BMW Is Giving Up on Heated Seat Subscriptions Because People Hated Them::The blowback worked—but subscriptions for software-based new car features will continue, according to a BMW board member.

  • Szymon@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    49
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    The cost of things has detached from what it costs to put the thing in the hand of the consumer, to instead a model of “what is this worth to you”.

    • rumckle@aussie.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      36
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Under capitalism it’s always been the case of"what is this worth to you". The difference is in the past if a company overcharges then a competitor could come along and undercut them (so long as the gap was big enough that it made financial sense).

      Unfortunately, monopolies, regulatory/government capture, vertical integration, marketing and cartels have gotten so far out of control that consumers are left with little choice but to suck it up. And most governments in the Anglosphere don’t really care.

        • krakenx@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          1 year ago

          No, we are suggesting that the automobile market is one of the few industries that isn’t a monopoly yet, which is why BMW couldn’t get away with it.

          But also, the automobile market is getting more concentrated so it won’t be long until the 4 companies left legally collude to force this stuff on us. Just like every other industry.

        • rumckle@aussie.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          No, not everything in that list applies to every industry. The car market isn’t a monopoly, but it definitely has issues with government and regulatory capture (and perhaps others, I’m not expert in auto manufacturing). But even without those issues the nature of car making today gives it a high barrier of entry for new comers.

          And as others pointed out, the fact it’s not a monopoly leads to more unpopular ideas being scrapped.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yeah we’re reaching the point where it becomes clear that the market can’t bear everyone charging the most the market can bear.

      People will pay extra for a luxury. People won’t pay the most they’re willing to pay on a luxury on every luxury they’ve gotten accustomed to at a reasonable price.

      • Signtist@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        1 year ago

        I hope you’re right, but I’ve seen a concerning amount of people say “It’s only $X, so why not?” so many times that it’s eating up a huge percentage of their monthly earnings.