News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by 1vuio0pswjnm7 on Friday January 19, 2024 @05:59PM (#39062527)
"It should be shame that also falls on them, but somehow we give businesses a pass."

I have always viewed the push for "subscriptions" as a business model by so-called "tech" companies with suspicion. Looks like it was warranted.

Forgetting to cancel is part of the scheme. A friend of mine once worked briefly for a direct marketing company many, many years ago, pre-www. He said they knew a certain percentage would forget to cancel. They banked on it.

This is not something new.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by runsonrum on Friday January 19, 2024 @07:34PM (#39063357)
I'm sure there are some out there that remember 10.. 15.. 20 CDs for 1¢ mail order.

My assumption was that they would bank on guilt or forgetfulness to keep the cash flowing in.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by theendisney2 on Saturday January 20, 2024 @01:28AM (#39065233)
I've actually created a business model based on it.

The vhs rental stores were dying left and right. The one i looked into got most of its money from snacks and drinks. The subscription moddel was 75 cent, renting a movie would drop from 3-4 euro to 75 cent. (only 1 at a time) You could keep it for a week, then you would get a call if you could please return it.

The existing customers knew vhs rental was not really a thing anymore. Many visited just for a chat.

I figured one could guilt people into keeping the sub. I wasnt looking to make a profit, just curuous about the puzzle.

Im not even ashamed. haha

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by wolverine876 on Saturday January 20, 2024 @07:15PM (#39074036)
In a sense, a social club for movie lovers. Why not switch to showing movies and serving some food?
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by runeb on Sunday January 21, 2024 @02:32PM (#39082043)
You could call it a cinema!
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by jimmydddd on Friday January 19, 2024 @06:47PM (#39063018)
For annual services, I think they should always remind you before charging you. Even if you've selected auto-renew. I always appreciate the services that do that.
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by bluefirebrand on Saturday January 20, 2024 @01:12AM (#39065171)
Sony and Nintendo are doing this for their online services. I had yearly subscriptions to both PSN and Switch Online and just before New Years I got emails from both reminding me about the yearly sub.

I couldn't remember using PSN once last year so I cancelled it.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by plasma_beam on Friday January 19, 2024 @10:01PM (#39064246)
I wonder how many people bought a peacock subscription last weekend for the nfl wild card game then forgot to cancel it after.
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by listenallyall on Saturday January 20, 2024 @08:46AM (#39067508)
> I wonder how many people bought a peacock subscription last weekend for the nfl wild card game

None. That was a slap in the face to football fans.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by autoexec on Saturday January 20, 2024 @08:38PM (#39074576)
Not a fan so I hadn't even heard of it, but the internet tells me that it was the most streamed live event in US history. (https://news.yahoo.com/peacocks-nfl-wild-card-game-broke-str...) I'm guessing there are some who will stay on the platform.

I hope Pat Ryan makes good on his threats.

> I’m demanding the NFL and NBC stop the BS and offer fans the service they already pay for, or we’re coming for your antitrust exemption,...The NFL raked in $12 billion in 2022; NBCUniversal made almost $40 billion. They now have a choice, either fix this problem, or we’ll fix it for them.”

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by vasco on Saturday January 20, 2024 @01:14AM (#39065181)
Gym membership model is the power of SaaS.
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by safety1st on Saturday January 20, 2024 @01:39AM (#39065276)
Yeah I'm extremely critical of big tech in general, but calling tech companies criminal because people subscribe for stuff then don't use it sounds like a double standard to me. This is the way we are able to have nice gyms at reasonable prices. It probably contributes to making other subscriptions cheaper too.

If you want to make the world better you have to focus on the correct things. One of those is that deceptively advertised, difficult to cancel subscriptions should not be allowed. Another is that monopoly/oligopoly leads to price hikes and should also not be allowed. But people remaining in voluntary transactions which don't make sense to your personal sense of frugality? Honestly not the right bone to pick.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by taffer on Saturday January 20, 2024 @06:53AM (#39066721)
> difficult to cancel subscriptions should not be allowed

In the European Union, you can cancel any subscription by email.

Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by vasco on Sunday January 21, 2024 @04:01AM (#39076826)
Warning to the sailor: results may vary.
Re:Americans are spending billions on stuff they forget to c... by wolverine876 on Saturday January 20, 2024 @07:18PM (#39074077)
With the state of the world - climate change, dictatorship, warfare, corporate power, AI, mass surveillance - none of these issues is the right bone to pick.

But I agree there's a matter of degree: If people get renewal warnings and can easily cancel ('Reply with the word 'Cancel''), that's different.

> which don't make sense to your personal sense of frugality?

Why attribute stuff to people who disagree with you, in order to dismiss them? Why is it important to dismiss them? Maybe just believe they have some reasons and try to learn what they are.