“Corp execs literally don’t care about your bitching, and will perfectly coordinate with other companies corp execs to make sure the same blanket policy is pushed and agreed upon by everyone else in the industry, thus making it the new standard and leaving the customer with no choice against it, for the 69 millionth time”
Carmakers Push Forward With Plans To Make Basic Features Subscription Services, Despite Widespread Backlash
Submitted 11 months ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
Amends1782@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
Maggoty@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Just a reminder, such collusion is supposed to be illegal.
But we don’t pay attention to those laws anymore.
Amends1782@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
The people who made those laws don’t care nor enforce them because they’re on the payrolls of the people breaking them. Were so fucked as a country.
Amends1782@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
"Congress reports that they don’t see the issue, one congressman said ‘lol I don’t see what the big deal is, the market will regulate itself and just don’t buy a car lmao’ "
ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Nice!
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 11 months ago
Good thing new cars are now out of the price range of most people. Credit is not as cheep and easy. All it would take is one place to start making cheep cars in a shed for the whole racket to collapse. And if you look at the history of consumer markets this happens often, even with the collusion and crime.
aesthelete@lemmy.world 11 months ago
And if you look at the history of consumer markets this happens often, even with the collusion and crime.
EVs actually seem to make this more inevitable too to be honest. Most people aren’t capable of building a combustion engine and transmission, but EVs are fundamentally easier from the engineering side. There are complications with the batteries but the overall thing is a lot simpler. I think that’s why there are already lots of Chinese EVs available for like half the price of anything here.
friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What is really happening is your car has hardware features that are being disabled, and you have to pay extortion money for the criminals to not disable them. It’s ransomware as a service.
So the question is, who wants to buy from a company that is running ransomware as a service?
iamtherealwalrus@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The question is, what alternative are we going to have, if all auto makers start doing this?
systemglitch@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I just want a vehicle made like they used to be made. No computer chips and physical handles I have to turn to get the window down. An entire vehicle I can fix myself when things break down.
It shouldn’t be a hard ask, but here we are… Overly complex shit, with many features no one needs.
CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 11 months ago
You know the war that’s being fought by developers against YouTube?
Now imagine that same energy directed towards car companies.
I guarantee you the moment this becomes a thing, there will be jailbreaking and a whole industry dedicated to making sure people know how to get all the benefits that their car has installed but not enabled.
Because if buying isn’t owning, then pirating isn’t stealing.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 11 months ago
Buy base model ones that don’t have all that shit anyway and install aftermarket?
rockandsock@lemm.ee 11 months ago
*You wouldn’t download heated seats would you? *
I definitely would.
Sarmyth@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 months ago
I think this is some 4d chess shit where they realize they can get a bunch of people to void their warranty on their vehicle by making easily bypassable paid service locks in vehicles.
The only way to stop this is with regulations.
sweetnumb@lemmy.world 11 months ago
That’s not the only way. Simply refuse 100% of the time to ever buy a vehicle where you have to get a subscription for nothing of value added. We have ALL the power here and we don’t need guns (well, laws, ie men with guns who will force you into a cage if you don’t comply) to enforce it, just don’t be an idiot an buy one of these vehicles. I’ll buy nothing but used cars without subscriptions if it becomes impossible to get a new one without bullshit subscriptions.
The demand is clearly high, so if it gets bad enough I guarantee another car company is going to start up and do things better, taking business away from idiots who try shitty practices for a short-term gain and a long-term loss.
Or at least if we’re going to add a law, we need to take away two useless laws, as we have FAR too many.
jaidyn999@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Distributors only sell new cars, and the subscription is included in the credit plan. New car and fleet buyers are fine with the extra security and backup these services provide.
The distributors don’t care a damn what second hand buyers think.
SheeEttin@lemm.ee 11 months ago
it’s called magnuson-moss, it already exists
MonsiuerPatEBrown@reddthat.com 11 months ago
We need Autoworker Unions to refuse this shit with us.
realharo@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Why would they do that? This thing aligns with their interests (more money in the industry)
SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Remind me how subscription services translate to more manufacturing jobs.
Hell, half the point of the strike was that the corpos were keeping too much and not giving out raises
SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Note to self: Buy older cars without the subscription bullshit.
Maggoty@lemmy.world 11 months ago
They’re going to write laws making older cars illegal to operate in the name of climate change. Places are already requiring the phase out of new gas and diesel vehicles with the stated ambition of completely switching.
jalkasieni@sopuli.xyz 11 months ago
Maybe not outright outlaw, but they will be taxed out of existence. Effectively you will have the choice of paying 10k in pollution taxes or 5k for the functional brake pedal subscription, and this shit will become norm.
Yewb@kbin.social 11 months ago
So it lowers the cost of the car right? Right,
cheese_greater@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Nuh nuh nuh nuh ;)
nieceandtows@programming.dev 11 months ago
The only backlash they listen to is the one to their wallets. Remember Netflix password crackdown backlash?
ripcord@kbin.social 11 months ago
The backlash where Netflix's profit went up and it was generally a success and Netflix didn't change anything at all...?
Or was there another one I missed? Or am I confused?
nieceandtows@programming.dev 11 months ago
That’s exactly my point. All this ‘widespread backlash’ doesn’t amount to anything unless it hurts their bottom line. There was a huge backlash when netflix introduced password sharing crackdown, but it ended up a success for them.
TheFriar@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Sounds like we need to get the ELF and the RTR folks on a conference call.
atrielienz@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Car toys is just gonna take in the bucks. These car manufacturers are thinking they can charge a subscription fee when car toys will plug in a little doohickey they just makes your heated seats work.
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Cartoys will get a dcma notice and be sued into closing.
They only exist because paid features is still rare. Once real money is on the line, they’ll be sued or even jailed like the gaming modchip developers.
atrielienz@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I doubt that. If they can put an aftermarket car alarm, remote start, or radio in your car they can put a different module in to enable heated seats. Car manufacturers really do think they’re gonna stop this from happening but in reality we already have this for a bunch of car related accessories.
QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Bought a car with a future subscription to its remote services (climate, lock/unlock, etc). Company wants $450/year for access. Guess what we aren’t going to sign up for when the free 2 year period expires?
Vote with the wallets folks.
MaxVoltage@lemmy.world 11 months ago
you bought the new car you literally failed the mission
Transporter_Room_3@startrek.website 11 months ago
You beat me by 7 seconds.
This was my first thought. “sure showed them by buying that car…”
QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 11 months ago
With a large family there weren’t many options. This was the best option.
EvilBit@lemmy.world 11 months ago
There’s a big difference between what this article is describing and what you’re describing. Remote features likeones you’re complaining about require a cellular service and while $450/year is very expensive, providing them for free would be silly.
The article is describing built-in features with no connectivity requirements, which is like disabling your heated seats unless you subscribe. This is what is described as rent-seeking behavior and it’s very different from overcharging for operational costs.
AA5B@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I just bought a cellular plan for my car: $99/yr, including streaming video and audio. That seems fair to me, given the cost of adding a tablet or something to my phone bill. You paying 4.5 times is surely a ripoff
QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 11 months ago
That’s fair.
_dev_null@lemmy.zxcvn.xyz 11 months ago
Same thing for me with 5g hotspot in my new car. They said “hey that’s free for 6 months, along with enhanced onstar”, and I replied keep it, I don’t fucking want it.
They looked at me like I was growing a second head. They said they didn’t know how to deactivate it, as nobody had asked that before. My ass. They knew better than to ask for a credit card number to activate the service, at least.
harry_balzac@lemmy.world 11 months ago
“Officer, I signaled to switch lanes but I forgot to update my card on file so the blinkers won’t turn on. I was on my way to get a prepaid card for the blinkers and to open the trunk so I can get my groceries out.”
Blackmist@feddit.uk 11 months ago
No BMW owner would willing use indicators anyway.
Jessvj93@lemmy.world 11 months ago
BMW Subscriber* now 🤷♂️
rtxn@lemmy.world 11 months ago
“Oh no, we can’t compete with Chinese manufacturers! Surely if we squeeze the customers just a little bit harder…”
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 11 months ago
As much as I hate what it will do to the used car market we as a people need to stop buying these new cars. Like actually make it a shameful act to even be in one of these distopian devices. People love to bully and be outraged, why not point it to something like this that can be agreed on and is not hard to fix?
tsuica@lemmy.world 11 months ago
People want the newest shiniest thing. Cars are no longer tools, but status symbols. And people absolutely will not give up status.
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 11 months ago
Yeah, that is why shame works so well here. Status does not work to sell if is the status is negative.
grimacefry@aussie.zone 11 months ago
I worked in design for a major global automaker, I designed and prototyped various user experiences around enabling/disabling features on demand, and paying a subscription. This was 7-8 years ago, and the context was developing countries and what we called “emerging markets” where people just bought bare bones base model vehicles, but there were always 1 or 2 highly desirable features they needed but could only get in a high spec model - they couldn’t afford.
The idea tested very well, they could buy their cheap vehicle and then enable just the things they really need. And they would pay for that. I still think this is a valid and good use case for subscribing, in these markets and for these people.
Somewhere between then and today, sales and marketing entered the chat, and I know because I fought them tooth and nail. What I designed morphed into subscribing to everything for everyone. I don’t work there any more and that’s part of why.
Bonskreeskreeskree@lemmy.world 11 months ago
If the product is already on the car it is scummy as fuck to charge a subscription, the end. The higher price of high end vehicles is justified by the cost of adding those features to the vehicle. If they’re already there and off, you’re getting ripped off
MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 11 months ago
Climate conference or whatever, has nothing to say about car makers actively hindering adoption of modern engines/EV?
CaptObvious@literature.cafe 11 months ago
And this shit is why I’ll never own a Tesla — or any other make that pulls this stunt.
GladiusB@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Elon single handedly told me I shouldn’t buy a Tesla
flop_leash_973@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Just remember to not pay for the subscription and they will eventually stop this particular nonsense.
inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Again, I mean good luck with that I suppose. They do this and it will just accelerate the market to jailbreak cars.
phillycodehound@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Enough with the subscriptions!
ComradePorkRoll@lemmy.world 11 months ago
They won’t stop until the air you breathe is a subscription service.
018118055@sopuli.xyz 11 months ago
phillycodehound@lemmy.world 11 months ago
LOL
MataVatnik@lemmy.world 11 months ago
And this is why capitalist markets don’t really regulate themselves and need government intervention.
hesusingthespiritbomb@lemmy.world 11 months ago
If this becomes common enough there’s gonna be a whole cottage industry of jailbreaking cars.
MagneticFusion@lemm.ee 11 months ago
vote with your wallet and don’t buy these features if u get a new car. Or get a new car that still has these features the old school way
FeetinMashedPotatoes@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Only the stupid rich people who are complete fucking idiots are gonna spend money on this. That and people irresponsible with money who are also complete morons. Anyone with a sense of financial responsibility will absolutely not buy these shitty anti consumer cars
aesthelete@lemmy.world 11 months ago
🎶 It’s a bad idea, and they’re all about it 🎶
andrewta@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The simple answer is “REFUSE TO BUY THE SHIT!”
It is literally that simple. I can’t think of a single person that HAS to buy a NEW car. Keep what you have or buy used. Tell the dealerships and auto makers to fuck off! Explain why a person ever has to buy a NEW car.
As long as people are stupid and buy it the auto makers WILL continue on this path.
grue@lemmy.world 11 months ago
“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” – H.L. Mencken
The reality is, individual boycotts don’t do shit because people who care about their property rights are outnumbered by dipshit consumer whores by a dozen to one (if not worse). The only way to actually fix this is regulatory action by the FTC to outlaw this shit as the blatantly obvious violation of the doctrine of first sale that it is.
oDDmON@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Also an obvious indicator of the need for something comparable to the GDPR to keep this shit manageable going forward.
muntedcrocodile@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The problem solves itself with decent right to repair
Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
Sounds like we need a reduction in dipshits!
Olgratin_Magmatoe@startrek.website 11 months ago
Enshitification isn’t solved by voting with your dollar. If it did, the printer market wouldn’t be the shit show that it is. You can’t vote for the good if all the manufacturers mutually agree to only produce shit. Only regulation will keep them in line.
(inb4 “brother is better”, I am aware that brother printers are generally better, but they are far from good.)
deweydecibel@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Especially when the majority of people will litterly drink shit milkshakes every damn day before they ever dream of using something that isn’t their preferred brand or might require accepting some modest trade-offs.
We all suffer from enshitification because the “average consumer” makes it profitable with their apathy, their ignorance, and their laziness. And there’s nothing we can about that. We’re stuck in these markets with them, and they make up the majority, so they set the trends.
Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 11 months ago
Sadly, people are not rational, and will buy the new car because it makes them feel good. They'll give them a year of free features and people will forget all about it because it's a free year and "a $5,000 value!"
I've only ever bought one new car, and that got dieselgated. I will never buy a new car again, and you won't, but there's not enough of us to stop this from happening.
"You will own nothing and be happy."
andrewta@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What is diesel gated?
gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I got an 03 Jetta in good trim with a 5-speed (which hardly anyone makes anymore). I’m gonna keep that fucker alive even if I have to turn it into the car of Theseus.
CADmonkey@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I have a Samurai of Theseus.
My wife drives a 2017 Mirage G4 with a 5 speed, and we are going to keep that thing alive however we can. And it’s fairly easy, because the Mirage is very simple and is made to be easy to repair.
kowcop@aussie.zone 11 months ago
I will probably continue to buy new cars as I can spend my hard earned on whatever I want. Everyone’s financial situation, wants and needs are different… you shouldn’t bundle everyone else into your opinion.
That said, I wouldn’t buy a car that has a feature that I need locked behind a subscription… I would just buy one that suits. I am not loyal to any particular brand so I don’t care.
Touching_Grass@lemmy.world 11 months ago
A better solution is to counter market these products. Invest time in spreading content that tells other people how shit these products are. Not buying it doesn’t do much. But spreading the good word does. Its why they pay so much to advertise and market
CCatMan@lemmy.one 11 months ago
The only reason I see is for increased safety ratings, but sadans will never win with the trucks people drive around in now :(
Paddzr@lemmy.world 11 months ago
So no ford, bmw, merc, tesla and who else so far?