Rant: Software Subscriptions....

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

I have just come to learn that much of the added software we may want for our personal computing needs comes with subscriptions. In this way, companies can claim that you can uninterrupted service of whatever it is you're renting. Whether it's an anti virus software suite or productivity essentials like Microsoft Office, everybody wants your personal information (financial) so they can charge you to keep their service.

This jumping through hoops to cancel before they charge you doesn't always pan out well either, I've read. Why must we do this? Why can't companies let us make our decisions about products we want and when to buy them?

I'm disgusted by the money grab these companies are attempting. This is particularly true for Microsoft products.

Rant is over.....

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@gertrudecloset Add me to the list of those who resent the subscription practice, but I have no idea which company is the worst. It seems to me the practice is so common that without some financial analyst digging in and giving us info, we're likely just to know which company gives us the most agitation.

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

@millieshops wrote:
@gertrudecloset Add me to the list of those who resent the subscription practice, but I have no idea which company is the worst. It seems to me the practice is so common that without some financial analyst digging in and giving us info, we're likely just to know which company gives us the most agitation.

@millieshops True. I'm so used to buying the product with a CD or DVD installing it and voila, I'm done. Now they send you to their website (not fond of downloading from various websites) even if it's for a security software.

You agree before purchase that it's an ongoing subscription. Not gonna happen. I'll change my card # before they get another dime from me, unless I want to give it to them. Nobody is going to make me for nothing! All the hassle too. Sometimes you can't get people on the phone as their are no telephone numbers readily available.

Companies want us to do all this work now ~ tired of it.

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@gertrudecloset

I remember days when you downloaded software, it came with an expiration date. If you DID NOT renew, it no longer worked. Pretty simple.

Than some genius decided, "we can trap them into an agreement", will just change it to: "You have to opt out". That way the burden is on them, and we can make them jump through all the hoops we set up.

No 800 number you can call to talk to a live person. No, that would be too easy for our captives. It has to be by some electronic form, which we can say we didn't get.

Exaggerating a little bit, but I think that is pretty close. If I want any particular software, which I don't any longer, I used to go out and buy it. Now! I don't even know if that's possible.

Agree with your right-on rant.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

QVCJH · ‎03-10-2010

In my perfect world, software would always be installed from a DVD that I own. I object to Microsoft charging $169 year for Office 365 online. And installing from a website doesn't always work well. I had to call Canon to find the software to re-install our Canon printer because software for the model number was nowhere to be found at the website.

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@gertrudecloset

I remember days when you downloaded software, it came with an expiration date. If you DID NOT renew, it no longer worked. Pretty simple.

Than some genius decided, "we can trap them into an agreement", will just change it to: "You have to opt out". That way the burden is on them, and we can make them jump through all the hoops we set up.

No 800 number you can call to talk to a live person. No, that would be too easy for our captives. It has to be by some electronic form, which we can say we didn't get.

Exaggerating a little bit, but I think that is pretty close. If I want any particular software, which I don't any longer, I used to go out and buy it. Now! I don't even know if that's possible.

Agree with your right-on rant.

hckynut 🇺🇸

@hckynutjohn OMG you took the words right outta my fingertips! I can't stand this money grab. These companies a making big money this way.

My whole thing is, suppose I have software now, that turns out not to be the best for me. Since we still do have some options, what's wrong with me going to a competitor? They make you jump through hoops to go to one of their competitors (especially the Anti virus people). I hate it....

I didn't do too much downloading. This tells you how long it's been since I looked to purchase software. LOL.

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

@QVCJH wrote:
In my perfect world, software would always be installed from a DVD that I own. I object to Microsoft charging $169 year for Office 365 online. And installing from a website doesn't always work well. I had to call Canon to find the software to re-install our Canon printer because software for the model number was nowhere to be found at the website.

@QVCJH Me too. Imagine: renting MS 365 for 7+ tax a month or yearly and not getting your $money's worth?

I used to just purchase the software for the applications I needed like Word and Excel for home use. Now they have Cloud storage, Zoom groups, and all of this other stuff I don't need. I only need wordprocessor like MS Word for home since I'm not working......

I have MS Office 2010 on an old computer, but I knew it wasn't being supported with updates. I didn't care. I just used it now and then. I haven't thrown out that computer because of that MS Office 2010 that has MS Word. LOL.

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

judianne · ‎07-09-2014

I just had to add something about magazine subscriptions and they do the same thing with renewals . If you pay with a credit card , they just keep billing the card unless you can figure how to "opt out ". I always send a check , so they don't get my cc # . Now they have started to offer extra free months of magazines if you pay on line . Of coarse then they get your cc number ,!