I mostly listen to channels 37, 40, and 41.
XM Radio
- Thread starter Passport1
- Start date
Be very cautious w/XM radio. (Look up their complaints!) I personally will never, ever do business w/this company again. You can only cancel by phone. What a hassle! Hard to believe they can get away w/their business practices. If you decide to get this service and receive a promotional rate for a certain time, be sure to cancel BEFORE the renewal date b/c it will automatically renew (they have your CC #) @ their regular (much higher) rate. Good Luck to you!
Originally Posted by sparky123
... If you decide to get this service and receive a promotional rate for a certain time, be sure to cancel BEFORE the renewal date b/c it will automatically renew (they have your CC #) @ their regular (much higher) rate. Good Luck to you!
This is a good point. I make sure to save a calendar notification for a few days before my subscription is due to lapse. I call and tell them I want the same rate as the previous year or they can cancel my subscription, and they do it without much fuss.
As others have said, Sirius XM is most useful in areas without cell coverage, which happens semi-regularly during some of the driving I do for work. I also enjoy having the app available for those times that I want to listen in the house via Wi-Fi, or out on a mountain bike ride using cellular data. I wouldn't suggest subscribing just for the app considering Spotify is far more flexible, but it's a nice perk.
... If you decide to get this service and receive a promotional rate for a certain time, be sure to cancel BEFORE the renewal date b/c it will automatically renew (they have your CC #) @ their regular (much higher) rate. Good Luck to you!
This is a good point. I make sure to save a calendar notification for a few days before my subscription is due to lapse. I call and tell them I want the same rate as the previous year or they can cancel my subscription, and they do it without much fuss.
As others have said, Sirius XM is most useful in areas without cell coverage, which happens semi-regularly during some of the driving I do for work. I also enjoy having the app available for those times that I want to listen in the house via Wi-Fi, or out on a mountain bike ride using cellular data. I wouldn't suggest subscribing just for the app considering Spotify is far more flexible, but it's a nice perk.
My Nissan came with a 3 month free trial of XM. I never used it, never activated anything and never listened to any of it. When the 3 months was up the mail offers started. I get those about once a month and they go in the shredder. They also call about once a month but I don't answer and they leave a voice mail offering me to sign up. The voice mail gets deleted. They called again tonight and my wife answered my phone, I was busy outside. She told them the same thing, I am not interested.
I have the $5.00 subscription to Pandora and it works fine, generally plays what I want to hear. Over the years the Pandora algorithm has learned my musical preferences very well. When I want to try something different I use the free version of IheartRadio. I listen to both during the day at my job. One of the last XM reps that called me said XM had recently bought out Pandora. If XM changes anything about Pandora I will move back to the $5.00/month version of IheartRadio. As it is now, Iheart free does have a commercial here and there but it's nothing intolerable.
Spotify is just too weird and invasive for me. Once in a while I will use the free version to test drive a new song that might not be on Youtube or Pandora yet. I also don't care for Spotify pushing their curated playlists on me. A lot of people use Spotify to download and build playlists and all but I have no use for that. I also think $10.00 a month for Spotify is a lot to pay for music you don't own.
My Nissan came with the shark fin satellite antenna and XM compatible head unit but I have no need for XM. Pandora and Iheart work fine, play the same stuff as XM would and both work very well with Android Auto. I also have about 40 GB of my own mp3's stored on an SD card in my phone and I use Samsung Music to play those through Android Auto or just through Bluetooth, or I use a good old fashioned micro thumb drive to play my MP3's in my car. I have no use for talk radio or podcasts, online playlists that someone else puts together or other shows on XM or any other provider. I have heard a few horror stories about XM subscriptions. They won't get me to sign up. There are too many other free or cheap alternatives for the same service with a lot less headache.
I have the $5.00 subscription to Pandora and it works fine, generally plays what I want to hear. Over the years the Pandora algorithm has learned my musical preferences very well. When I want to try something different I use the free version of IheartRadio. I listen to both during the day at my job. One of the last XM reps that called me said XM had recently bought out Pandora. If XM changes anything about Pandora I will move back to the $5.00/month version of IheartRadio. As it is now, Iheart free does have a commercial here and there but it's nothing intolerable.
Spotify is just too weird and invasive for me. Once in a while I will use the free version to test drive a new song that might not be on Youtube or Pandora yet. I also don't care for Spotify pushing their curated playlists on me. A lot of people use Spotify to download and build playlists and all but I have no use for that. I also think $10.00 a month for Spotify is a lot to pay for music you don't own.
My Nissan came with the shark fin satellite antenna and XM compatible head unit but I have no need for XM. Pandora and Iheart work fine, play the same stuff as XM would and both work very well with Android Auto. I also have about 40 GB of my own mp3's stored on an SD card in my phone and I use Samsung Music to play those through Android Auto or just through Bluetooth, or I use a good old fashioned micro thumb drive to play my MP3's in my car. I have no use for talk radio or podcasts, online playlists that someone else puts together or other shows on XM or any other provider. I have heard a few horror stories about XM subscriptions. They won't get me to sign up. There are too many other free or cheap alternatives for the same service with a lot less headache.
jagdriver727
Site Donor 2021
I like mine when I listen to it, although I still find myself listening to tapes quite often instead of the service I'm paying $6/month for.
Speaking of which, this week I need to call and negotiate my discount for the next year. What a joke.
It's nice to have on long trips, and so far I don't regret drilling a hole in my roof and permanently mounting an antenna. Install was much cleaner with that and a hard-wired tuner.
Speaking of which, this week I need to call and negotiate my discount for the next year. What a joke.
It's nice to have on long trips, and so far I don't regret drilling a hole in my roof and permanently mounting an antenna. Install was much cleaner with that and a hard-wired tuner.
I listen to it everyday. I have All Access in my Mustang and listen all day at work. Mostly the NASCAR channel, but also the metal channels. Have some of the custom Pandora channels through them for certain bands like. Its kind of expensive, but I use it a lot so it is worth it to me. Also can listen on the Alexas I have around the house.
I got hooked on it about 3yrs ago and haven't tuned in to FM in my vehicle ever since. There's a few talk shows that I enjoy and a bunch of music channels on XM. I think my last yearly re-up, I got to around $5/month.
I always thought it was nuts to pay for "radio" and I'd never do it, but here I am.
Little did I know that one day I'd be paying ~$200/mo for cell phones (6 of them) and $70/mo just for internet at the house either. Not to mention Netflix and Disney subscriptions. Yikes.
I always thought it was nuts to pay for "radio" and I'd never do it, but here I am.
Little did I know that one day I'd be paying ~$200/mo for cell phones (6 of them) and $70/mo just for internet at the house either. Not to mention Netflix and Disney subscriptions. Yikes.
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
Seems more and more power lines are cutting into AM signal … so XM is a great fallback for good signal too
Originally Posted by 14Accent
Screw XM. I was forced into a free trial when I bought my car at a local dealer, I don't even know how they got my info but I NEVER consented to it, and when the 3 mo. ran out they called MULTIPLE times a day, every day, even after warnings to stop. I finally exploded on the last rep. and said if I got another phone call they would be hearing from my attorney regarding the harassment and I'd be calling the local AG and the BBB. I didn't hear back since.
They can keep their crappy, limited playlists and garbage sound quality. Spotify is $10/mo and blows XM out of the water, even more so now with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
I repeat: SCREW XM!
They got my info as well when I bought my new Toyota and the calls started coming in around the 2 month mark. I finally picked up one of their calls and just asked them to put me on the do not call list and I received a very scripted and professional response (you can tell that they are asked this a lot) and I haven't received a call since.
Screw XM. I was forced into a free trial when I bought my car at a local dealer, I don't even know how they got my info but I NEVER consented to it, and when the 3 mo. ran out they called MULTIPLE times a day, every day, even after warnings to stop. I finally exploded on the last rep. and said if I got another phone call they would be hearing from my attorney regarding the harassment and I'd be calling the local AG and the BBB. I didn't hear back since.
They can keep their crappy, limited playlists and garbage sound quality. Spotify is $10/mo and blows XM out of the water, even more so now with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
I repeat: SCREW XM!
They got my info as well when I bought my new Toyota and the calls started coming in around the 2 month mark. I finally picked up one of their calls and just asked them to put me on the do not call list and I received a very scripted and professional response (you can tell that they are asked this a lot) and I haven't received a call since.
have it in my Laramie and bought the factory adapter for my wife's Mazda and installed it myself. She loves it. Got XM for a year at $5/mo. On the truck I got 3 yr for $99. They have deals but you have to push thru the crap.
Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Well that's great but wait until the day you try to cancel the subscription. Every time I got some on on the phone Oh I can't do that then they would hang up on you. After the 5th time I quickly said wait bring you manager on the line. Click hung up on me again. Finally after about six more calls someone put their manager on the line. He said oh we can do that. I explained to him my Credit card number had changed and I wasn't giving them the new number. If he couldn't work with me I'd turn in a complaint to my Bank Card company. Long pause someone else came on the line my subscription was cancelled.
Agree completely! I tried to cancel it once but ran out of time dealing with them. We finally canceled it about two years ago while my wife were in the car on a 3 hour road trip. We had time to waste. We had the XM guy on the car speakers the entire time. I have never had such a run around in my entire life. I am not exaggerating with I say it took us TWO HOURS and three different people to finally cancel.
I will NEVER do business with XM again. If the reps we spoke to were dying of thirst and taking their last breath I wouldn't give them my bladder contents. We use Pandora now. It's adequate for our needs.
Scott
Well that's great but wait until the day you try to cancel the subscription. Every time I got some on on the phone Oh I can't do that then they would hang up on you. After the 5th time I quickly said wait bring you manager on the line. Click hung up on me again. Finally after about six more calls someone put their manager on the line. He said oh we can do that. I explained to him my Credit card number had changed and I wasn't giving them the new number. If he couldn't work with me I'd turn in a complaint to my Bank Card company. Long pause someone else came on the line my subscription was cancelled.
Agree completely! I tried to cancel it once but ran out of time dealing with them. We finally canceled it about two years ago while my wife were in the car on a 3 hour road trip. We had time to waste. We had the XM guy on the car speakers the entire time. I have never had such a run around in my entire life. I am not exaggerating with I say it took us TWO HOURS and three different people to finally cancel.
I will NEVER do business with XM again. If the reps we spoke to were dying of thirst and taking their last breath I wouldn't give them my bladder contents. We use Pandora now. It's adequate for our needs.
Scott
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
There is something opposing the cancel culture, LoL …
My wife threatened to cancel completely unless they give us the introductory rate again … they did. Guess it's like an empty plane seat … cheap beats 0 …
Unless they just don't want to wade into their own cancellation process either ...‚
My wife threatened to cancel completely unless they give us the introductory rate again … they did. Guess it's like an empty plane seat … cheap beats 0 …
Unless they just don't want to wade into their own cancellation process either ...‚
Quote
Well that's great but wait until the day you try to cancel the subscription. Every time I got some on on the phone Oh I can't do that then they would hang up on you. After the 5th time I quickly said wait bring you manager on the line. Click hung up on me again. Finally after about six more calls someone put their manager on the line. He said oh we can do that. I explained to him my Credit card number had changed and I wasn't giving them the new number. If he couldn't work with me I'd turn in a complaint to my Bank Card company. Long pause someone else came on the line my subscription was cancelled.
I like XM radio and have had it for years in various cars, BUT I HATE THEIR BUSINESS MODEL! Unfortunately, they seem to have been the first out with "automatic renewal" and now all the TV streaming services use it as well.
As a result, I never give XM a credit card number. I ask for paper billing, which works out just fine for me, even if they do charge you $2.00 extra for the service. I get the full package, + unlimited internet streaming for about $110.00/year. The unlimited internet streaming allows me to run bluetooth speakers via my wiFi, while I'm in the pool. Works out great.
When I got my last Mercedes it came with 6 months free trial that was never activated (CPO) and XM tacked it on to my existing subscription. I thought that was a good deal. They even included the internet stuff.
Come renewal time, you work for the best deal. Then if you aren't satisfied with the price, you go to "customer retention" they have always come up with a very reasonable renewal rate. Not always cheap, but reasonable for all inclusive service. BTW, the internet streaming is on about 5 of my devices right now, so no limit.
Well that's great but wait until the day you try to cancel the subscription. Every time I got some on on the phone Oh I can't do that then they would hang up on you. After the 5th time I quickly said wait bring you manager on the line. Click hung up on me again. Finally after about six more calls someone put their manager on the line. He said oh we can do that. I explained to him my Credit card number had changed and I wasn't giving them the new number. If he couldn't work with me I'd turn in a complaint to my Bank Card company. Long pause someone else came on the line my subscription was cancelled.
I like XM radio and have had it for years in various cars, BUT I HATE THEIR BUSINESS MODEL! Unfortunately, they seem to have been the first out with "automatic renewal" and now all the TV streaming services use it as well.
As a result, I never give XM a credit card number. I ask for paper billing, which works out just fine for me, even if they do charge you $2.00 extra for the service. I get the full package, + unlimited internet streaming for about $110.00/year. The unlimited internet streaming allows me to run bluetooth speakers via my wiFi, while I'm in the pool. Works out great.
When I got my last Mercedes it came with 6 months free trial that was never activated (CPO) and XM tacked it on to my existing subscription. I thought that was a good deal. They even included the internet stuff.
Come renewal time, you work for the best deal. Then if you aren't satisfied with the price, you go to "customer retention" they have always come up with a very reasonable renewal rate. Not always cheap, but reasonable for all inclusive service. BTW, the internet streaming is on about 5 of my devices right now, so no limit.
Originally Posted by skyactiv
The sound quality stinks because of the pathetic bit-rate. Sounds like customer service employees feel their job is threatened unless they can convince the customer to stay a subscriber. It's a pathetic way to treat employees.
They aren't CSRs, they're "retention specialists" eg commissioned salespeople.
The sound quality stinks because of the pathetic bit-rate. Sounds like customer service employees feel their job is threatened unless they can convince the customer to stay a subscriber. It's a pathetic way to treat employees.
They aren't CSRs, they're "retention specialists" eg commissioned salespeople.
Originally Posted by Malo83
Originally Posted by Mr_Joe
My 20-something Son says XM is for old guys. Streaming with a smartphone is the modern way. Yes, you need a good signal, hopefully unlimited data too. I can build my own station with Iheartradio, listen anywhere in the world, then all the podcasts , etc..
With a short look one can find AM or FM stations to fill any gaps. It's kinda like navigation features fixed in a vehicle. When it comes to updated Nav, it's hard to beat the smartphone with google maps, or similar.
And Pepsi is for kids.
You obviously don't travel much. There is plenty of middle of no where Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana and Utah, where you cell phone isn't of much use.....for three hours-a few spots even more.
BTW-as far as rates go-I have been paying a 6 month "cheap rate" for the last several years-for their Select Service. This last time-they gave me the "cheap rate" for a year. It was $79.00. But yea-you have to work for it.
Originally Posted by Mr_Joe
My 20-something Son says XM is for old guys. Streaming with a smartphone is the modern way. Yes, you need a good signal, hopefully unlimited data too. I can build my own station with Iheartradio, listen anywhere in the world, then all the podcasts , etc..
With a short look one can find AM or FM stations to fill any gaps. It's kinda like navigation features fixed in a vehicle. When it comes to updated Nav, it's hard to beat the smartphone with google maps, or similar.
And Pepsi is for kids.
You obviously don't travel much. There is plenty of middle of no where Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana and Utah, where you cell phone isn't of much use.....for three hours-a few spots even more.
BTW-as far as rates go-I have been paying a 6 month "cheap rate" for the last several years-for their Select Service. This last time-they gave me the "cheap rate" for a year. It was $79.00. But yea-you have to work for it.
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I got into SIriusXM late in the game about 3yrs ago but have been kind of hooked on it. The few calls I've had to make to them have been pleasant and worked out well for me in that each year I paid a little bit less per month. I do hate having to call and always try to get a reasonable long term contract but haven't been able to.
I just traded my 2017 Ram 1500 pickup for a 2019. Same exact audio system. I was about 6months into a 12mo SiriusXM contract where I was paying $6.06/mo. All I wanted to do was transfer it onto my new truck. No dice. Spoke to a customer service rep who told me the promotional rates are specific to the device and cannot be transferred. "I'll get 3 months for free, then pay the standard rate". No thanks. I wanna pay my $6. I was placed on hold for 15 minutes and then mysteriously get disconnected.
I was able to simply do the transfer over the phone app, but the best I could do after the 3 month free promo, was 6 months for ~$33. Ultimately I'll have to call them again in 9 months or pay the full standard rate, which is $20 something/month these days.
As much as I love the service, I'm tiring of the process.
I just traded my 2017 Ram 1500 pickup for a 2019. Same exact audio system. I was about 6months into a 12mo SiriusXM contract where I was paying $6.06/mo. All I wanted to do was transfer it onto my new truck. No dice. Spoke to a customer service rep who told me the promotional rates are specific to the device and cannot be transferred. "I'll get 3 months for free, then pay the standard rate". No thanks. I wanna pay my $6. I was placed on hold for 15 minutes and then mysteriously get disconnected.
I was able to simply do the transfer over the phone app, but the best I could do after the 3 month free promo, was 6 months for ~$33. Ultimately I'll have to call them again in 9 months or pay the full standard rate, which is $20 something/month these days.
As much as I love the service, I'm tiring of the process.
I can't live without it. While I live in an area where nearly every FM frequency is occupied, they are all disappointing at best. Terrestrial radio is dead. I could stream, yes, but it just doesn't work well for me and the lack of any personality doesn't make for great listening. XM gives me talk, music, sports, and comedy when I feel like it. I use the app when I'm in my work vehicle, so I'm using it hours daily.
The renewal call last month was easy. $5/mth and I was done with the call in five minutes. I consider that time and money well spent.
The renewal call last month was easy. $5/mth and I was done with the call in five minutes. I consider that time and money well spent.
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