ULPT: Threatening to cancel subscriptions gets you cheaper rates for a while!

Posted by adhdcapric0rn@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 43 comments

I play the NYT crosswords and games daily and was paying $5.99 per month for unlimited access. Went to cancel and they offered to cut my fee in half for the next year and pay $2.99 a month instead!

So then I went to do this with my HBO Max subscription and the same thing happened, and I got offered a discounted rate for X amount of months.

I searched for a list and found a wonderful redditor posted a list of companies that do this on r/frugal here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/16clu4a/compiling_a_list_of_all_the_subscription_services/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I know it’s just temporary money saving, but anything helps :)

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joeldg@reddit

If you want a bunch of free Audible credits you can do this over and over…

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YsTheCarpetAllWetTod@reddit

That’s just a promotion. They’ve been offering me that every day for the last month in the form of a popup when I’m playing. While i have a full price active subscription ;)

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One_Potential_779@reddit

Flo Racing just offered me 15% off today when canceling my membership.

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Number1Duhrellfan@reddit

Lol I do this every time my internet provider raises my rate. Miraculously they always find a "promotion" for a lower price 🤓.

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When we finally got fiber here, I couldn't wait to call cox to cancel. This guy tried sooo fucking hard to get me to stay with them, offering me all kinds of packages (I had been a customer for over 10 years at this point). No nothing they offered me could have made me stay with them. Not even free internet. Fuck cox you motherfuckers fuck youuuu

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TiffkaKitka@reddit

I recently did this with my hulu subscription!! It's my favorite new trick.

Also check your local public library! Some have subscriptions to the NYT and if you have a library card you can access all the NYT games, recipes and news for free! That's what I do because I'm addicted to the games lol!

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soubrette732@reddit

But don’t you have to go to the library and get a pass daily? The ones at my library expire

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TiffkaKitka@reddit

At least for my library they have a digital version of the pass. So on the website you can log into your library account and then they have a NYT page where you can click for access and it'll auto generate a unique code for you to use for 24hrs.

So yes you have to get a new one everyday but no you don't have to go in person.

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Klem_Colorado@reddit

Consumer reports also.

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adhdcapric0rn@reddit (OP)

I’ve never heard of that!! Definitely will be checking it out :) Love that you’re a fellow word game addict too lol

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vanislandgirl19@reddit

Bought new car with 3months of free Sirius. They wanted $30/month after. Hell nah. Cut it off. 3 days later they called and gave it to me for $5/month. It works!

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EasternCheetahh@reddit

I wrote a web app that activates sirius for free, 3 months at a time. If you wanna cancel and use it, hit me up.

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vanislandgirl19@reddit

But would that activation follow to my car?

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EasternCheetahh@reddit

You input a radio ID to activate it, yes.

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Known_Ear_6012@reddit

Hi I’m not OP but I would like this pls.

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Wheels_Foonman@reddit

I’ve been getting the $6/month rate for the last 4 years by doing this. I have my calendar reminder set annually to call them the eve of my full price charge and tell them I want to cancel.

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Klem_Colorado@reddit

Very nice. Thisis why I fill a shopping cart online, and wait a good 72 hours, they send codes.

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PsychologicalVirus16@reddit

Sirius XM, too. Full price is about $23 a month (for radio!). I call to cancel every year and have gotten it down to $3, though last time only down to 5.

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Azure4077@reddit

Does anyone know if Peacock does this?

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Azure4077@reddit

I did this with Hulu! Now I pay $2.99/month for the next year

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BarbellConnoisseur@reddit

What if i threaten to cancel my USA subscription? Would they lower my cost of living? No? Okay….

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TonyKebell@reddit

No, it doesn't.

I just get told "oh, sorry to hear thst" then they star running me though how to cancel. Just about every fucking service. Ever.

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ellisisland0612@reddit

If anybody uses meal delivery services, cook unity will offer you 50% off 2-3 months if you go to cancel after your first promotion period ends. So you can get almost 6 months at 50% off when combined with the introductory promotions.

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DDsLaboratory@reddit

I tried to cancel my Six Flags theme park membership when it was about $15-$20 a month. They eventually offered me $2.99 a month.

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TelevisionKnown8463@reddit

I had a mail-order grocery service, I think it’s called Thrive Market, with an annual subscription of around $75. Wasn’t using much so I went to cancel. It kept showing me screens with better and better offers until I gave in and kept it. Subscription price for the next year is $14.

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Axel-Adams@reddit

This isn’t even unethical

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OK_Ingenue@reddit

Me too

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Andrew8Everything@reddit

Paramount+ has a one week free trial and if you cancel early you get three months free.

It has some great content but it is nowhere near worth the full price.

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breakermw@reddit

Had this happen. I got a week free, then a discounted month through my credit card, THEN went to cancel and they offered me 2 months free (albeit with ads, though their ads aren't too bad)

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Klem_Colorado@reddit

Yep, I would never do this when a series comes up on another season, lmao.

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Redditorthrowaway000@reddit

They only gave me one month for free when I went to cancel my subscription :(

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adhdcapric0rn@reddit (OP)

That’s great to know!! Thank you :)!

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ZealousidealMango114@reddit

Same thing works for car loans (depending on bank financing). The teller just told me I won’t even have to worry about a car payment in 3 more months!

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z050z@reddit

I tried that with Xfinity a few years ago.

The cancellations department said: “We are sorry to see you go. Please consider us in the future”.

Ouch… I guess I was a bad customer.

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