Why am I forced to pay for a service to use a service I am paying for?

"So you have alternative means of using those services but thought it would be best to come here and whine about it because you can't use those services on Xbox 360 without paying to access them? Got it. "~Temhotabot

If it wasn't for "whiners" like me, you'd have a brick in your livingroom every time you lost your internet connection, not an xbox. More specifically, I'm upset microsoft has made it unnecesarily difficult for me to use said means instead of simply providing
them free like any normal company would.

"Microsoft is a BUSINESS. They have structured a business model that has been lucrative in the last 10 years so why would they change it just for you because you don't think a Gold Sub is worth the money to access the services you want? If you don't want
to pay then use those other alternative methods of using those services you can get for free elsewhere"

They're obviously a business. But part of staying in business is your ability to compete. Gold sub is clearly not worth the access for pretty obvious reasons. The only reason I'd ever consider gold sub is if there was a game I really wanted multiplayer for.
I'd recognize these were microsoft servers they pay and maintain and they need to make a profit somehow, so I'd pay, knowing it's a fair deal.

But the deal they're asking for is stupid. Let me ask you this: You have the choice between staying in a Sony Hotel and Microsoft Hotel. Part of the deal is you pay for all water used. So Sony shows you your room and then they show you a bathroom. You notice
nothing unusual, then go to the microsoft hotel. They show you your room. You ask them about your bathroom, (and you're already paying for the water) and they say, "sorry, only Gold members apply for personal bathroom use. You'll need to go down the lobby
and use that bathroom." They're requiring me to pay for a service to use a free service, one I could get, but need to pointlessly task myself with.

Part of being a business is not looking so greedy you want to squeeze every penny you can get out of a consumer. Microsoft is failing miserably in its reputation to compete. Their business model needs to put the consumer first if it ever wants to restore
its reputation. Part of being a business is making it look like you're interested in satisfying me--not look pathetically greedy.

"I have a laptop and a bluray player that I can use to access Netflix, Hulu Youtube, etc. on yet I still pay for an XBL Gold Sub because I feel it is worth MY money considering all the features you get with it. And I am by no means a rich person either,
I live pay check to pay check like millions of others but I still feel my money is being well spent here."

Good for you? It's definitely not worth my money as long as I can access said features free. I'm not willing to pay extra for something I'm already paying for.

 

That bathroom comparison was funny. Sorry, but that did make me laugh lol. I understand your frustration buddy, but it's been this way for as long as I have been on the service. Now I don't really use my console for anything other than watching DVD's or
gaming so I can't quite put myself on the same bench as you, but that doesn't mean I don't get it. Because I do. However like many services, you know whether or not you want to subscribe and if there is a subscription fee it is totally your choice to go with
it or against it. I still think the service is a fantastic value. The way I see it, it costs the same as bag of sweets and a bottle of pop only it lasts much longer. Just my opinion there.

 

What a load of crap. lol. Do you really think they restructured the entire console, because of some Internet whiners on the forums?! Give me a break. The pre-order numbers weren't up to where MS was wanting them to be. They figured out what it was
about the console people didn't agree with and then they made the change. If people were pre-ordering en masse do you think they would've made any changes?? Hell to the no.

 

Xbox Live is worth the fee for the subscription if you feel you will get what you pay for out of it. There are a lot of features, yes, but not everyone will use every feature. It is not worth it to, for instance, pay $60 for the year to have access to
video apps you pay third party providers for already if that is your only intended use. I have seen a lot of arguments about how much you get for the price and in my opinion that only applies if you plan on using most of those features. It's an "all or nothing"
package where you can do virtually nothing on Live without paying, and everything for paying; there is no in-between, which reduces its worth for people who do not intend to use most or all of these features.

 

I'm not even surprised at all the people readily jumping to Microsoft's defence with all sorts of spurious arguments, from the inane (oh just don't use it!) to the disingenuous (Microsoft is a BUSINESS!)

A simple glance will make it obvious that if you're already paying for something somewhere else (or worse, actually getting it for free), being forced to pay for it at another place is simply unfair, no matter how much you try to rationalise it. Call it
their service, call it value for money, call it everything else you're getting in the bargain- You're still paying twice.

But whatever. Glad to see nothing's changed around here.

 

13 pence per day is well worth it

 

Show me where I can buy Gold by paying 13p for one day?

I don't disagree about the value of Gold but I really do hate the "it's only pence a day" argument when it can't be had for that price per day.

 

Yea, you have to pay the year up front. The breakdown arguments would apply if you could pay in those increments instead of having to put up the price of a new release title up front to get the cheapest rate, or pay double for going month-to-month.

 

That's my point though, you can't pay in those increments.

I'd have no problem with paying £1 for a day's Gold time, let alone 13p. Yet neither of those payment choices is available.

Yes it might breakdown to that low price but you never actually pay that. You pay the lump sum.

 

"Do you really think they restructured the entire console, because of some Internet whiners on the forums?! Give me a break. The pre-order numbers weren't up to where MS was wanting them to be. They figured out what it was about the console people didn't
agree with and then they made the change. "

First of all I'd like to blame the internet for allowing people to be anonymous so much so they develop egos and post condescending comments without paying much attention to the purpose of the message. It's like they auto-defend whatever company they like.

Second of all: Thank you for making my point for me. Whiners like me spread awareness of Microsoft's issues and prevented pre-orders. When microsoft realized the issue, they changed their policies. As for how much my complaint means to them? Maybe nothing,
but not complaining in the slightest is probably the last reason microsoft would change their policy.

As for the "cheap price" argument, I don't care if it's 5 cents a day, I'm not going to pay a penny for something I already get. Microsoft's policy is pathetically greedy and a bigger stain on their reputation rather than success for their business.

I used to prefer Microsoft, yet here I am thinking their blatantly greedy policies are worth arguing against. I have no issues with business: I consider myself fiscally conservative. But to go so far as to charge people for the things that cost you nothing...
that's sinking so low I can't believe it. It's disturbing. I can almost feel microsoft drooling over my wallet. It's like Microsoft is screaming: "just a penny more! Whatever you're willing to give! Just a little more!"

 

Hey there

Love debates =D

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You can buy Gold in installments

1 Month for £6

3 Months for 15.00

12 Months for £40.00

UK Price anyway.

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So I think its very user friendly. Also, if you can get it free on the laptop then watch it on the laptop. At the end of the day, no one is forcing you to pay anything you don't want. Its all in the plan, and you can use it or not. Its your choice

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That's my view

 

put it this way, in the UK we have to pay £145 per year for the TV Licence, I have Sky and pay them £56 per month to receive my TV, but I still have to pay the licence fee to the BBC is that fair no but I have to put up with it, now take live, I have Netflix
and nowtv I pay for those but I don't mind paying for live to access these as that is a bonus to me on the console, the real benefit from paying for live is secure, reliable online gaming.

 

That's quite allot

I have ny tuition to pay for, as well as Xbox Live. Then transport to and from work and then my Developing software for the Community Developer Program for Xbox ,

.

I still pay for Xbox and have no issue paying for it. And I am mostly on the Microsoft forums or Xbox Forums if I am not doing coursework or working. The last time I used my xbox one was back in January 2014

 

You have the option to not pay the license fee. I choose not to pay mine and tell them I dont have a TV set that recieves a LIVE broadcast within the letter I sent thjem I also removed there implied right of access to my property and if they wish to visit
my address they would need to pay £500 to make an appointment. No one ever comes.

 

lol =D sorry that made me laugh