ARE THEY SiRIUS??

[Wee Hooker]

So I purchased a new ,used vehicle and it came equipped with a factory Sirius Sat radio. On a whim I checked the website to see what they offered for introductory deals to new customers. The website stated $14.45/mo but that there were "special deals" only for those wanting to reactivate an existing radio. So, I went the next step and gave them a call. Once they got all my info, they proceeded to quote me the same $14.45/mo and that there was also a $15 activation fee. I then asked about the "special deals" advertized and was told there were none. Not a dollar off, not a free month, not even an even a bait and switch attempt. No apology either. Pony up full or get off the line. REALLY??? Do they think their product is that great where they can deceive new customers into blindly paying $20/mo (after fees) for what used to be free? Looks like I'll do my listening elsewhere. Fortunately the vehicle came with an imbedded 30Gig hard drive so I think I'll be OK.

Sorry for the rant but their take it or leave it attitude gave me one of my own. :-(

Update: apparently SERIUS Operates allot like Car dealerships. Several weeks after I turned down their non-offer, the contacted me and offered a significant discount and free activation to reconsider. I bit but am still unsure of it's value.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm quite happy to pay the $14.95 a month for my Sirius radio (actually more than that because I have three receivers). I don't recall paying any kind of activation fee, but I got it with a new car..maybe they exempt it for that. Now that I think about it, I did get the first three months free with the new car. That's all it took to sell me.

Yea. I think it's that good. I haven't listened to broadcast radio for two years. I hope to never go back. I'm listening to NASCAR radio right now. Later, I'll switch over to Willie's Roadhouse. Tonight when my wife and I are out doing our courier job, we'll listen to the all 60's channel, or Blue Collar Comedy.

 

[UncaGrunny]

Smart phone with MP3 capability (& google maps), a couple thousand of my favorite songs loaded on, and a bluetooth module I wired into the factory receiver myself. I haven't listened to a broadcast program of any kind in my car for over a year.

Don't miss it at all.

 

[Donn]

Never thought I'd pay for radio, but after having had Sirius for a few years. I'll pay as long as I've got the dough. The only thing I listen to on terrestrial radio is local sports teams.

 

[iouri]

Don't be in a rush to sign up. Same as you I bought a new vehicle with sat radio couple month ago, looked at their website and wasn't thrilled. Last week I received a "special deal" from them (about 3 weeks left on promotional subscription) for $90/year... That's more like it

 

[vfin]

SXM is worth every dime.

vfin

 

[wyccad915]

I love my sirius radio. Although if they are using gimmicks like that in advertising it is a little sad.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Wife had Sirius. When we got iPhones we dumped it.

 

[Diablo982]

Don't be in a rush to sign up. Same as you I bought a new vehicle with sat radio couple month ago, looked at their website and wasn't thrilled. Last week I received a "special deal" from them (about 3 weeks left on promotional subscription) for $90/year... That's more like it

This^ I have been a subscriber since 2003 (XM only back then) and always renegotiate. I just tell them I want to cancel because its too expensive. They always offer some kind of deal. The last time my wife really tried to cancel her service. We are tightening our spending and she is just as happy with FM radio. They made a first offer and she said "no thank you" because she really wasn't interested. Apparently that spurred them to Plan B as they came back with an offer so good she couldn't refuse. She is now locked in for another six months.

 

[BillK01]

I generally stream Pandora via Bluetooth from my Galaxy S4 through my Sync system in my Ford F150. I do have a Sirius subscription and every time it comes up for renewal I call to cancel it and they always offer me 6 months for 25 bucks to keep it. For that amount it's worth it to keep for me but I wouldn't pay more.

I did pay the 36 dollar annual fee for Pandora One to have no commercials and longer listening time between the "are you still listening" nags.

What irks me about Sirius is all the talking. I don't want to hear artist interviews - I want to hear music! If it continues I probably won't renew it next time around even for the 25 bucks. It's funny, every time my wife's in my truck and Sirius is on if there's any talking she yells "why is there talking on satellite radio??? I thought it was ALL music?"

 

[sophie]

Bought a new truck for my wife in 08 with Sirius radio equipped and kept the service for several years. I would tell them to destroy credit card info and send invoices thru the mail. They are a scam from the word go when it comes to this because they will not get rid of the credit card records.

I receive the special deals thru the mail and emails with the first 6 mos real cheap and no activation fee and regular price after the 6 mos and renew at the regular price after that. I will not put my credit card on record for automatic renewal with them because of previous contact with them period.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

My new car, now 2 years old, came with a Sirius 3 months free trial. After the trial I signed up for a year for about 200 bucks and was told I would receive "everything", including my local baseball teams play by play. When baseball season started I discovered that I couldn't get the broadcast. The problem was that the sports channels were on the XM side of Sirius and since my receiver was a Sirius and not XM I was out of luck. The nice lady told me I would simply have to install a XM receiver...but then I would lose some of the Sirius programming. I told her I just bought a new car with Sirius installed and wasn't about to switch cars or receivers just to get a lousy baseball game.

Come to find out that when XM and Sirius merged a few years ago they kept the programming specific to the type of receiver in the vehicle. I get a bit ticked off and demanded my 200 bucks back, which they finally did send a full refund after about 4 months.

I am not sure that fiasco still goes on today, but they still show different receivers in different vehicles...they are not all the same. You can look up your vehicle here to see what receiver you have:
Vehicle Availability - SiriusXM Radio

They still show XM for some vehicles and Sirius for others, so buyer beware.....

 

[BillK01]

Bought a new truck for my wife in 08 with Sirius radio equipped and kept the service for several years. I would tell them to destroy credit card info and send invoices thru the mail. They are a scam from the word go when it comes to this because they will not get rid of the credit card records.

I receive the special deals thru the mail and emails with the first 6 mos real cheap and no activation fee and regular price after the 6 mos and renew at the regular price after that. I will not put my credit card on record for automatic renewal with them because of previous contact with them period.

^ this. I removed all my cc info from the website. They have to bill me.

 

[thebeamanater107]

The Sirius people are salespeople. If you're interested, they'll haggle and offer 3 months of $10 per month. If you just pay the list price of $15 then cool. My girlfriend's dad lets it run out and then tells the Sirius people he can't afford it anymore and waits a week to let them attempt over and over again until they offer him the 3 month trial again.

My dad told them to cut it off, he's not paying anymore. They offered and gave him a month for free, then later called to see why he's not paying but he's still getting the service...

I just pay 3 months at a time for $50. I hate dealing with them, so that $20 per quarter is worth it to me.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

 

[laskt9]

I love it in my parents car. Sometimes they play the same songs over and over again so it sucks on long car rides. But there are tons of channel

 

[jrm53]

Sat radio

I bought a new Dodge PU in Nov of 2012 and it had the sat radio sirusxm and it was going to run out on12/7/13 I called them on monday the 4th and said I dont think I can pay 159.39 a year as I only listen to 6 channels and I felt more like 60.00 a year was plenty. The lady cut me a deal for 86.00 a year if I had waited past the 7th it would cost 15.00 to turn it back on, anyway for a year it cost 86.00 plus taxes and copywrite fees which ment we got it for a year for 105.95 so I think they might work with you but its still 15.00 to re hook you up. Jeff

 

[Engineer1911]

"XM Satellite Radio
Enjoy commercial-free music, plus sports, news, talk and entertainment."

You get all of the gibber jabber, commercials, and stuff for a fee. Three hours of Fox, CNN, HLN, 50's, 60's, and Classic Vinyl will make you beg for silence or select your own CDs to play for true "talk free music" .

You will ALWAYS know what is happening in the Nation's capitol -- truly a waste of resources and electrons.

 

[bikergal]

Had this on my new car for 3 months free. About a month after the 3 months trial was up I started getting flyers in mail to sign up for such and such and no activation fee. I remember prices like $60 for 6 months type of stuff. Just let the trial end and you will see. I got so many offers I couldn't keep track.

 

[Onomea]

For those with iPhones or similar, and Bluetooth enabled cars, try Spotify or Rhapsody. About $10 a month and you can listen to any music you want without ads. Or listen to audiobooks, podcasts, radio on the internet, etc., etc. Take the phone indoors and play it through your audio system, too.

 

[BTHG]

I started with XM Years ago and can't live without it. i bought my membership back when they offered lifetime memberships ($399) which also includes free web access. Looking at options last year for the motorcycle but only go out a few years - no more lifetimes. Only local I listen to is AM for the Red Sox games.