Sirius/XM Radio

[desertrunner]

Did a search on this topic prior, nothing found.

About a year ago, I finally get an account with XM. There is really only one station I listen to- #39, Hair Nation. One of the reasons I wanted XM is for the favorite drive across the Mojave desert from So Cal to Las Vegas. I think the no commercial XM platform is perfect for that desert drive and for when you get to your hotel room. I do like using the internet app for car and or home. I have a 2nd vehicle equipped for XM, just havent added it yet. Druff also enjoys the So Cal to Vegas drive, not sure if he is running XM now or has done it.

Anyone else still on the XM?



Best time for XM radio...

[desertrunner]

There is a special going on right now for the first 3 months FREE. I just added XM radio to my vehicle and looking forward to trying it in the Mojave Desert on the way to Vegas.

[The Boz]

Have it in all 3 vehicles and have for over 20 years since the Opie & Anthony days, which I originally got it for. My original unit sat on the dash since it wasn’t installed in my SUV at the time.

I also get it in every rental car I use, I can’t imagine trying to find stations anymore when traveling. The cost has increased over the years but it’s another thing you have to call and threaten to cancel occasionally to get a better deal.

[desertrunner]

Have it in all 3 vehicles and have for over 20 years since the Opie & Anthony days, which I originally got it for. My original unit sat on the dash since it wasn’t installed in my SUV at the time.

I also get it in every rental car I use, I can’t imagine trying to find stations anymore when traveling. The cost has increased over the years but it’s another thing you have to call and threaten to cancel occasionally to get a better deal.

Good post, what are some of your favorite channels?

Me- Channel 39, Hair Nation.

[The Boz]

Different strokes

I’m between

80’s on 8
Margaritaville
No Shoes Nation
Y2Country

[desertrunner]

Different strokes

I’m between

80’s on 8
Margaritaville
No Shoes Nation
Y2Country

Its been less than a week and I admit I am hooked on the XM radio full-time. This will be a long term staple for sure. I am still waiting to try out XM on the 15 to Vegas.

I did try the 80s at 8 channel and liked it enough to try it out more along with 90s at 9. Thanks for the tip.

[desertrunner]

Quick note- Today my XM just blanked out in Central CA. I called the XM line and got some live off-shore tech guy. He did an update/reboot and the car radio came back online an hour later. I actually thought t my car antenna died, but all is ok now.

Tech note- try the update/reboot-boot option in the future if your car unit suddenly dies.

[desertrunner]

Update- been going back and forth between channels 33 (First Wave) and 39 (Hair Nation). My female companion always likes channel 04, the Tik Tok channel. Also enjoying the comedian channels too.

Druff probably stays on channel 33.

[Dan Druff]

Here is a trick regarding getting Sirius/XM for $6 month (after taxes/fees) for their "Music & Entertainment" package.

First, either wait until near the end of your promotional period, or if there is no promo, you can do this immediately.

If you have a shitty promotion ($10/month or more for Select), then you can also do this immediately.

Call their "listener care" number at 888-601-6271, between 5am and 5pm PST/PDT, 7 days a week.

Tell them you want to disconnect service because the rate isn't competitive enough. Don't worry if you really aren't considering disconnecting. State that anyway. Tell them that you never use it at home, and in the car you're happy enough streaming from YouTube for free, so you don't have much of a need for it.

Say, "I want to save both of us time. I want $6/month INCLUDING taxes and fees, for the Music & Entertainment plan. I'm fine with paying for a year in advance, but that's the rate I want. $72 after tax for a year, or $36 for 6 months. If you can't do that, I'm shutting it all off."

They might counter with one of the following:

- Ask you to downgrade your plan beyond Music & Entertainment, or to have it app-only, and no satellite. Refuse this.

- Tell you that your "radio doesn't qualify for this promotion". Again, this is nonsense. Refuse to accept this.

- Offer you some more expensive deal, and quote you some bullshit number of dollars you're saving. Stand firm and say you want $6/month after fees and taxes.

- Try to upsell you to a more expensive plan, for more money, claiming that's the best they can do for you. Refuse this.


Keep repeating that you're going to disconnect forever if you have to pay more than $6/month after tax/fees. Tell them that you have a friend who gets that, and you were just over at his house and saw his bill. That's what I pay, so you're not lying... well, except the part about being over at my house.

If necessary, have them consult their supervisor, or ask for a supervisor yourself.

After some persistence, you will get the rate. I am batting 1.000 on this since the 2000s, even with inflation. Still paying the same $6/month I always did.

Also, set a calendar reminder on your phone when the time period expires, because you'll have to call and do this again, or otherwise your rate will rocket up to $25/month plus tax.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[desertrunner]

UPDATE-

XM's customer service is hit and miss. They accidentally deleted half of my service and I cant get it back right now. If you call on the weekend, you get an off-shore cumbersome service person and I just learned that you can ask to speak to someone in the US, but then I got two people in Canada. Best bet is to call mid-week to get a USA based service rep. Over all, their customer service as been a fail.

[Tellafriend]

Here is a trick regarding getting Sirius/XM for $6 month (after taxes/fees) for their "Music & Entertainment" package.

First, either wait until near the end of your promotional period, or if there is no promo, you can do this immediately.

If you have a shitty promotion ($10/month or more for Select), then you can also do this immediately.

Call their "listener care" number at 888-601-6271, between 5am and 5pm PST/PDT, 7 days a week.

Tell them you want to disconnect service because the rate isn't competitive enough. Don't worry if you really aren't considering disconnecting. State that anyway. Tell them that you never use it at home, and in the car you're happy enough streaming from YouTube for free, so you don't have much of a need for it.

Say, "I want to save both of us time. I want $6/month INCLUDING taxes and fees, for the Music & Entertainment plan. I'm fine with paying for a year in advance, but that's the rate I want. $72 after tax for a year, or $36 for 6 months. If you can't do that, I'm shutting it all off."

They might counter with one of the following:

- Ask you to downgrade your plan beyond Music & Entertainment, or to have it app-only, and no satellite. Refuse this.

- Tell you that your "radio doesn't qualify for this promotion". Again, this is nonsense. Refuse to accept this.

- Offer you some more expensive deal, and quote you some bullshit number of dollars you're saving. Stand firm and say you want $6/month after fees and taxes.

- Try to upsell you to a more expensive plan, for more money, claiming that's the best they can do for you. Refuse this.


Keep repeating that you're going to disconnect forever if you have to pay more than $6/month after tax/fees. Tell them that you have a friend who gets that, and you were just over at his house and saw his bill. That's what I pay, so you're not lying... well, except the part about being over at my house.

If necessary, have them consult their supervisor, or ask for a supervisor yourself.

After some persistence, you will get the rate. I am batting 1.000 on this since the 2000s, even with inflation. Still paying the same $6/month I always did.

Also, set a calendar reminder on your phone when the time period expires, because you'll have to call and do this again, or otherwise your rate will rocket up to $25/month plus tax.

Let me know if you have any questions.

i just signed up for the first time for $4 a month.

[desertrunner]

i just signed up for the first time for $4 a month.

Can you pease report back here later on and tell us how you like it?

[Dan Druff]

Tellafriend, which package did you get for $4/month?

Was it a new customer promo?

[Dan Druff]

UPDATE-

XM's customer service is hit and miss. They accidentally deleted half of my service and I cant get it back right now. If you call on the weekend, you get an off-shore cumbersome service person and I just learned that you can ask to speak to someone in the US, but then I got two people in Canada. Best bet is to call mid-week to get a USA based service rep. Over all, their customer service as been a fail.

What do you mean by deleted half your service?

[desertrunner]

UPDATE-

XM's customer service is hit and miss. They accidentally deleted half of my service and I cant get it back right now. If you call on the weekend, you get an off-shore cumbersome service person and I just learned that you can ask to speak to someone in the US, but then I got two people in Canada. Best bet is to call mid-week to get a USA based service rep. Over all, their customer service as been a fail.

What do you mean by deleted half your service?

You can order 2 specific services from Sirius/XM- 1. Car only 2. Phone app/Online streaming

I had the phone app/streaming for a long time and then added the car service. I now have both for $17 a month, until I cancel.

[Dan Druff]

What do you mean by deleted half your service?

You can order 2 specific services from Sirius/XM- 1. Car only 2. Phone app/Online streaming

I had the phone app/streaming for a long time and then added the car service. I now have both for $17 a month, until I cancel.

The streaming comes with the car service. You're getting ripped off.

I have exactly what you do (I presume) for $6/month. Call back and do exactly what I instructed in the long post above.

[desertrunner]

The streaming comes with the car service. You're getting ripped off.

I have exactly what you do (I presume) for $6/month. Call back and do exactly what I instructed in the long post above.

I actually did try what you wrote above, ran into a brick wall with the customer service guy. Then I asked for a specific offer and he had to check with a supervisor and couldnt get it. I tried that angle and when it didnt work, tried another and couldnt get it.

Add- I really do not want to do the calendar watch thing and have to re-call them every year or every other year. I wanted to lock in a rate and keep it there. I honestly cant deal with calendar watching, pop-up reminders and then re-negotiating. Is just annoying for me. I rather pay the $17 a month and enjoy the service and not have to think about it.

[Dan Druff]

Dude was lying to you.

You need to be more aggressive and repeatedly tell them you'll just play music from YouTube while driving, and you don't need them or any premium service.

Just keep repeating you're going to cancel if they don't get it down to $6/month, and they'll do it.

Even if you don't want to call every 6 months, you will still get better offers online to re-up for cheaper than $17/month.

If you want, I can call with you on 3-way and I'll show you.


The funniest one was about 15 years ago. A Philippines rep told me that they couldn't give me the $6/month or "SiriusXM will go out of business". I asked, "They'll go out of business if only I am given this rate?" She said yes. LOL!!! I replied, "Then I don't feel very good about subscribing to this service, if $36 is going to put you out of business." She ultimately backed down and gave me the $6/month.

[desertrunner]

Dude was lying to you.

You need to be more aggressive and repeatedly tell them you'll just play music from YouTube while driving, and you don't need them or any premium service.

Just keep repeating you're going to cancel if they don't get it down to $6/month, and they'll do it.

Even if you don't want to call every 6 months, you will still get better offers online to re-up for cheaper than $17/month.

If you want, I can call with you on 3-way and I'll show you.


The funniest one was about 15 years ago. A Philippines rep told me that they couldn't give me the $6/month or "SiriusXM will go out of business". I asked, "They'll go out of business if only I am given this rate?" She said yes. LOL!!! I replied, "Then I don't feel very good about subscribing to this service, if $36 is going to put you out of business." She ultimately backed down and gave me the $6/month.

I'll call him back tomorrow and tell him- Druff says youre full of shit. I did haggle with their front line guy and then haggled more with the supervisor. In the end, I didnt want to do a promotion, track it, remember and then call back in 6+ moths to re-negotiate. I'll call again tomorrow, but not really in the mood for a another 30+ minute phone call haggle marathon.

[lol wow]

like i enjoy yacht radio and john mayer radio but you idiots are talking about like 90 dollars a year or something like that right?

WHO CARES guys cmon