Deciding on renewal after Ford promo expiry - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

NefCanuck · 2008-09-03, 07:04 PM

I searched the forum on this topic and came up empty, if there is a thread about this I apologize.

Oct 15/08 will mark the end of my "free" 6 months of SIRIUS service in my car and Ford/Sirius has sent a invitation to renew my service.

I'm debating what to do in this case, the Ford/Sirius promo only offers pay as you go, one and two year plans. The Sirius Canada website still offers the "lifetime" subscription (Which would of course require a transfer fee to a new device as I sold the old one)

With the likely merger of the Sirius/XM Canada operations though I'm not sure what I should do, go monthly, or call them and ask if the "lifetime" package is still available? I'm not really comfortable agreeing to let them renew me at some point in the future at whatever price they are charging at the time, I'd rather pay "once" and be done with it.

What are your thoughts folks?

NefCanuck

Baal · 2008-09-03, 07:53 PM

I renewed with the lifetime subscription a couple of months ago. (I had won a free year from CBC Radio3)
I asked about what would happen if the Canadian companies merged and was told I'd still maintain my lifetime subscription.
Whether that is still valid if a merger does occur remains to be seen.

NefCanuck · 2008-10-25, 12:32 AM

I decided to take the plunge and went lifetime for the car, if necessary I've upgraded my AVR (Denon 3808) to use Sirius as well so I could transfer the subscription to that (assuming that Denon ever explains what additional hardware the Denon needs to get Sirius radio

)

NefCanuck

jcol · 2008-10-27, 08:54 AM

I would be nervous about entering into any long term agreement with either the individual Canadian companies or the merged US companies. I would neogiate your best price for 1 year which is currently $77 for the US service, or go with the 3 month pay as you go option. I think the merged companies are going to have a difficult time in light of the problems with the global economy. Sirius/XM stock is now around .39 cents and they are going to have to get some additional capital soon to keep operating. If the Sirius/XM fold in the US then the Canadian companies will be without programing. Just my opinion, but I think purchasing a "lifetime" sub from any of the companies now is too much of a gamble.

NefCanuck · 2008-10-29, 10:57 PM

It may well be a gamble yes, but I think that Sirius will survive, but it's business model will change dramatically, including what programming listeners receive (I can well see "tiered" price levels becoming the norm)

Looking at it from a legal perspective (I deal with the law for a living) if Sirius Canada were to then turn around and reduce / eliminate any of the channels or demand more $ then I would have an argument that they fraudulently misrepresented their "lifetime" subscription package.

That's a fight I wouldn't mind taking on if I was forced to...

NefCanuck

starchoice · 2008-10-30, 12:55 AM

Reducing/eliminating channels is their right. Your "lifetime" subscription never guaranteed you a subscription to the channels subscribed at the time, only the service.

Canterbury Tail · 2008-10-31, 09:26 PM

Plus your lifetime subscription isn't really a subscription for your lifetime, but the lifetime of the radio plus a few transfers.

NefCanuck · 2008-11-04, 03:27 PM

Indeed there version of "lifetime" and my version of lifetime are two different things (Then again with my luck with motor vehicles, I may end up with my lifetime being shorter than that of the receiver in my car

)

As to if they merge/eliminate channels, because of the messed up situation in Canada (Two services getting content from the same source) I'm not sure that it would affect me in any negative way (at this time) and may in fact benefit me, if a merger does happen, Sirius Canada wins and the result is all the sports on the Sirius receiver (Only sport that I miss on Sirius is hockey, the local radio broadcaster of the Leafs broadcasts on an AM frequency that is poor, to be polite)

NefCanuck

2008-09-03, 07:04 PM	#1
NefCanuck Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 256	Deciding on renewal after Ford promo expiry I searched the forum on this topic and came up empty, if there is a thread about this I apologize. Oct 15/08 will mark the end of my "free" 6 months of SIRIUS service in my car and Ford/Sirius has sent a invitation to renew my service. I'm debating what to do in this case, the Ford/Sirius promo only offers pay as you go, one and two year plans. The Sirius Canada website still offers the "lifetime" subscription (Which would of course require a transfer fee to a new device as I sold the old one) With the likely merger of the Sirius/XM Canada operations though I'm not sure what I should do, go monthly, or call them and ask if the "lifetime" package is still available? I'm not really comfortable agreeing to let them renew me at some point in the future at whatever price they are charging at the time, I'd rather pay "once" and be done with it. What are your thoughts folks? NefCanuck

2008-10-27, 08:54 AM	#4
jcol Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 424	I would be nervous about entering into any long term agreement with either the individual Canadian companies or the merged US companies. I would neogiate your best price for 1 year which is currently $77 for the US service, or go with the 3 month pay as you go option. I think the merged companies are going to have a difficult time in light of the problems with the global economy. Sirius/XM stock is now around .39 cents and they are going to have to get some additional capital soon to keep operating. If the Sirius/XM fold in the US then the Canadian companies will be without programing. Just my opinion, but I think purchasing a "lifetime" sub from any of the companies now is too much of a gamble. Last edited by jcol; 2008-10-27 at 10:02 AM. Reason: spelling

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2008-09-03, 07:53 PM	#2
Baal Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Hammer Posts: 317	I renewed with the lifetime subscription a couple of months ago. (I had won a free year from CBC Radio3) I asked about what would happen if the Canadian companies merged and was told I'd still maintain my lifetime subscription. Whether that is still valid if a merger does occur remains to be seen.

2008-10-25, 12:32 AM	#3
NefCanuck Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 256	I decided to take the plunge and went lifetime for the car, if necessary I've upgraded my AVR (Denon 3808) to use Sirius as well so I could transfer the subscription to that (assuming that Denon ever explains what additional hardware the Denon needs to get Sirius radio ) NefCanuck

2008-10-29, 10:57 PM	#5
NefCanuck Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 256	It may well be a gamble yes, but I think that Sirius will survive, but it's business model will change dramatically, including what programming listeners receive (I can well see "tiered" price levels becoming the norm) Looking at it from a legal perspective (I deal with the law for a living) if Sirius Canada were to then turn around and reduce / eliminate any of the channels or demand more $ then I would have an argument that they fraudulently misrepresented their "lifetime" subscription package. That's a fight I wouldn't mind taking on if I was forced to... NefCanuck

2008-10-30, 12:55 AM	#6
starchoice Veteran Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,782	Reducing/eliminating channels is their right. Your "lifetime" subscription never guaranteed you a subscription to the channels subscribed at the time, only the service.

2008-10-31, 09:26 PM	#7
Canterbury Tail Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 343	Plus your lifetime subscription isn't really a subscription for your lifetime, but the lifetime of the radio plus a few transfers.

2008-11-04, 03:27 PM	#8
NefCanuck Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 256	Indeed there version of "lifetime" and my version of lifetime are two different things (Then again with my luck with motor vehicles, I may end up with my lifetime being shorter than that of the receiver in my car ) As to if they merge/eliminate channels, because of the messed up situation in Canada (Two services getting content from the same source) I'm not sure that it would affect me in any negative way (at this time) and may in fact benefit me, if a merger does happen, Sirius Canada wins and the result is all the sports on the Sirius receiver (Only sport that I miss on Sirius is hockey, the local radio broadcaster of the Leafs broadcasts on an AM frequency that is poor, to be polite) NefCanuck