Sirius XM

[CharBaby]

I received a letter from Sirius XM stating that I have 2 free months for Sirius radio.
All I have to do is enter my car radio Code#(listed in the letter) by calling or going online. There is(supposedly) "NO STRINGS ATTACHED" and "NO CREDIT CARD" required. Although my name, address, zipcode, email and billing address is required to activate.

^^^The billing address section has me a bit leary about even signing up and is it worth it. Although Sirius already has my name & address as they're always sending me letters to "SUBSCRIBE".

My questions are:
* Does anyone have any experience with these FREE Trials?
* Is this safe?
* Are they going to keep hounding me(other than the occasional Subscribe letter) and trying to "BILL" me for services that have been canceled?
* Anything other(good or bad) information can be offered PLEASE!

 

[cwing6]

I currently have Sirius XM in several of my vehicles primarily due to travel. In the past, I have used their "free trials." I have been pleased overall with the service and pricing, but beware - if/when you try to cancel, plan to be on the phone for an hour and talk to multiple people. You will eventually get it cancelled, but it will take some of your time. Just my experience, YMMV.

 

[Garak]

I like the product, but don't trust their business model/approach in the least. I would say it's "safe," but they certainly will try to "bill" you for services and keep you going.

 

[Kuato]

Just got the two month free trial for the GF's Jeep by calling on the phone. It's legit. They do take your address etc and you'll get continual mailings. They asked for credit card, I asked if it was required, they said "no" so I didn't give it, and the radio was on a few minutes later.

Their customer service....is all outside the US. So you'll get an ESL person. Sometimes their English is good, others they have no idea what you are talking about; either way it will be a long and painful phone call - about 10-15 minutes in total.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

The thing with all the "special rates" I got was that the pricing would revert to their exorbitant normal charges if I didn't remember to call them up and cancel. It used to be that they'd offer me a slightly better rate, I'd say no, my service would be cancelled, and then they'd call me back a while later offering me a rate that was acceptable to me. The only bad thing was I'd have to resync since the service had ended, which was kind of a PITA as I'd have to pull the car out of the garage and then run back in to make sure it had worked.
Just recently, they sent me an email offering me a pretty good deal before my expiration date was up, so I said OK. I've been paying something like $25 for 5 or 6 months lately, which is worth it for me. Might be a few dollars more for service charges or whatever. I use it a lot on long trips, it's not useful for local driving because power lines and bridges are constantly interrupting the signal.

 

[funflyer]

I got so tired of dealing with Sirius that I won't sign up ever again, even if it were free for ten years.

They can and will bombard your email or snail-mailbox with junk mail just about daily but, they never let you know before hand that your subscription is going to expire. The notice always comes a week or two after the end of the subscription period in the form of a bill for the full amount for the next twelve months so you have to call and renegotiate. Then the only good deal is the five months for $20 which keeps you in the loop for another full bill five and a half months later.

I now use a thumb drive and have all the entertainment I need. Between my CDs, the library and the internet I have more than 10k tracks to listen to.

 

[supton]

I had it for a while, years ago; but eventually found it was just like listening to the radio--the playlist didn't change much, and I wound up surfing just 2 or 3 channels. Toss in the aggravation of dealing with customer service and personally I wouldn't take up a free offer to try it out. YMMV, but I'm content with music I've ripped from CD to mp3, free podcasts and the like.

Although I have to admit, silence is underrated. I do lots of seat time with the radio off.

 

[FADEC]

I listen to them during their free listening periods. The sound quality is painful to listen to.

I do enjoy the weather forecast and radar on my GMC radio.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Had them for over 2 years now, love the variety and the fact I can pick up the signal whereever I may be.

So far I've not had any issues with their customer service.

 

[Wolf359]

Their best deal is the $25 for 6 months or $20 for 5 months. I've gotten it down to about 10 minutes, but you have to explain it all to them in advance which takes about 30 seconds. I just say that I know they can give me that deal as it's always mentioned on the forums that they don't have to go through their script where they first offer you some $99 deal and then drop it again and the best rate is the $25 for 6 months. And you tell them if they can't do it, then just go ahead and cancel. They give it to me every time and I've been doing it for the last 2 years. Then the rest of the call is taking in info and the reading of their standard disclaimer. In the email you get, they tell you when it expires and I always put a note in my calendar to call the day before it expires. Even if you call afterwards, they will pro-rate you so if you're off by a day or two, it doesn't matter much as they'll pro-rate it all back and you end up with a refund.

There's another trick other people say where you just sign up online for the 2 month free trial every 2 months. I think you just use a different name as every time the car sells, the new owner always has a 2 month free trial. I never bother with that as it's still kinda worth $25 to me. Also I think the trial has a more limited selection of channels than the $25 for 6 months deal.

 

[Bgallagher]

Just like any "free" trials they will try to bill you as soon as they are able to. My mother purchased a vehicle with a 3 month subscription to XM. She didn't provide a CC or any sort of payment and after the 3 months there was 2 emails asking to contact her and suddenly it was gone. Guess they are mad without a phone number or credit card. This Sept. I plan on turning off the XM for my traverse and only call when I am on vacation. Not too expensive and otherwise I don't listen to it. Ultimately I will be saving

 

[dparm]

Sirius XM is very aggressive trying to get you to re-activate or renew your service. My M3 had a trial and Mother of God were those guys obnoxious with calls, letters, emails, etc. to not let the subscription lapse.

On my new Corvette, which came with a trial, I didn't even give them my contact info -- once the trial runs out, so be it. I use CarPlay and stream with Pandora instead.

 

[Nick1994]

I bought my Sonata in February and got a couple months free from Sirius. No credit cards asked for, they won't send you a bill. On day 60 of your trial it will just stop working, nothing to worry about. They will try to sell hard when you sign up for the trial, trying to offer you the 5 months for $25 and you've got to tell them over and over that you don't want to purchase anything yet, you just want to try it. I get some junk email from them sometimes too.

I didn't care for Sirius too much, a lot of weird no-name music, doesn't sound as good as USB or AUX anyways.

 

[JustinH]

I got the free 3 months with my used car purchase.

Sound quality is bad and fades out near interstate i35.

They had a free week last week, and issues have not resolved.

I was offered 12 months for 99 dollars.

Probably would not pay for it.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
Sound quality is bad and fades out near interstate i35.


I found the signal quality to be hilarious.

I could drive through the tunnel in town and not lose signal, but it skips out when I drive under small 2 lane freeway overpasses at 75 mph

 

[CKN]

What makes XM attractive is the variety of music one can enjoy. Commercial radio doesn't come close. The sound quality used to be "near-CD" like. But they have compressed the signal so much-it sounds better than FM-but not by much. I have had XM since almost the beginning and have NEVER PAID FULL PRICE. I currently have two vehicles with XM and pay $25.00 for six months for each of them.


Use the free trial-then call them and asked for a reduced rate-or cancel the service. It's straight forward to do so. You do need to call them before the term expires-or the service does revert to their"non-discounted rate". But with "google' calendar or some other software-it's pretty easy IMHO to put in a reminder to do something. BTW-auto renew now is in use with most newspapers, many magazines, lawncare service,cable T.V., etc. It's not like XM is blazing some sort of new trail here....


I would expect many who change their own oil not to put a value on the service.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
I was offered 12 months for 99 dollars.

Probably would not pay for it.


That's always their initial offer. If you decline, I think they offer you a 2nd deal, but the 3rd deal is where they will offer you $25 for 6 months. Depends who you call. You have to get to cancellations and that's when they offer you that deal. The regular guys on the phone might not.

I only have it when I get bored with my Spotify and haven't bothered to even see if my 6 cd changer even works.

 

[raytseng]

overall the deal is not a scam but it has strings that they will try to get you to sign up.
If you are intereated you should try it.

I suppose you can poke around and see if there is a better trial odfer. like you mayve able to get a 3mo trial.

ultimately its up to you if you want sirius or if youd prefer internet service like spotify or pandora.

definitely do not pay full price for a subscription. just lile cabletv or internet service there are significant signup offers but then you need to be diligent to renegotiate after the promo period.

 

[07titan]

I've ha, they try to get me d sirius for,,12 years or so. Originally free with a jeep we bought, free for 1 year. You must call at the end of your term, at least 1 day before the end day, OR they hit you full price, like bam! Anyway my wife likes it, I get if for $28.30 for 6 months. I have the date circled on the calendar, and written cancel. When I call to cancel they try to get me on another plan, more money, like 1 year for $99.00 or so, I always say No, cancel, nothing more, they always tranfer me, that person always offers the 6 month special, which I take, about $5.00 a month, it's gone up from the $24.99 days. Anyway, Yes, they gave me 2 months free, call customer appreciation, it's free, but circle that end date, a MUST READ is their SMALL PRINT. It's better to call, I think so. Yes we get great reception, I love their Rock stations myself. Just REMEMBER THAT END DATE!! Mine ends this 6-20, I will call the 19th, Monday to end, then go from there. ! more thing, they have a few times not offer the 6 month deal, BUT 3-4 weeks later I receive a letter, come back, we miss you, sweet deal offer, and I call. Sorry for the history. Thanks.

 

[Delta]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I found the signal quality to be hilarious.

I could drive through the tunnel in town and not lose signal, but it skips out when I drive under small 2 lane freeway overpasses at 75 mph

Funny you mention that, I live in a mountainous region and during the spring and summer when the leaves are on the trees the signal is always cutting out on the mountain. Ironically enough works great in the PA Turnpike tunnels...