude wrote: post #7

Kinda' ironic posting a service that promotes two types of casual subscriptions, inbox clutter, and "micro transactions"

Especially when one considers how friggin difficult this service makes it to cancel a (paid) subscription.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#14

Post by toomuchtodo » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:29 PM UTC

jerf wrote: post #8

noja wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because for some subscriptions the price goes up.

But the entire scheme here is to not have them continually. It's better to pay month+$2 in six months when you need it, than 6*month for the months you don't. If you rotate subscriptions sensibly, they're much cheaper than the old cable model. If you're not looking, they can really bleed you out and be much more expensive than the old model.

You can also pay ~$20/month for an online locker that'll pull the torrent for you and serve to your devices, if that's within your philosophical tolerances. People need to get paid, but I do not much care of the enterprise value of media conglomerates and the resulting enshittification. I don't mind paying for Nebula.tv (~$36/year) and PBS Passport (~$60/year), for example, to directly support those media creators, as well as sending creators fiat directly or via Patreon (Coffeezilla and Peter Santenello, for example).

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#15

Post by dylan604 » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:29 PM UTC

jLaForest wrote: post #5

orsorna wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some don't treat months as discrete units. Uber revokes your membership immediately.

Do they also give a prorated refund? Otherwise that seems to be blatant theft

What money did you give Uber in advance? Why would you have a balance needing to be refunded if you have not taken a ride?

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#16

Post by throwaway2027 » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC

sa-code wrote: post #2

I would go a step further, cancel as soon as you subscribe. It's still valid for a month because you've paid for it! If you ever need to use the service again just re-subscribe (and re-cancel) In fact, what is stopping you from cancelling all your subscriptions right now? You can always buy back in when you like

I saw some small business owner complain about this behavior on twitter some time ago and he mentioned he only saw non-Americans do this and it made him really mad or something and he didn't provide the service and banned them or something. Funnily enough I do think this happens so sometimes I cancel instantly and sometimes deliberately wait until there are a few days left on the subscription exactly out of paranoia behavior that you'll get a worse service or something, that they must have some database field early cancel and mess with you or something.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#17

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC

jLaForest wrote: post #5

orsorna wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some don't treat months as discrete units. Uber revokes your membership immediately.

Do they also give a prorated refund? Otherwise that seems to be blatant theft

[deleted]

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#18

Post by 3form » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:32 PM UTC

orsorna wrote: post #3

sa-code wrote: post #2

I would go a step further, cancel as soon as you subscribe. It's still valid for a month because you've paid for it! If you ever need to use the service again just re-subscribe (and re-cancel) In fact, what is stopping you from cancelling all your subscriptions right now? You can always buy back in when you like

Some don't treat months as discrete units. Uber revokes your membership immediately.

Also a common practice for free trials. Adobe does that if I'm not mistaken.

Love seeing companies worth tens or hundreds of billions acting like they couldn't spare a cent from underhanded shit like that. Scrooge McDuck type of behavior, except he also had some redeeming qualities.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#19

Post by musha68k » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

One way I've "reset" my subscriptions is by invalidating the credit card they're on so most of them just stop billing. YMMV it's a bit of a blunt tool and not always foolproof, but it's worked for me before.

Re: Don't Subscribe So Casually

#20

Post by SauntSolaire » Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #15

jLaForest wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they also give a prorated refund? Otherwise that seems to be blatant theft

What money did you give Uber in advance? Why would you have a balance needing to be refunded if you have not taken a ride?

Uber one exists as a subscription you pay with certain benefits for frequent users.