The Renewal Game...

I haven’t paid for SiriusXM since December 2008.

I don’t even use a radio. I just plug my phone into the stereo in my Jeep or semi, and use the app.
 
Vols44 said:
I load prepaid cards onto my account so the CC auto monster doesn't sneak 299 plus from my account.
Click to expand...

That's what I do for most all my streaming services. Then set a notification on my phone to remind me when the GC balance is about to run out.
 
My current deal:

$6.52 per month... $78.24/year.

I get All-Access on the phone (unlimited data) and I think I get SiriusXM Select in the car radio.

I also got something like my 4th Amazon Dot Echo in a row...but there's more. I gifted the car subscription to someone else. I went to go use the code for the Echo and I realized that:
1) I would have had to pay shipping. The recipient has Prime.

2) It would have shipped to me well after Christmas.

3) Why not let the recipient choose their own color?

I tried to give them the code. It didn't work. Amazon was no help. The very excellent people at SiriusXM corporate care in Nova Scotia (they've been very helpful to me through the years) ended up giving me a new code.

But...then I get a letter... "Hey, we noticed you never used your code."

Holy crap, the original code was made valid. I use it. Somehow, I end up with free shipping.


$78.24
All-Access on the phone

Select or whatever in the car. (Not all the music channels and I don't think it includes Howard...no loss there...and I'm not sure about sports content. But there's enough.)

Two dot echos.
 
blueneon36 said:
When calling Retentions:

I have been offered All Access for $119.00+ US Music Royalty Fee.

I have also been offered XM Premier for $86 with no internet access +US Music Royalty Fee.

Also, XM Select (no Howard), 6 months for $25. Its no secret. Sirius does this all the time.... as long as you call retentions first.....

I have cancelled Sirius altogether and have found a way to continue on with the android app for free.
Click to expand...

Unless it involves a new email address every few days or whatever for a free trial...hmmm?

But here's "free for 3 months."

SiriusXM is Loading

care.siriusxm.com care.siriusxm.com


I'm also aware that some car dealerships will offer a free trial (3 months or whatever) with an oil change.
 
Last edited:
Way back in the early days, when I couldn’t decide between Sirius and XM, I did that. I bounced around for a few weeks using different email addresses before I finally picked Sirius.
 
My car sub is up in a few days. SXM has changed the playing field and al I see are: a new version of Select with just 25 music channels, some sports and talk for $6 per month for 12 months and the All/everything now called platinum for $8.25 per month (for the first year).

I guess I'll wait for an online or mail offer for something close to the six months for $30 plus royalty fee or the old $99 for a year.

Purchasing a GC on BestBuy and posting it to my acount is the next best thing to a money order sent to the SXM Louisville, KY office.

I'l post what the results of the renewal game once I get a legitimate CSR to agree to my terms.
 
On the app, I need Howard.
In the car, I really just need a variety of music channels. I don't need all the music channels, but it's nice to get a random sample across several categories.

I was paying $5/mo "plus fees and taxes" for one year. It seems when they changed their plans that what I'm getting is now around that my options are as follows:

$8 "plus fees and taxes" coming out to a bit over $10....but this is only six months.

I could go about two dollars less, but I'd lose Howard.

I could go to $15 which seems to get....two apps, I think. I don't really need two apps. I think this is good for one year.

This is SiriusXM Platinum monthly promotion good for six months. No Amazon Dot Echo this time around. I think I ended up with three of them. It was fun while it lasted.

The Asian-sounding lady ended with a "bye for now."

Note: They cannot start promos in advance. My old promotion expired on 1/1. Because I called in today, my new promotion expires June 24th.
 
Last edited:
Back in September I was able to get a deal for the top package for just over $116 for a year including taxes and fees.
 
My us sub ... including online streaming cost my $500 in 2007 for Sirius. $400 for XM. I paid a bit monthly for streaming Sirius for a while. Then the gave me a whole bunch back and stopped charging me. I pay for my Canadian sub for my car. Mainly so I can stream on my phone. I used to grovel for a couple of $ but now I just let it renew. Too lazy and all I would wind up saving was about $50.
 
SXM, did the auto bill trick today. They "renewed" me for 6 months at $65.45 with a 14.01 royalty fee for a total of $79.46.

The $13.24 a month price point is too much when compared to a new Music and Entertainment for $5.99/ 12 months ans Platinum $8.25 for 12.

I'll use my grandfathered lifetime stream and listen via Android Auto and wait til reduced offers arrive. I'll wait til the "renewed" sub expires and have to convince a competent CSR to erase the phony charges to complete the last stage of the renewal game. My goal is another 6 month at $29.99 plus royalty fee agreement.

TL;DR I'm late in the first quarter and SXM leads 7-0, but I have the ball first and goal to go after an encroachment penalty on SXM.
 
The renewal dance is complete. I learned about a couple of SXM's dirty little secrets and wanted to share my experience. I had a past due balance which I wasn't prepared to pay. SXM "renewed me for a total of 67 dollars and change for the equivalent of their current music and entertainment. It's my second sub and the roughly ten bucks a moth is an okay deal.

Here's where it gets interesting. Since I owed a balance it automatically sucked my Best Buy gift card dry when I loaded the code and clicked on redeem thinking it would load on my account (there no such option anymore). At least they don't have my CC information so they can charge me for an annual platinum.

When I tried to refresh my signal it wouldn't work because my 2018 Ford Edge was competing by trying to pair my phone and because I was parked in my driveway and in wifi range. Once drove down the street and out of range it updated and I'm good.
 
Just did the annual routine, this time via chat ( so much nicer than making a phone call ). I have the "Music & Entertainment" package, & asked to get the $60/year deal I got last time. I only listen in the car, & I'm work-from-home now...so I only really use the service on the weekends. The best they'll do now is $6 a month instead of the $5 I got the last year. Close enough, I figured, & signed up for the renewal. Over-the-air radio here is weak enough that it's worth the price for XM even if I only use it 8 days a month.
 
I found Apple Music, Local NPR, other national NPR Stations and BBC World Service via TuneIn plus podcasts to work rather well. My car isn't Satellite-ready and I have no desire to install an aftermarket stereo since it does come with CarPlay. I did the streaming-only thing for a while but the App never worked, and the repetitive playlists plus Madison made me want to leave again. My commute is all of 20-minutes one way, and am looking for WFH once I get my degree so the chances are even less that I'll need it.
 
I have lifetime for streaming. I subscribe yearly to SXM Canada in the car. I do listen to a lot of FM but I still like having XM for countdowns and for when FM has commercials.
 
I had the weirdest experience. I got my renewal email, and it had me renewing 2 subs in July. Only thing is, I cancelled the sub for my daughter's car like 2 months ago. So I sign-on to my account, and it correctly shows the cancelled sub, and only 1 active sub.

I started a chat with a customer service person, and explained that my renewal email stated that my canceled sub would be renewed in July. I expected him to confirm that, and say he'd send out a corrected email. But instead, he takes me down into the vortex.

"Let me see what kind of savings we can find for your subscription."
Well OK, but that's not what I contacted you about.
"Tell me about what kind of channels you enjoy listening to."
Um, we listen to Howard and the Pop and Rock channels mostly.
"How would you like a discounted price of $8.99 per month for 12 months? As long as you initiate the renewal now."
That would be good I guess, but what about the 2 months until my normal renewal?
"We'll credit you for the remaining payments on your current subscription. And, of course, after the 12 month period, the subscription will return to the standard annual price of like a million dollars (he actually said $355 @ $29.58/mo, when the royalty fees are added)."

So I got the 2 month credit, and will be paying $8.99/mo for everything for a year. But all I really wanted was my bill corrected.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom