Mercedes wants EV buyers to get used to paywalled features
- Thread starter nanoguy
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Neatfeatguy
Posts: 1,633 +3,073
If this becomes the norm - car companies nickel and diming folks for "extras" that are already installed in the car to unlock them for a monthly payment - you'll find people out there that'll hack the software and create firmware updates and sell them at a cost that's more than you'd want to pay, but significantly less than paying all those monthly payments for years.
The only problem with this, is that I fear these dealerships will monitor the software/firmware version on their end, compared to what you paid or are paying and if they don't match, they'll lock you out of the car due to IP theft or some other bullcrap they come up with that will be deemed legal for the dealership to do.
Folks are okay with paying microtransactions for video games, dealerships see this and say folks are willing to pay extra for a game they already paid for, we can get in on this because people are stupid.
dangh
Posts: 1,252 +2,033
That makes no sense. When I just bought office package, I was always able to do what I need - write a document, put things together in excel or make a presentation - and I was able to access from any device, it is enough to put it on any network/cloud drive. Not to mention google docs kinda offer enough for 95% of users, for free (or with a fee for additional features). There is absolutely no reason to pay monthly to do the same stuff, only to have 'a newest version' unless you're one of 0.01% of absolute prose who actually would ever need it. Excel will work as good in Office 2007 and in the newest 365... but will cost much less.
I work as developer in large company which is obviously hella stuck to MS and I don't think I run anything else except outlook and teams. MS instead of word, mysql instead of excel... and presentation are best with node and github
SpacemanSam
Posts: 6 +5
Just what we need, even more government meddling in our personal lives. There's a much better solution, one that doesn't require any government regulation at all: If you don't like the "features" of the car (such as the paywall), don't buy it! As long as even one other company makes a product that meets your needs, desires, morals, etc. you don't have to bow down to one that thinks they have a right to milk you for every penny (or whatever your country's currency is called) they can get their hands on.
LetTheWookieWin
Posts: 160 +346
You’re correct in the sense that you’re receiving updates in exchange for your continued subscription compared to the car, where it’s nothing more than a shameless cash grab.
Regarding M365, for many people (myself included), all that is required is a basic word processor and a spreadsheet. I also don’t need cloud storage, so I’m really not getting anything that’s adding value in my usage scenario with the updates. So for someone who doesn’t benefit from continuous updates, there’s not much difference between the car subscription and M365. Obviously, if you use M365 and use OneDrive or take advantage of the other feature updates then the analogy doesn’t apply.
I very strongly suspect that if MS thought they could get away with it, they’d make everything a subscription and remove the option for one-time purchases. This is my biggest beef with subscription services, because it destroys value for a lot of consumers who simply don’t need continuous updates.
Thanks for the reply.
Not that I'd ever buy one, but if they're going to make you lug around the hardware with the car, then jailbreak it and use the feature anyway. If they're going to force you to purchase the hardware whether you want it or not, then you have every right to make it functional with no additional charge.
Agreed. But, with hackers unlocking built-in features, the companies will have to track all their vehicles to see who did it--without their permission--and probably disable their vehicle until they pay up.
wiyosaya
Posts: 9,773 +9,664
Sounds like the plague of "we can make lots more money by directly selling content" has hit the auto industry, after having hit the entertainment industry. And it also sounds like it is not going over well in the auto industry just as it is not going over well in the entertainment industry. If the auto industry had only just done a study on this plague as it has played out in the entertainment industry, with its streamers mis-reading why people went to streaming, they could have saved themselves a great deal of agony. Doubling-down on prying subscription fees out of customers for those few extra pennies is not the way to go, and as I see it, it is just as likely to hit a wall in the auto industry as it has in the entertainment industry.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
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wiyosaya
Posts: 9,773 +9,664
On that note, for an amusing story about autonomous navigation, have a look at this - https://www.npr.org/2023/05/08/1174...ideos-are-deepfakes-the-courts-are-not-amused
hwertz
Posts: 524 +278
Hax. I would not hesitate, for a second, to go ahead and just hack my car to turn on the features I want. Sorry to disappoint Mercedes, but if I bought the car, that car and all the hardware in it is mine, and if I want to use the hardware I after all already own, I will.
(The one minor equivalent on my existing car -- I haven't done it because I didn't have QUITE enough interest -- the radio does phone calls through Bluetooth but no streaming audio through the stereo. Turns out, you pull the Chevy Bluetooth module from the back of the radio, plug a Buick Bluetooth module in, and bam! The Buick one has a little extra software on it enabling streaming audio through the stereo.)
(The one minor equivalent on my existing car -- I haven't done it because I didn't have QUITE enough interest -- the radio does phone calls through Bluetooth but no streaming audio through the stereo. Turns out, you pull the Chevy Bluetooth module from the back of the radio, plug a Buick Bluetooth module in, and bam! The Buick one has a little extra software on it enabling streaming audio through the stereo.)
gamerk2
Posts: 982 +996
Doesn't work; as long as there are some people with more money who sign up for this, it's economically justified for companies to do.
It's the top of the market, not the bottom, that drives it.
Top or bottom, people are not dumb. If it's a stupid feature people will still buy the car; if it's a main feature, much fewer people will buy that car. On my case I have premium cars but I don't comply with those rip-offs
Car companies need to get checked. KIA is already doing it a little! If I want the best map planning and directions, remote climate start, remote climate scheduling on my EV6 I have to pay a yearly fee for Kia connect. So stupid after dropping 55 grand for a car. I get paying for roadside assistance and stuff like that but I should NOT have to pay to just unlock features I already have!
This model (SAAS) works as an extension of the rental (or so called lease) cost model. Perhaps this is just a way to move everyone to a "for lease" only car manufacturer business model. In many countries the high end vehicle models are predominantly leased anyway. The lease only model smooths out the cash flow for the manufacturers especially if they can use their own cash. General Motors started this business model last century. Personal transportation as a service (PTAAS) compared to Public Transporatation as a service (PuaaS)?
Hodor
Posts: 765 +512
Not a surprise when you see how they cheated in Formula 1. They were winning from 2014 to 2020 by using illegally developed engine.
VW always get attacked for doing things that all other manufacturers do, but Mercedes is always praised in media. It clearly tells you who owns Mercedes. Hint: Worst of the worst scam who control most of the world's media.
VW always get attacked for doing things that all other manufacturers do, but Mercedes is always praised in media. It clearly tells you who owns Mercedes. Hint: Worst of the worst scam who control most of the world's media.
MakeMSGreatAgain
Posts: 246 +185
I like my older Mercedes' back when they actually made stuff decent. This new trend they are wanting... well, they can go to hell with that.
The solution is pretty simple now, don't buy or lease a new Mercedes.
The solution is pretty simple now, don't buy or lease a new Mercedes.
mattferg
Posts: 251 +257
This isn’t remotely the same thing. 365 keeps you on the latest version and provides cloud storage. You get new features and new software updates. What do you get that’s new by paying the same $60 a year for heated seats?
All companies have dedicated people just to find new ways to squeeze more money. The problem are the dumb people that pay whatever the service is. If I pay for a service that is useful and has costs for the company (ex Tesla for full internet, cam, etc) it may be ok; if I pay for dumb things already integrated (overtake a car on the highway when it's just a software feature) they will get used to charge everything.
All brands made that, you see daily in Europe French and Italian brands that in tests were much much worse than VW (group) or any other but the EU government just made silence about it.
gamerk2
Posts: 982 +996
Citation needed; we have 30,000 years of human history that refutes this statement.
A feeling of warmth, and the knowledge that you are supporting your most favorite automaker.
Hodor
Posts: 765 +512
Exactly so. Because it depends on who are the owners, and to which group they belong, not whether the company breaks the law or not. VW was punished big money under the false accusation of cheating. Releasing more CO2 than allowed, just like any other manufacturer. The penalty grounded tenths of thousands of their cars, creating a much bigger environmental impact than the CO2 emissions. So it's clear it wasn't about ecology.
VW was forced to pay 25 billion dollars penalty (!!!!!), while a criminal bank Goldman Sachs, which started the global crisis of 2008, only paid 5 billion dollars. For ruining the US economy and economy of the entire world. Just 5 billions penalty, while they probably earned 5000 billions on the crisis itself.
That's the world we live in. Julian Assange tells the truth to the world, next, they invent a rape charge against him.
Underdog
Posts: 432 +306
It might be a good idea to look closely at the fine print in any purchase contract. The more Mercedes-owned software is on board they will probably claim full ownership and only license the use of it to the car purchaser. Should keep the lawyers on overtime when owners start hacking their cars.
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