[pct-l] Warning to SPOT users who don't want to renew

[Timothy Nye]

I carry a Spot and started the practice in order to allay my wife's concern
at the start of my thru-hike last year.  Now I, who used to spurn even a
cell phone, wouldn't be without one; not just for myself, but for others in
extremity that may be encountered on the trail.

With that said, users of Spot are aware that it contains 3 message buttons.
One of these is the 911 "send in the helicopter button" for seach and rescue
which hopefully is never used.  The other two are the "I'm OK" button,
usually sent every day; or, much less frequently, "I need help", of the
non-urgent variety sent to your support group only.
Thus, it is unlikely in the extreme that the automatic renewal is motivated
by any concern for the customer's welfare...the hiker and their loved
ones are well aware as to whether or not the Spot is working.  Every day a
message is routinely sent.  Additionally, those who purchase this device
(usually at the behest of those back home in order to calm their fears) are
aware that it is an annual fee and, further, it is almost always before the
hiking season leaving only a remote chance that a sudden interruption of
service will imperil someone.

However, any MBA running a company is always looking to both increase and
maintain a steady stream of revenues.  In my opinion, attributing the
automatic renewal even remotely to a sense of altrusim, even if such may be
asserted by the company, is naive.  I would also add that usually
calendaring for cancellation requires having to calendar a date twice.  I'd
wager that the majority of automatic renewals are unintended by the
customer, but that's just the cynicism of a 30 year trail attorney.

On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 10:05 AM, Jim Keener ( J J ) <
pct2010 at ridgetrailhiker.com> wrote:

> You know, Don, many companies offer a choice of auto-renewal. Companies
> that don't want you to know about it hide the information in legalese.
> Safety isn't the issue with this practice. Safety can be accommodated
> without unpleasant surprises. The domain name host I use has the choices
> just above the purchase button online. Not hard to do. Responsible. Up
> front. And the auto-renewal box is shown prominently in my administrative
> profile.
>
> Other companies send renewal notices in advance of cancellation. It's in
> their interest and in the interest of the consumer. Mutually workable
> solution. Spot. A communications device provided by a communications company
> that appears to be lacking in, let's see, communications with their
> customers on a significant manner. Sneaky? Looks that way to me, given the
> options available to the company.
>
> And to me, a telephone is a safety device. I have the option of
> auto-renewal with the provider. It's up front. Responsible. Certainly not
> sneaky.
>
> Many corporations and their customers have excellent, long-term
> relationships. Mutually respectful. It doesn't appear to be that difficult
> to achieve.
>
> Walk well,
> J J
>
> On Aug 23, 2010, at 9:10 AM, Don Billings wrote:
>
> > Sorry. A safety device is nothing compared to a phone or power bill.
> >
> > Putting your desired cancellation date on the calendar isn't hard to do.
> >
> > In the meantime with auto renew, nobody has to worry while in the desert
> heat or
> > some blizzard... "did I renew SPOT ?"
> >
> > But I do agree that some consumer products are annoying with their auto
> renewal.
> > I've had a couple of
> > those renew on me despite my intention to cancel. And, in one case, I
> contacted
> > them days after they
> > charged me and was essentially told, "too late." Just the same, I never
> > considered them sneaky. I
> >
> > was the one at fault.
> >
> > Don
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Tortoise <Tortoise73 at charter.net>
> > To: Don Billings <dbillings803 at yahoo.com>
> > Sent: Sun, August 22, 2010 5:23:59 PM
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Warning to SPOT users who don't want to renew
> >
> > Whether it is sneaky or not depends on how Spot handles the automatic
> renewal.
> >
> > If it is something one has to check yes or no, it is probably not sneaky.
> > But if Spot does the auto renewal unless one finds the not-obvious way to
> > opt out, then it is.
> >
> > Lots and lots of things can put one at risk -- like not paying your phone
> > or power bill.
> >
> > Tortoise
> >
> > <> Because truth matters! <>
> >
> > On 08/22/10 10:15, Don Billings wrote:
> >> I wouldn't call such a thing sneaky.
> >>
> >> SPOT is a safety device and to require a manual renewal of the service
> would,
> >> without a doubt,
> >>
> >> put some hikers at risk. That is to say, an automatic renewal prevents
> an
> >> unintentional cancellation
> >>
> >> of the safety service.
> >>
> >> Just mark your calendar to cancel if you aren't sure of retaining the
> service.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
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