Motorcycle Airbags...as a subscription service

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Even if you do pay it, what happens if you happen to be out of service at the time? Motorcycles go up a lot of lonely roads, and the thing about the Internet of Things is that, much like an Xbox One, if a pay-to-play device isn't connected it might just think you're trying to cheat and cut you off.

Again, inductive reasoning suggests the grace period mentioned in the article that you linked above. Though as I was saying I wouldn't trust it to not lock me out due to network malfunction, I doubt it would default off without a network signal and instead listen to its own atomic clock on that.

[Nealithi]

So after speaking to some right leaning motorcycling people I know, I now have a new question.
Who is this targeted towards? Because the moment I mentioned the subscription all three of them independently from one another. (I asked them separately.) Said they will not buy it and just try to avoid getting into an accident.
So is this like internet connection for your refrigerator? An interesting concept with no real market?

[TGLS]

So after speaking to some right leaning motorcycling people I know, I now have a new question.
Who is this targeted towards? Because the moment I mentioned the subscription all three of them independently from one another. (I asked them separately.) Said they will not buy it and just try to avoid getting into an accident.

Well, how was it doing before the subscription was mentioned? The airbag sells for $400, and you can either buy the software outright for another $400 or pay X a month (or per year) for the software. It's basically a way for the company to profit off of people who are bad at math.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

$800 is kind of steep for what it is probably. The relative appeal obviously is that it's a one time cost, and isn't much of an endeavor for people that maintain and ride a lot. Motorcycles are much less of a general automotive than cars are, in which case this product reminds one of a seatbelt more than anything as far as a standardizable feature. But while people tend to have provisional budgets for cars, they'll have anticipated budgets for motorcycles I'd think.

Monthly dues are usually good for testing products as far as a general consumer is concerned, which doesn't apply here because of the $400 upfront cost. On the opposite end though, long term use is still a viable option here, constricted of course for your projected budget whether in the immediate future or for a more prolonged definite time of availability, useful for say more intermittent mid-term usage.

This is just based on what I've seen and thought about with an interactive fitness scales. Microsoft 365 is also a fun consideration.

[McAvoy]

Ahh yes. Let's imagine you pay for air bags in your car but if you don't subscribe to that car manufacturer they don't work.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Ahh yes. Let's imagine you pay for air bags in your car but if you don't subscribe to that car manufacturer they don't work.

Yes I was saying that that comparison is a bit irrational. Was that your point as well, or were you countervailing that sentiment?

[Nealithi]

Just a thought on this. But I am against subscription safety or security without some laws to help protect the consumer. One thing that came up years ago was a company sold complete security. Electric locks full smart home effects. They got bought by another company and that company simply turned off the service to all the customers. So many families were locked out of their own homes. Not even a forgotten payment. Just the service ended and no one told you. So now you have safety gear that is worse than useless. And you don't know.

I just look at this whole thing and shudder at all the potential flaws in the system.

The payment issue alone. This was a few decades back. But my parents got overdraft letters and bounced many checks. Why? Because their direct deposits never went in. Not the fun trip of bill then put in the deposits. The deposit never happened. When the bank checked? Hundreds of their customers had the same issue. Turned out that a new hire got a lump payment in from a bank and instead of disbursing to each account as they should have. Dumped all the money into the first account on the list. Simple human error that cost honest customers quite a bit of grief. Now imagine that for safety or security. . So again you paid honestly and your device does not work because someone else messed up the payment. . .

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

The payment issue alone. This was a few decades back. But my parents got overdraft letters and bounced many checks. Why? Because their direct deposits never went in. Not the fun trip of bill then put in the deposits. The deposit never happened. When the bank checked? Hundreds of their customers had the same issue. Turned out that a new hire got a lump payment in from a bank and instead of disbursing to each account as they should have. Dumped all the money into the first account on the list. Simple human error that cost honest customers quite a bit of grief. Now imagine that for safety or security. . So again you paid honestly and your device does not work because someone else messed up the payment. . .

While your example is satisfactory for establishing the concept, for the third time in this thread, it doesn't really apply specifically to the device in question.

[McAvoy]

Ahh yes. Let's imagine you pay for air bags in your car but if you don't subscribe to that car manufacturer they don't work.

Yes I was saying that that comparison is a bit irrational. Was that your point as well, or were you countervailing that sentiment?

Just my own thoughts. Doesn't matter if my comparison doesn't fully 100% line up with the OP.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Ahh yes. Let's imagine you pay for air bags in your car but if you don't subscribe to that car manufacturer they don't work.

Yes I was saying that that comparison is a bit irrational. Was that your point as well, or were you countervailing that sentiment?

Just my own thoughts. Doesn't matter if my comparison doesn't fully 100% line up with the OP.

Yes, agreed. Nonetheless I was soliciting for a clarification somewhat.