Posted by
Icarus on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 11:29:25 PM
I'm thinking that Siruis XM Satellite Radio must be run by Democrats. How else does one explain an email I received recently?
While thinking about taking up Aikido training in Seattle and browsing various local dojos' websites, I received an email from Sirius/XM. The message announced that I will no longer be able to listen to Sirius XM online for free. And if I upgrade my plan immediately, the online service will still be available to me.
In other words, when 10s of thousands of individuals are losing their jobs, Sirius XM management decided it would be a smart move to charge customers more for what they already receive. Sirius XM claims that it is "upgrading to a higher quality digital audio". Maybe they are, but I'm wondering how upgrading equipment when everyone is cutting back is considered a smart managerial move? I'm thinking that more and more people realize how big a luxury satellite radio is and are simply foregoing that expense (something I will seriously consider, given my own financial situation). Perhaps Sirius finds it has fewer subscriptions and had to come up with a way to make up the losses. The solution: Make people pay for what they are currently getting for free.
I guess that's a better solution than firing people. I just don't think it will work. I, for one, shall now do without Sirius online. There's plenty of audio books at the library. And iTunes has a lot of free podcasts & radio stations. Sorry Sirius XM, but you can keep your "higher quality digital audio". And I'll keep what little money I have in my pocket. If I have to go without the Grateful Dead station or E Street Radio in order to eat then that's what I'll do.