Submitted by Risay117 t3_yepiip in technology
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_itzrbs7 wrote
Reply to comment by IcyChard4 in Down on chips, Toyota goes back to basics with car keys by Risay117
I don’t understand why people are so bothered by the option of subscription based seat heating.
If you live in a city that’s cold for maybe 1–3 months a year, why would you want to pay for the heaters in its entirety? You’re saving money by paying for a month or so of heaters. Similarly, you are able to “buy out” the feature. It’s not like they locked it entirely. If you have such a hard on for owning them in a conventional way, you’re still able to do just that.
The only people who are truly hurt by this is the segment of consumers obsessed with one-upping people with a similar model minus X feature.
jpsreddit85 t1_itzs94j wrote
Subscriptions on things that don't need subscriptions are dumb. You won't be paying less, you'll be paying more. You're a fool of you think the company is cramming shit nobody wants into you for them to lose money.
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_itztw3j wrote
You realize you can like… unsubscribe to the features when you don’t want them anymore, right?
The seat price is a $400 option, but a subscription to the seat is $18 a month (these are real numbers btw). If your area is cold for 3 months a year, you would need to keep the car for 8 years for it not to be worth it to subscribe to the seats themselves.
jpsreddit85 t1_itzv2oc wrote
So, to me your math proves my point instead of yours. I also don't want to have to "manage" my car seat, I have enough to deal with in life with things that actually do need management.
In the end people like you will buy this crap and people like me won't, so the company will either adjust or not.
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_itzyd6s wrote
Again, you don’t have to subscribe and you still have the option of buying out.
And no, my math still stands for people who do not want to own their cars for 8 years. They would be saving $22 assuming they “only” own one for 7 years.
Risay117 OP t1_itzzkz6 wrote
The heater is already in your car, why would you pay subscription for a device your car already has and uses your fuel, that does not require any update to any software etc. Now if you are renting out the hardware maybe.
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_itzzsc6 wrote
Because the company needs to be profitable and standardized productions are cheaper than one-offs.
I agree with your sentiment but similarly the companies exist to make a profit.
Worst case scenario bimmertech will jailbreak you one.
Risay117 OP t1_iu00efh wrote
Standardized production? the heater in the seat is standardized. There is no more standardizing needing to be done. The heater already exists the switches already installed. All you are doing is adding a switch for the company to say no you can't use the heater. You are not updating heater software after it is sold.
Also this profit argument is not even correct. It is like you install a door with a key lock and you have to pay subscription to use the door. It is not seeing any updates etc. This is just double dipping on a product that has already been delivered.
FeckThul t1_iu09qro wrote
Their profit motive is their problem, why are you so energetically simping for it on their behalf?
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_iu0d3o6 wrote
I’m not. I’m saying that it opens a new revenue stream that used to be in limbo of wanting but not needing the feature. It opens up the package to more consumers and is just a smart business decision.
Again, if you’d prefer not to subscribe you’re still more than welcome to purchase the feature outright — it just doesn’t make sense to 60% of BMW owners who own their cars for 5 years or less.
Tedstor t1_iu1ebd0 wrote
Not that you're wrong, but I wonder how long that subscription will remain $18?
LandoChronus t1_iu2ckyo wrote
You already bought the seat heaters when you bought the car.
Now you have to pay a subscription to use them.
It's that the heaters are already in the car. You're paying twice.
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_iu2d3md wrote
Youre paying for them once with a discount of not having them turn on, and a separate time to have them activated.
Alternatively you could outright buy it if thats your prerogative to “own what you buy”. Enjoy.
Proud_Tie t1_iu78w94 wrote
> I don’t understand why people are so bothered by the option of subscription based seat heating.
Because the hardware is already installed. That's the rub.
Shopped_For_Pleasure t1_iu7ad40 wrote
Ok, then buy it out.
Proud_Tie t1_iu7ak6y wrote
I can't afford a BMW, I can barely afford my 11 year old shitbox.
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