https://www.techdirt.com/2023/03/28/consumers-arent-buying-automaker-plans-to-make-everything-a-subscription/
Oops. Seems that the OEMs over estimated their consumers' appetites for this cr-p.
Read another article that consumers are flocking to d-mb phones. I think you'll see me consumers telling Ford to F off when it comes to modem activation!
You know this subscription is coming. For a monthly fee, you can access a charging network that works and is maintained. Everyone else, wait in line for the station. Whoops, that station isn't working. People can come up with more ideas for premium experience after attending DEI training.
Yes, Ford employees. Your job is not to enhance customers experience, but to nickel and dime them for what should be a standard experience. Cars will be the equivalent of flying on Spirit Airlines. We can all be proud to be extended warranty spammers.
@pbb
You are not thinking big nor evil enough. Use your imagination, give it some thought.
If you want a hint where this is going, reflect some the next time you go to push the start button. Imagine, if you will, wanting to start the car and the display saying "engine start will commence after this video advertisement from Jiffy Pop"
You say you won't sign on for add-on subscriptions, but what will be monetized is the convenience that you already take for granted.
Now for a word from our sponsors. We will continue on your destination only after you have visited Tim Hortons.
You simply won’t be given a choice. All automakers will move to this business model. Do you think any OEMs will be allowed to sell vehicles with ICE power trains in 2035. Not gonna happen as NY state and Caleeeefornia are setting the bar and ruining it for everyone.
Bend over and get ready.
What about making the owners manual part of or a separate subscription service? Pretty much everyone needs the manual and would most certainly be a huge guaranteed revenue generator for the company.
I just hate that this is what Ford has become. Trying to find ways to squeeze every last nickle and dime out of customers.
Why not just make our vehicles more profitably?
When we stopped making sedans and leadership said that it was because we couldnt do it profitably it was the biggest shame. That was leadership's failure.
I can't think of a single modern thing I would want just enough that I would pay a subscription fee for vs buying it outright.
If Ford, or any other vehicle manufacturer, tried to sell me a vehicle that required subscriptions to use it, I would shop elsewhere. There will be vehicle manufacturers who make more revenue by selling vehicles with everything included. That’s where I will spend my money.
@OP D-mbphones...
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60763168
I dont understand how most of these subscription services could ever be successful.
The one that annoyed me the most - heated seats - people who love in cold areas will probably just pay to have it permanently 'available' in their purchase price. I'm sure that's an uptick for something that was already included in the trim level (which is annoying).
But do they really believe that there will be enough people who live in warm areas and will choose to pay for a subscription for heated seats during a road trip into a colder area?
I just think it's silly.
The only way I see it becoming profitable is if they force it on drivers...
Want to turn on your radio? Want to use your in car navigation? Want to use your a/c? I could see them applying it to everything that they possibly can. That would be awful...
@atq all customers using BlueCruise today are using it within its initial 3 year free trial period. We don’t yet know how many will choose to pay for it after the trial.
The successes of BlueCruise has already disproved this theory.
I will never buy a subscription from Ford for something that is already on the vehicle, that I paid for, that's not active. The good news is, they just made resale value for older model Ford vehicles go up, since all those things are free to the purchaser!