We already know how some manufacturers think a lifetime warranty is one that's only good for the lifetime of the product, not the customer. A similar word game is being played by the Sirius satellite radio service which, in its fine print, says its "lifetime" service only lasts for the lifetime of the customer's Sirius radio receiver itself.
A reader who had paid $500 for what was advertised as a "lifetime of music for your radio" recently found out just how literally Sirius means that. "My wife and I were looking at possibly getting a smaller receiver and I wanted to see how I could transfer the lifetime service to the new radio," he wrote. "That's when I found out that what I'd paid for was the service for the lifetime of the satellite receiver, not my lifetime. Sirius said I would have known this if I had read paragraph 5 (C)(4) of their terms and conditions:"
Transfer Fee: If you wish to transfer your Subscription to a different Sirius Receiver during the term of a prepaid subscription or committed subscription period, we may charge you a transfer fee of up to $75.00. You may not transfer a lifetime Subscription to a different Sirius Receiver.
At the time he purchased the service, the reader says there was no other indication of the lifetime subscription not being transferable to another satellite receiver. "Nowhere was there a noticeable disclaimer advising you of the limitations of 'lifetime' service," he wrote. "You either had to have previous knowledge or have read and understood that paragraph in the terms and conditions. How hard would it have been for Sirius to have an asterisk in their advertising indicating the limits of the subscription?"
The reader can continue to use his original satellite receiver, of course, but it bothers him that he's going to be stuck with it as the technology improves. "It may turn out that the thing will outlive me, but in any case I thought I was purchasing for my lifetime," he wrote. "You cannot upgrade to a newer receiver, and if your radio breaks after the manufacturer's warranty on the product ends, you will have paid a lifetime for only one year. Dealing with Sirius has not been a joy. They laughed at the fact that I didn't read the fine print and that I didn't know that the 'lifetime' subscription was only for my receiver and not myself."
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