Selling subscriptions without an option for a set amount of time should be illegal

[Knavenformed]

Okay the topic is a bit hyperbolic, but seriously as a customer of Steam I should not have a product in the storefront that may require third party accounts to disable ongoing subscriptions.

Sure it's a nice feature I can disable the subscription midway on Steam, but it's just scummy to not offer a one off purchase for a subscription period and have the user be accountable for a forgotten or unable to switch subscription.

And it can also be detrimental during accidents for example, what if something happens where you absolutely cannot disable it, like being sent to a hospital in a condition of no response?

There should always be a one off purchase option for subscriptions along with permanent ones where you opt out later.

The only one who benefits from a "now until disabled subscription" is the service provider banking in on users who don't think better.

Not a problem for me to disable a subscription in time, but not having the ease of access for a one time purchase is extremely annoying and leaves a bad taste in my mouth really.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Depends on if the game has the option to purchase 1 time subs like ESO...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/306130/The_Elder_Scrolls_Online/

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8018-TAJK-6238

[Brian9824]

Again that is up to the publisher of the game to offer. Some do offer set subscriptions instead of perpetually renewing subscriptions.

There is no reason you can't subscribe in steam and then disable it from renewing in case you forget. The entire point of subscriptions however is to encourage people to keep the subscription, so its going to be designed that way for many games

[Knavenformed]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Depends on if the game has the option to purchase 1 time subs like ESO...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/306130/The_Elder_Scrolls_Online/

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8018-TAJK-6238

:qr:

ESO is in part why I would like to see a change, since none of those subscriptions are one time subs, but state how much money they will take during which timeframe, you still have to manually disable it after purchase if you want for say just a month of subscription time.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Depends on if the game has the option to purchase 1 time subs like ESO...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/306130/The_Elder_Scrolls_Online/

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8018-TAJK-6238

:qr:

ESO is in part why I would like to see a change, since none of those subscriptions are one time subs, but state how much money they will take during which timeframe, you still have to manually disable it after purchase if you want for say just a month of subscription time.

Yeah that's kinda what subscriptions are designed to do. Its not hard to disable it after buying, but don't expect developers to do that as they want to keep people subscribing.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

And you can cancel at any time... https://store.steampowered.com/account/subscriptions

Basically just like every game subscription known to man.

[Mailer]

You could always enable a monthly notification on your phone to verify that you want to continue your subscription a day or so ahead before it is estimated to run out and re-charge.
At least this is how I imagine I would be doing it if I bought a WoW subscription for example, just to make sure I don't indulge in any more than I plan to spend.

[Knavenformed]

Originally posted by brian9824:

There is no reason you can't subscribe in steam and then disable it from renewing in case you forget. The entire point of subscriptions however is to encourage people to keep the subscription, so its going to be designed that way for many games

I just don't find that to be anything more than an unnecessary hurdle to disable before continuing with the game.

There might be how many incentives they want to have in the subscriptions, but personally I will never have an ongoing payment on my account, ever. I will manually subscribe again every month if I find a product worth it, but I just hate not having the option to do one off purchases for absolutely no reason.

[Knavenformed]

Originally posted by Mailer:

You could always enable a monthly notification on your phone to verify that you want to continue your subscription a day or so ahead before it is estimated to run out and re-purchase.
At least this is how I imagine I would be doing it if I bought a WoW subscription for example, just to make sure I don't indulge in any more than I plan to spend.

WoW offers game time tokens and one off purchases alongside with the renewing subscription model, they are a bit hidden in the store but the option to just buy the subscription for one month that you have the most vacations set for example is just great.

There's no reason on the user end where not having the option would be a better alternative for a buy and play system.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Easier to purchase a subscription for X amount of time, remove saved payment methods from the account and don't have enough in your wallet for it to renew.

The recurring sub will fail at the end of the cycle and you can choose to renew it or not.

[Satoru]

Wow has only subscription models on their website. Wow tokens are functionally you spending money on a token to get ripped off for paying more for a “monthly” subscription that doesn’t even include everything

[nullable]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Originally posted by Mailer:

You could always enable a monthly notification on your phone to verify that you want to continue your subscription a day or so ahead before it is estimated to run out and re-purchase.
At least this is how I imagine I would be doing it if I bought a WoW subscription for example, just to make sure I don't indulge in any more than I plan to spend.

WoW offers game time tokens and one off purchases alongside with the renewing subscription model, they are a bit hidden in the store but the option to just buy the subscription for one month that you have the most vacations set for example is just great.

There's no reason on the user end where not having the option would be a better alternative for a buy and play system.

No reason why other publishers need to do exactly what Blizzard does. If it's such a boon for revenue or customer satisfaction I'm sure it would have come up by now. I mean are you so convinced your hangups about subscriptions make up such a large population that you need special consideration? Because I'm not. And based on what the industry is doing I'm not sure they see it either. And they might actually have the data to show what's up.

[Crazy Tiger]

Personally I dislike it when people throw around phrase like "should be illegal" and "it's just scummy" for things they don't like.

With that said, I dislike subscriptions as a whole due to the nature that they have. Even with timed subscriptions (a year, a month or so), here in my country most subscriptions can be silently extended by the service provider if you don't cancel it before it ends. For how long depends on the type of service, though after extended you can cancel it on a monthly basis.

The very point of subscriptions is to keep you tied to them. However, it's not scummy if it's allowed or even known. People forgetting to cancel their subscriptions, well, that's on them honestly.

[Mailer]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Originally posted by Mailer:

You could always enable a monthly notification on your phone to verify that you want to continue your subscription a day or so ahead before it is estimated to run out and re-purchase.
At least this is how I imagine I would be doing it if I bought a WoW subscription for example, just to make sure I don't indulge in any more than I plan to spend.

WoW offers game time tokens and one off purchases alongside with the renewing subscription model, they are a bit hidden in the store but the option to just buy the subscription for one month that you have the most vacations set for example is just great.

There's no reason on the user end where not having the option would be a better alternative for a buy and play system.

Well for the more indulgent users it would be a relief to not have to worry having to verify purchases monthly. I am still cautious about things like this and for a good reason which is why I stand by my initial suggestion. It's just that some companies will assume that you have an idea of where you stand on your subscription at all times and others offer you the service of letting you know. Not to steer too close into conspiracy theory world but there might be an incentive to either subscription model.

And I do agree with the final say that the user has an ultimate responsibility in this regardless. Setting a reminder as a "first things first" after you buy a subscription shouldn't be too far stretched.

[cinedine]

A subscription is always a recurring charge. It's basically in the name.

If you have a problem with it, just subscripe and disable it right after payment.

Originally posted by Satoru:

Wow has only subscription models on their website and you can’t buy one offs on battle net or directly on Wow

You can. It's under "Services".
https://imgur.com/YCR5mKk

You can also redeem the tokens for game time within the game and/or access the shop to buy it.

[Knavenformed]

Originally posted by Brockenstein:

No reason why other publishers need to do exactly what Blizzard does. If it's such a boon for revenue or customer satisfaction I'm sure it would have come up by now. I mean are you so convinced your hangups about subscriptions make up such a large population that you need special consideration? Because I'm not. And based on what the industry is doing I'm not sure they see it either. And they might actually have the data to show what's up.

Sure, I'm obviously a vocal minority here, but as a consumer I can still voice my opinion and want for more options and streamlined purchasing options.

And again, if not giving a user a direct purchase option is a statistical increase of revenue I don't see it as a very morally good way to gain it as it's bound to mean mistake purchases that the company can have their hands off from.