Caching/Streaming on multiple devices

[asteff1968]

With Slacker Premium, do you really only get one device to cache to? With Rhapsody I can download/stream on 3 phones and 2 computers. Is there an option to increase this for a few extra bucks?

[DAB]

With Slacker Premium, do you really only get one device to cache to? With Rhapsody I can download/stream on 3 phones and 2 computers. Is there an option to increase this for a few extra bucks?

Rhapsody you have to pay $14.99 per month to get the 3 phones and 2 computers, but it is an option available. At this time there is no such option with Slacker. I think considering that Rhapsody has this offer and both MOG and Napster have no such limitation, this puts Slacker at a real disadvantage.

[ueav]

With Slacker Premium, do you really only get one device to cache to? With Rhapsody I can download/stream on 3 phones and 2 computers. Is there an option to increase this for a few extra bucks?

Rhapsody you have to pay $14.99 per month to get the 3 phones and 2 computers, but it is an option available. At this time there is no such option with Slacker. I think considering that Rhapsody has this offer and both MOG and Napster have no such limitation, this puts Slacker at a real disadvantage.

I have already posted on another thread about my discontent with this issue. Since then, I have been in contact with Slacker's customer services and here is what I have found out:

Once you start cacheing to one device, that device is locked for 30 days. So, it's not only that you get one device for cache, but also you can't switch back (or authorize) other devices during this time. Second, I wanted to go back to the Plus subscription, so I asked the customer service rep to switch me back to Plus. He told me that I have to wait until my 30 days are over, then cancel my Premium, then register for Plus.

I understand if Slacker can't provide these features, although I agree that leaves them at a disadvantage. But my beef is that Slacker was not up front with this information. Not only that, but they also make it so difficult to modify your account. Most other services I have looked into, tell you what you can and cannot do up front, when it comes to mobile devices/computers, etc.

[DoublEE]

With Slacker Premium, do you really only get one device to cache to? With Rhapsody I can download/stream on 3 phones and 2 computers. Is there an option to increase this for a few extra bucks?

Rhapsody you have to pay $14.99 per month to get the 3 phones and 2 computers, but it is an option available. At this time there is no such option with Slacker. I think considering that Rhapsody has this offer and both MOG and Napster have no such limitation, this puts Slacker at a real disadvantage.

I have already posted on another thread about my discontent with this issue. Since then, I have been in contact with Slacker's customer services and here is what I have found out:

Once you start cacheing to one device, that device is locked for 30 days. So, it's not only that you get one device for cache, but also you can't switch back (or authorize) other devices during this time. Second, I wanted to go back to the Plus subscription, so I asked the customer service rep to switch me back to Plus. He told me that I have to wait until my 30
days are over, then cancel my Premium, then register for Plus.

I understand if Slacker can't provide these features, although I agree that leaves them at a disadvantage. But my beef is that Slacker was not up front with this information. Not only that, but they also make it so difficult to modify your account. Most other services I have looked into, tell you what you can and cannot do up front, when it comes to mobile devices/computers, etc.

File a complaint with the BBB. that's what I did. I want Slacker to be more upfront with their policies.

[RomeE]

Yes, I wish we could allow additional devices per account for Premium Users to cache with as well, but, it was a requirement of the record labels to put this in with our licenses for Premium Users. We did create an FAQ on this when we launched on our Support Site. If you searched for caching, or cache limit, or device limit, etc it will come up. (I even had to edit it for a typo).

Unfortunately, there are alot of rules that we have to play by. I really can't say it much more plainly than that. If you have a comment or problem, then by all means feel free to email us or leave feedback from the main website page. We do appreciate all feedback. There are some things we can change, there are somethings we can't, but we certainly love to hear it all.

Best regards,
Rome E
Slacker Support

[DoublEE]

Yes, I wish we could allow additional devices per account for Premium Users to cache with as well, but, it was a requirement of the record labels to put this in with our licenses for Premium Users. We did create an FAQ on this when we launched on our Support Site. If you searched for caching, or cache limit, or device limit, etc it will come up. (I even had to edit it for a typo).

Unfortunately, there are alot of rules that we have to play by. I really can't say it much more plainly than that. If you have a comment or problem, then by all means feel free to email us or leave feedback from the main website page. We do appreciate all feedback. There are some things we can change, there are somethings we can't, but we certainly love to hear it all.

Best regards,
Rome E
Slacker Support

It's like you're trying to hide this new limitation by burying it deep in 8 pages of FAQ's. why not be upfront with your customers? This seals the deal for not renewing my plus or premium account. I didn't renew either and I think I'll stick to the free option as long as your poor business practices continue. I was looking forward to on demand but RomeE you guys really dropped the ball on this one. The interface is a mess, you are giving unlimited cacheing to plus subs while limiting your premium subs to one device, you have no plan in place to let customers pay for additional devices, you don't let premium customers downgrade their accounts unless they let their sub expire, your support staff and programmers go MIA during a critical time when you are trying to sell on demand. Did I miss anything? I'm sorry to say Slackers future is awfully bleak with these types of business decisions.

[DAB]

I have to say as much as I support Slacker. I think it was a really poorly thought out decision not to place the new single device limitation right in the description with the premium plan. That is where it should be, not listed in some FAQ, though it should probably be there too.

I would really encourage Slacker to be more up front about this and add this information to the plan descriptions ASAP! The real problem here is that for those on the Plus plan that have been supporting you guys, many of them automatically upgraded to the premium without knowing the new limitation. Again if this had been on the premium plan description they would have known this and would have been able to make a better choice for themselves. It is rather deceptive, but the reality is you can run, but you can't hide from your business practices. It will only cost you subscribers in the long run. The one area where you really can't afford to be Slacker's you are and that is unfortunate.

[DoublEE]

I have to say as much as I support Slacker. I think it was a really poorly thought out decision not to place the new single device limitation right in the description with the premium plan. That is where it should be, not listed in some FAQ, though it should probably be there too.

I would really encourage Slacker to be more up front about this and add this information to the plan descriptions ASAP! The real problem here is that for those on the Plus plan that have been supporting you guys, many of them automatically upgraded to the premium without knowing the new limitation. Again if this had been on the premium plan description they would have known this and would have been able to make a better choice for themselves. It is rather deceptive, but the reality is you can run, but you can't hide from your business practices. It will only cost you subscribers in the long run. The one area where you really can't afford to be Slacker's you are and that is unfortunate.

Well said. I refuse to buy a service from a company that appears deceptive in their practices. I'm done with Slacker until they clearly state the term for the sub. And no, RomeE, hiding it in 8 pages of FAQ's isn't exactly full disclosure.

[Begbie]

I came within one-click of upgrading to Premium, until I decided, "Hmm...maybe I should just confirm that my two devices will be able to cache." Whew...it's a good thing I did. I think alot of existing Plus users will probably just assume that the service will remain the same by upgrading to Premium. Not only that, but the ones that don't know about the cached device limit, might upgrade and start caching the device they use less frequently FIRST...then try to cache the device they use way more frequently SECOND and get denied. And then it would take what, 30 days...in order to be able to cache the device you use more frequently?

I mean, I totally get that the record companies are going to set some standards and limits on the way we use our service. I totally get that. But it's just way too easy to upgrade the account to Premium and easily think that the little things...like caching, would remain the same.

Right now, I go to the Subscription Page in the store...and I see one side Plus...the other Premium. The very first line of the Premium side clearly states, "ALL of the features of Slacker Radio Plus are included with Slacker Premium Radio." That tells me that, with confidence, I can sign up for Premium and do everything that I can currently do with my Plus subscription. I then see a disclaimer at the bottom of the Premium side that clearly notes that, due to music license restrictions, some songs may not be available on demand. I don't see any more fine print...I don't even see a link to FAQ. I click, "Buy Now" and a pop up indicates that I will start paying $9.99/mo at a specific date and a button that says, "Upgrade". If I click upgrade, I probably won't find out about the cache limit until I try to cache on my second device. That seems to be the big problem. Slacker already had to add the "some songs are not available on demand" disclaimer...why not just add the other big disclaimer that "Due to license restrictions, only one device will be able to cache."

I dunno, I love my Plus account, but I almost put myself in a big mess by upgrading.

[DoublEE]

I came within one-click of upgrading to Premium, until I decided, "Hmm...maybe I should just confirm that my two devices will be able to cache." Whew...it's a good thing I did. I think alot of existing Plus users will probably just assume that the service will remain the same by upgrading to Premium. Not only that, but the ones that don't know about the cached device limit, might upgrade and start caching the device they use less frequently FIRST...then try to cache the device they use way more frequently SECOND and get denied. And then it would take what, 30 days...in order to be able to cache the device you use more frequently?

I mean, I totally get that the record companies are going to set some standards and limits on the way we use our service. I totally get that. But it's just way too easy to upgrade the account to Premium and easily think that the little things...like caching, would remain the same.

Right now, I go to the Subscription Page in the store...and I see one side Plus...the other Premium. The very first line of the Premium side clearly states, "ALL of the features of Slacker Radio Plus are included with Slacker Premium Radio." That tells me that, with confidence, I can sign up for Premium and do everything that I can currently do with my Plus subscription. I then see a disclaimer at the bottom of the Premium side that clearly notes that, due to music license restrictions, some songs may not be available on demand. I don't see any more fine print...I don't even see a link to FAQ. I click, "Buy Now" and a pop up indicates that I will start paying $9.99/mo at a specific date and a button that says, "Upgrade". If I click upgrade, I probably won't find out about the cache limit until I try to cache on my second device. That seems to be the big problem. Slacker already had to add the "some songs are not available on demand" disclaimer...why not just add the other big disclaimer that "Due to license restrictions, only one device will be able to cache."

I dunno, I love my Plus account, but I almost put myself in a big mess by upgrading.

This is an excellent point that I hadn't thought of! The Plus sub has unlimited devices and Slacker claims, "All of the features of Slacker Radio Plus are included with Slacker Premium Radio" which is NOT true.

[Begbie]

This is an excellent point that I hadn't thought of! The Plus sub has unlimited devices and Slacker claims, "All of the features of Slacker Radio Plus are included with Slacker Premium Radio" which is NOT true.

It would just lead any Plus subscriber into thinking they're going to get the same service they get now, and gain On Demand abilities.

Granted, if the recording industry says they don't want Premium users using the cache feature on more than one device...that's the way it unfortunately has to be. There's really no getting around that.

I wish we could have one primary device that has the full Premium cache abilities...BUT be able to retain the Plus cache abilities for other devices. In other words...my iPhone (primary) can cache playlists and replay songs on cached stations, but my iPod (secondary) can only cache stations (no playlists) and can't replay tracks on cached stations. That would probably get me to pay for Premium. Sure, I wouldn't be able to cache playlists to my iPod...but at least I'm still able to cache my stations as I had been doing previously as a Plus subscriber.

Per the agreement Slacker has with the recording industry...that may not be a valid option for Slacker to pursue. I don't know. But it's just a thought and it might ease alot of our concerns...instead of having to explain to my wife why I want to pay $6/mo more so that she can no longer cache music to her iPod.

[DAB]

It is like I said, spell this limit out on the premium subscriber page and no one can really say much else about it. Subscribers can then make an informed decision rather to upgrade or subscribe at at all.

While I too understand this is a licensing requirement, they could have did just what Rhapsody did and offer up to 3 devices for a bit higher price. I would have subscribed to that hands down. Yet, they don't offer this and apparently no one at Slacker has the foresight to see this maybe needed.

What I've had to do is do a premium on my primary music device, then plus account to use on my other two devices. So, total cost for me is $13.98 per month, cheaper than Rhapsody, but of course no in-demand on the other two devices and I shouldn't have to do two subscriptions.