FORD's new and improved Bullshit

[Grumpaw]

I guess someone at Ford decided that since they hadn't completely screwed the pooch with the Bronco, they could probably throw this in and say Mission Accomplished.

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[NotBudule]

only with the Bronco for now.....

Thats kinda cold if they do , they might have some kind of argument for a Nav app, maybe , but not my cool "hey Y'all watch this" remote starty ,where the hell did i park ? app .

 

[Colo_Ranger]

As much as I have 'subscription fatigue' like everyone else, this is the kind of crap people (as a whole) wanted. I worked at DirecTV for 5 years and I would get calls from people who hated paying the 'large' cable bill. They all really liked these 'choose what you want, smaller bills'. That lead to paying more for the same thing.

I would rather buy Photoshop, than to pay a monthly fee, but that is no longer an option.


And to play Devil's advocate; do you think the satellite that provides GPS signal is free to operate?

 

[Dr. Zaius]

You do know that GE appliance is now owned by Haier and their entry level appliance line is mostly cheap made . I use an external in line water filter - I think a cartridge cost around $15 at Home Depot and will last up to 5 yrs.

We also have a whole house filter as well as a Berkey filter.

My wife likes really clean water

 

[dtech]

As much as I have 'subscription fatigue' like everyone else, this is the kind of crap people (as a whole) wanted. I worked at DirecTV for 5 years and I would get calls from people who hated paying the 'large' cable bill. They all really liked these 'choose what you want, smaller bills'. That lead to paying more for the same thing.

I would rather buy Photoshop, than to pay a monthly fee, but that is no longer an option.


And to play Devil's advocate; do you think the satellite that provides GPS signal is free to operate?

Direct TV is a piece of work - they would market a 2 yr subscription plan, identifying the cost for each year, I signed up and in my 2nd year they raised my rates 15% more than advertised, so I call them and complained - they said in the fine print of the contract they could do so. So I complained to the FTC that they use deceptive marketing and I got the rate rolled back. Eventually I think Direct TV lost a class action lawsuit for those deceptive practices. I'd never use them again, bunch of dirtbags.

Aren't the GPS satellites paid for by US taxpayers ?

 

[Dr. Zaius]

...

Aren't the GPS satellites paid for by US taxpayers ?

Yes they are and you have just as much right to them as Ford, Toyota, GM, or any other business.

Let them buy and launch their own GPS satellites before they charge you to use them.

 

[mtsoxfan]

Direct TV is a piece of work - they would market a 2 yr subscription plan, identifying the cost for each year, I signed up and in my 2nd year they raised my rates 15% more than advertised, so I call them and complained - they said in the fine print of the contract they could do so. So I complained to the FTC that they use deceptive marketing and I got the rate rolled back. Eventually I think Direct TV lost a class action lawsuit for those deceptive practices. I'd never use them again, bunch of dirtbags.

Aren't the GPS satellites paid for by US taxpayers ?

I just signed a 2 year contract with Dish... Salesman told me 2 year contract, if I walk away before, I have to pay a hefty bill. That gets me 2 years of the same price. I signed up. 3 weeks later I receive in mail the "fine print" that states they can change the rate any time they want for whatever reason. (I'm paraphrasing). I have 2 weeks from date of install to back out of contract, no strings. Really???

 

[Chappy]

I believe this pertains to the SYNC 4 builds
https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/sync/sync-4/what-are-the-sync-4-navigation-options/
I guess you could always buy up to, "Built-in Navigation"

The solution is to use Google Maps. If you're worried about dead zones, there is a setting to download a region of maps while on wifi (at least on Android, maybe someone can confirm for Apple). No extra fees.

Ford can get bent/I'll never pay extra.

 

[VAMike]

And to play Devil's advocate; do you think the satellite that provides GPS signal is free to operate?

No, we pay (via DoD) quite a lot of money every year for them. Most receivers can decode multiple networks, so in some cases it may be the Europeans, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, or Russians paying for them. It's definitely not Ford except insofar as they pay taxes.

 

[cVelBlu91]

I don't mind subscriptions for entertainment in my living room and on my smartphone, but the stupidest thing I've ever witnessed were subscriptions for basic car features. BMW eventually dropped (unless they reverted again) the sub fees for Apple CarPlay.

Audi/VW makes you pay for dual climate control, though I've read that was a software glitch.

Honestly with the advent of smartphones, and their user interfaces in cars taking over the screen, I think navigation system subscriptions will fall quickly to the wayside in a few years. But other things like using your phone to unlock, remote start etc. unfortunately is likely to continue.

And I hate that. Next thing you know, unlocking your car with your smartphone (something that can already be done with Apple iPhones and BMW products) will be the only way to do so and it will cost an absurd amount as is.

I think this Ranger will probably be my last new car for quite a while, if I need to replace my MINI I'll buy another used one.

 

[jsphlynch]

Direct TV is a piece of work - they would market a 2 yr subscription plan, identifying the cost for each year, I signed up and in my 2nd year they raised my rates 15% more than advertised, so I call them and complained - they said in the fine print of the contract they could do so. So I complained to the FTC that they use deceptive marketing and I got the rate rolled back. Eventually I think Direct TV lost a class action lawsuit for those deceptive practices. I'd never use them again, bunch of dirtbags.

Aren't the GPS satellites paid for by US taxpayers ?

I had DirecTV for years. Only kept them as long as I did because I figured out how to play their game. Once the specials expired, I would call them up to cancel unless they dropped the price. They obviously were used to having this happen, as they would try to call my bluff. Except I wasn't bluffing. I'd let them transfer me to the cancellation line, and usually about halfway through the process they'd "discover" a special I was a qualified for. One time they actually let me cancel, but the day before the shipping box came for returning the equipment they called me up to let me know of a great new deal.

I finally canceled for real a few years ago at the beginning of Lent with the intent that I'd re-subscribe after Easter, but discovered that I could get by just fine without them if I just got a basic antenna. Now I get free TV and don't have to hassle with calling anybody every year or so.

 

[Trustable]

I thought the subscription had to do with a bronco specific off road version of navigation. You can see others way points and stuff like that. I remembered it being hyped up by ford in the beginning.

 

[Chappy]

I had DirecTV for years. Only kept them as long as I did because I figured out how to play their game. Once the specials expired, I would call them up to cancel unless they dropped the price. They obviously were used to having this happen, as they would try to call my bluff. Except I wasn't bluffing. I'd let them transfer me to the cancellation line, and usually about halfway through the process they'd "discover" a special I was a qualified for. One time they actually let me cancel, but the day before the shipping box came for returning the equipment they called me up to let me know of a great new deal.

I finally canceled for real a few years ago at the beginning of Lent with the intent that I'd re-subscribe after Easter, but discovered that I could get by just fine without them if I just got a basic antenna. Now I get free TV and don't have to hassle with calling anybody every year or so.

I finally cancelled and only used Netflix for 3-ish years back in 2008 and discovered that I never even missed live tv. Then they came out with Streaming TV and signed up for that for a few months but by that time, I was so out of the habit, I never really found myself watching except for football, but I can get that OTA. So I cancelled that too. Now I'm just Hulu (not the live version), Netflix and Prime. Honestly, I'd get rid of Netflix right now, If the wife would let me lol.

 

[AzScorpion]

I thought the subscription had to do with a bronco specific off road version of navigation. You can see others way points and stuff like that. I remembered it being hyped up by ford in the beginning.

You're right there is the off road portion of the GPS that needs a subscription but the OP stated this:

*If you don't pay up your GPS stops working entirely! We just found out!

So if it stops working all together it looks to be a trial on the main GPS which is really a fail on Fords part.

 

[Gazmic]

I don't mind paying for sync or ford pass app features if the price justifies the value I'm getting for using these features. I would rather have to pay than use these features for "free" and have all my personal / driving info taken and sold. But in this day and age they might charge us and take our info.

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