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BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

edition.cnn.com

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Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#11

Post by abeppu »

Is there a product review site that includes a "you actually own it" component? This should include aspects like:

- Can it be repaired by someone other than the manufacturer? - Does it risk becoming a brick if their service shuts down? - Does it require a continuing subscription? - Can the manufacturer disable it without your sign-off?

I would consult such a resource, but I also think that if an influential product review site (e.g. wirecutter) were to specifically and consistently identify these aspects when making recommendations to buyers, eventually it might sway producers?

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#13

Post by sneak »

The inability to receive future (prepaid) self-driving software updates on a Tesla if I remove the GSM interface to prevent corporate tracking my driving movement 24/7 is the main reason I am likely never going to buy a new one.

This sort of rent-seeking is really terrible.

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#15

Post by ajhurliman »

adarioble wrote: post #10

While I dislike “subscription everywhere” model, I suspect this could work miracles for second hand market, allowing consumers to add options to their purchase. I wouldn’t be surprised if these options are thrown in as “freebies” to the first owner and free for a couple of years and then turn into subscription.

It bothers me that they're intertwining a subscription model for something that shouldn't need a subscription (steering wheel heaters). If the car came with one, it should just be available.

Adding this layer of abstraction complicates things and puts an unnecessary burden on to the user to consider a complex pricing structure of what features they want for what duration of time.

Between healthcare, airlines, music, and now cars, it's becoming ridiculously complicated just to buy things. I don't like it when companies complicate their pricing models to eke out a few extra dollars from those consumers who haven't meticulously studied the pricing models to optimize their purchase; I have other things going on in my life.

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#16

Post by soganess »

gentleman11 wrote: post #14
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #12

So you have to pay extra to go round corners?

You will have to sign the nda before they will tell you

You're actually going to have to sign an NDA about not releasing the draconian, ahem, I mean brave, err... forward thinking... terms of my actual NDA. You see, I don't want you reusing those ideas without due compensation. It just wouldn't be fair.

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#17

Post by dharmab »

cerberusss wrote: post #2

This could very well be the cheapest for the consumer. Considering BMW has the highest maintenance costs of all brands in the USA, having a subscription fee for certain features may very well be cheaper. That's assuming BMW doesn't charge for a broken feature. https://twocents.lifehacker.com/the-car-brands-with-the-high...

> That's assuming BMW doesn't charge for a broken feature.

I see you haven't owned a new BMW. The Bluetooth on my Motorrad doesn't work with the most popular brand of Bluetooth helmet systems, and there's a running joke that RDC stands for Rarely Displays Correct.

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#18

Post by popotamonga »

ajhurliman wrote: post #15
adarioble wrote: post #10

While I dislike “subscription everywhere” model, I suspect this could work miracles for second hand market, allowing consumers to add options to their purchase. I wouldn’t be surprised if these options are thrown in as “freebies” to the first owner and free for a couple of years and then turn into subscription.

It bothers me that they're intertwining a subscription model for something that shouldn't need a subscription (steering wheel heaters). If the car came with one, it should just be available. Adding this layer of abstraction complicates things and puts an unnecessary burden on to the user to consider a complex pricing structure of what features they want for what duration of time. Between healthcare, airlines, music,…

I stopped buying. Rent a nice bmw 300/mo taxes and full insurance included. Peace of mind.

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#19

Post by m463 »

cerberusss wrote: post #2

This could very well be the cheapest for the consumer. Considering BMW has the highest maintenance costs of all brands in the USA, having a subscription fee for certain features may very well be cheaper. That's assuming BMW doesn't charge for a broken feature. https://twocents.lifehacker.com/the-car-brands-with-the-high...

(bmw owners won't have to pay for turn signals they don't use)

Actually, I think it might be good if the features suck.

Sort of like restaurants going out of business if they didn't make tasty food. (of course, restaurants have healthy competition, and ... when we used to go to restaurants)

Re: BMW wants to charge a subscription fee to enable heated steering wheel

#20

Post by dTal »

magicnubs wrote: post #8

This is interesting. It seems like everything is going subscription-based. It sort if makes sense in that software can be improved upon after sale and needs to be maintained, but on the other hand a single but fix can be sent to an arbitrarily large number of units, so with this model only the largest companies will be able to compete in features and price. With so many purchases to consider, and less and less time d…

That is such a terrifying and plausible dystopia. Holiday packages, but applied to your whole life. A whole new avenue for monopoly and corporate power consolidation!
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