"Sirius Radio". Dont bother.

[maveric]

I received a package from my son. A Sirius Radio set-up for car and home. First the antenna wont pick up anything in my house and secondly, there was a part missing. The part is a two-sided rubber,adhesive strip that holds the antenna wier to my car. You cant install it without that 2 cent strip. So I called their customer service number, and then the fun started.

You dont get a real person when you call. They give you automated options, missing parts not being one of them. So I "held" on their tech/hardware line for 1 hour and 20 minutes before I got a human voice. That person told me that she would have to transfer me to another dept. OK, fine. 53 minutes on hold and I get this other human voice who tells me that she doesnt know what to do so I should repack the equipment and ship it back(at my expense), and they'll either give me a refund or new equipment. But the catch was that the packaging had to be perfect or else they wouldnt accept it and I'm stuck with what I've got. I asked for a supervisor and she reluctantly tranferred me for another 48 minute hold till I was disconnected. So I had to go through the same process, holding for 1, 1/4 hours. Then I get a human voice in India (he told me this). This guy had no idea how to handle a missing part and he...are you ready...tranferred me to another department. Only 25 minutes on hold this time where I got someone who really did try to help me out. Problem was he was new and his training didnt cover a missing 2 cent foam rubber strip. So he transferred me to corporate, 20 minutes on hold, and I got this woman who tried to tell me that I can still install it wothout the strip. The manual says that you need this or the antenna wire will blow around giving bad reception and possibly coming un-done. So I argued with her for about ten minutes till she put me on hold to talk to her manager. She then told me that "Corporate" will have to discuss this to see how to handle it and at the very best they'd ship me a new strip in 10-14 working days. So I went off!! Telling her that I'm shipping the whole thing back to them, cancelling my service and will subscribe to XM Radio instead. She told me "I wish you wouldnt do that sir.". Ha! You've got to be fucking kidding! A missing 2 cent part and they dont know how to handle it and it has to go in front of Corporate? Bullshit!

Before hanging up I informed her that I would share this experience with all that I meet, every message board I frequent and eveyr "Craigslist Rant & Rave in every city they associate with.(She told me that I shouldnt react this way). Kind of a shitty thing to do but over four hours on hold, disconnects and rude treatment, I think its appropriate.

I'm so fucking pissed now. My son had the best intentions and I messed up his father's day gift to me.

So if you are considering Sirius Radio, my advice is DONT. Their customer service dept. is the worst I have ever experienced! EVER!
Please excuse my run-on rant! I needed to vent this. I'm calling XM Radio in the morning.

OK I feel a little better now!

[GOPisEvil]

1. My experience with XM's customer service has been quite positive.

For what it's worth, anyway...

[aquaman]

2. I have Sirius for my car and xm for the home.

I love Sirius, have never had a problem with them and have always gotten good customer service when calling.

[maveric]

3. They gave me the run-around and it was infuriating!

Their QA failed and they either didnt know how to handle it or they refused to make it better. So screw them!
It shouldnt be this difficult to get a part that they FAILED to include in the shipping!

[lildreamer316]

4. Believe it or not; I think I may have an extra.

we just installed it because I got it for free (except for the subscription) and I recall saving two small 3M labelled squares that had adhesive backing on them. I'll go look--if you still decide to keep it; PM me and I'll send them.

[Ikonoklast]

5. Got Sirius last year and love it

You can get those adhesive strips just about anywhere. I wouldn't have wasted my time for such a trivial matter.

BTW, XM may have to merge with Sirius to survive in the near future, or be bought out by another media company. Their management is in turmoil and they are starting to founder. Their business model has a lack on content, which they ridiculed Sirius for. Now Sirius is growing faster, and XM has stagnated, and has a problem getting existing subscribers to renew.

Just my 2 cents.

[Derailer]

6. You're kidding aboht the time spent on hold, right?

Because no one would spends literally hours over a little rubber strip you can buy at Radio Shack for next to nothing...right?

[Bombero1956]

7. double sided tape

you can get it at most any hobby shop.

[mvd]

8. I always had signal reception problems with Sirius

I had an indoor receiver and had to keep adjusting. I also need my Air America on XM.

The only problem I've had with XM is with payment. Their customer service website never keeps track of my bills, and last time they sent an overdue notice very late when I had told them just to charge my debit card each time. They get confused - hopefully, it's settled now.

[du4life]

9. Only Sirius!

XM has commercials, it full of Clear Channel. Sirius = YES PLEASE!

[CabalPowered]

10. I had reception problems as well but that mostly

because of landscape features and orientation of my windows. I installed the permanent outdoor antenna from crutchfield and I never lose the signal. A couple months ago I ran a line from my stereo receiver to my computer and now I record everything and rip out the songs I like. As far as billing, I got in on their lifetime license special a couple years ago. $350 for a lifetime is pretty good deal.

[Taverner]

11. Sirius CS always worked for me

:shrug:

You have to wait a while, but hey that's life in a world with 5 billion people.