I have always viewed the push for "subscriptions" as a business model by so-called "tech" companies with suspicion. Looks like it was warranted.
Forgetting to cancel is part of the scheme. A friend of mine once worked briefly for a direct marketing company many, many years ago, pre-www. He said they knew a certain percentage would forget to cancel. They banked on it.
This is not something new.
I couldn't remember using PSN once last year so I cancelled it.
My assumption was that they would bank on guilt or forgetfulness to keep the cash flowing in.
The vhs rental stores were dying left and right. The one i looked into got most of its money from snacks and drinks. The subscription moddel was 75 cent, renting a movie would drop from 3-4 euro to 75 cent. (only 1 at a time) You could keep it for a week, then you would get a call if you could please return it.
The existing customers knew vhs rental was not really a thing anymore. Many visited just for a chat.
I figured one could guilt people into keeping the sub. I wasnt looking to make a profit, just curuous about the puzzle.
Im not even ashamed. haha
If you want to make the world better you have to focus on the correct things. One of those is that deceptively advertised, difficult to cancel subscriptions should not be allowed. Another is that monopoly/oligopoly leads to price hikes and should also not be allowed. But people remaining in voluntary transactions which don't make sense to your personal sense of frugality? Honestly not the right bone to pick.
In the European Union, you can cancel any subscription by email.
But I agree there's a matter of degree: If people get renewal warnings and can easily cancel ('Reply with the word 'Cancel''), that's different.
> which don't make sense to your personal sense of frugality?
Why attribute stuff to people who disagree with you, in order to dismiss them? Why is it important to dismiss them? Maybe just believe they have some reasons and try to learn what they are.
None. That was a slap in the face to football fans.
I hope Pat Ryan makes good on his threats.
> I’m demanding the NFL and NBC stop the BS and offer fans the service they already pay for, or we’re coming for your antitrust exemption,...The NFL raked in $12 billion in 2022; NBCUniversal made almost $40 billion. They now have a choice, either fix this problem, or we’ll fix it for them.”