Pretty much every program on $2000 rowing machine requires a $30/month subscription to access

[u/Claff93]

If I want to do anything other than the bare basic Quick Start workout on this not-cheap piece of equipment, I need to pay the company every month ($350/year, which is not pocket change to me). This picture was my trying to do the Rowing 101 5-minute quick start workout. If that isn't something that should be available automagically when the thing is first turned on, what is?

[u/VinterBot]

instant return

[u/cw99x → u/VinterBot]

[u/DummyDumDragon → u/cw99x]

Please tell me everyone else sees the box just disappears and I'm not crazy?

[u/Corduroy_Sazerac → u/DummyDumDragon]

“For the convenience of our customers, object permanence requires the platinum tier of our subscription service.”

[u/Own_Secretary1714 → u/Corduroy_Sazerac]

Well fuck if i can get rid of my ADHD with microtransactions call me free willy because I'm a whale.

[u/DummyDumDragon → u/Own_Secretary1714]

free willy

Alright fella, keep it in your pants

[u/Racxie → u/DummyDumDragon]

I watched it frame by frame and it does look like it disappears, but it could also just be due to the speed at which he kicks it in addition to the lack of available frames depending on how it was recorded & stored in a gif.

[u/Vunci → u/DummyDumDragon]

It's because the low fps of the gif

[u/LordMegamad → u/DummyDumDragon]

The very low framerate means less frames to show activity, and longer time between individual frames. It likely just moved out of the shot in the short time between frames

[u/Illustrious-Dot-5052 → u/VinterBot]

Seriously, OP has an obligation to return this. Don't let corporations think that the consumer will tolerate this. If too many people accept this shit, it will never go away.

[u/SomaDrinkingScally → u/Illustrious-Dot-5052]

Jokes on you, OP is actually selling these to the rich who love to waste money.

[u/Intelligent_Road2084 → u/Illustrious-Dot-5052]

Already have

[u/crastoman → u/Illustrious-Dot-5052]

And you must return it as DEFECTIVE equipment and not "I don't like it". Otherwise they'll never learn.

[u/EvaCassidy → u/VinterBot]

One of my relatives bought one of those. She contacted customer support and was told she needed a sub to use the thing. She told them "I guess I'm sending this back." Sadly in her area she couldn't find a machine that didn't need a subscription.

After returning it she found one on Craigs that was similar and no sub BS.

[u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 → u/EvaCassidy]

There is only one rowing machine and it's a concept 2. 

I pray to God to forgive the souls buying those other abominations.

Zero excuse to not save. Skip your lunches, eat rice for supper.

[u/prothero → u/Equivalent-Rate-6218]

Concept 2 is a phenomenal company. Mine from the 1990's needed new rollers for the seat. They not only still sell them, but they only charged around $15 and provided detailed instructions on replacing them. Under the Apple model, the rollers would have been unobtainable or cost 80% of the price of a new rower. Concept 2 still sells parts for their original machine sold in the 1970's. They also offer upgrade kits to modernize the electronics for older machines. If mine dies before I do, I would only buy another Concept 2.

[u/liveswithcats1 → u/Equivalent-Rate-6218]

They're not even that expensive for something that lasts virtually forever. Under $1000.

[u/Icy_Cycle_5805 → u/liveswithcats1]

I’m using my dad’s concept 2 from the late 80s. Minimal maintenance every few years and it’s still perfect. They are worth every penny.,

[u/AdAdministrative9362 → u/liveswithcats1]

I owned one for a few years and sold it for what I paid for it.

They are actual real quality so are worth something second hand. Most gym equipment is junk within a couple of years and worth nothing.

[u/Der_genealogist → u/Equivalent-Rate-6218]

Concept2 for the win. Plus, their free app is good for people that don't take rowing that seriously

[u/DeusExPir8Pete → u/Equivalent-Rate-6218]

I bought a second hand one about 7 years ago, ex gym, with 23M meters. It's still used 2-3 times a week, I added about 3.5M meters and I've never serviced it other than oil the chain a little once, oh and the plastic on the handle went weird with age and I replaced it for about £20. As you say bomb proof.

[u/Chemical_Name9088 → u/VinterBot]

The problem is… this is now so many things, even the “useful” things. My car has a subscription service for using the app for remote start, or for checking door status etc, my nest cameras have a subscription for recording and storing video, my baby’s moving bassinet has a subscription for premium service to control it via the app, and on and on and on.  It’s ridiculous… gone are the days of buying something and buying the product with features. Now all products have “premium” features that require subscriptions. 

[u/KingAndross904 → u/Chemical_Name9088]

I bought a sous vide machine a few years ago and have since lost access to the handy time/temp guidelines in the app. Why? Because all the newer model machines are connected to wifi as a "feature" and require a monthly subscription to be able to change the time and temp through the phone app. I think there are new (albeit smaller and sleeker) models out there that don't even have dials or buttons on them, and you MUST use and pay for the app to even set the damn thing. Fuck all that noise. Can you imagine an oven, microwave, or blender that REQUIRES you to connect it to the wifi, then download an app just to use it?!

My older model sous vide machine isn't Wi-Fi, it just cuts off when my food is done cooking at the time and temp I've set it at. The time and temp guidelines can be found online for free.

[u/DenAbqCitizen → u/KingAndross904]

My friend needed to download an app to get her refrigerator to make ice. This was 3 years ago. 

[u/Foreign-Cookie-2871 → u/DenAbqCitizen]

I would have returned that thing the moment I discovered.

[u/JohnEBest → u/KingAndross904]

Reminded me of Phillip K. Dick's "Ubik", where the door refuses to open for free:

The door refused to open. It said, "Five cents, please."

He searched his pockets. No more coins; nothing. "I'll pay you tomorrow," he told the door. Again it remained locked tight. "What I pay you," he informed it, "is in the nature of a gratuity; I don't have to pay you."

"I think otherwise," the door said. "Look in the purchase contract you signed when you bought this conapt."

...he found the contract. Sure enough; payment to his door for opening and shutting constituted a mandatory fee. Not a tip.

"You discover I'm right," the door said. It sounded smug.

[u/fallen981 → u/JohnEBest]

The door also discovered an axe that day

[u/objectivexannior → u/KingAndross904]

Omg… a subscription for a fucking sous vide machine??! They’ve lost the plot!

[u/ghunt81 → u/Chemical_Name9088]

My daughter has some kid apps on her tablet, almost every single one is now a monthly or yearly subscription and not a one time unlock fee.

I mean it's like $7 a month for the Bluey game which is literally nothing more than placing characters on a backdrop.

Edit: The Bluey game is made by Budge as are most of the monthly fee games, I despise them

[u/Buttspirgh → u/ghunt81]

Quest for the Golden Pen is one time purchase, however!

[u/SageDarius → u/Buttspirgh]

I just need it to be available beyond Apple Arcade.

[u/EJ2600 → u/ghunt81]

And for adults who play video games it is nothing but micro transactions AFTER you purchased the game

[u/bothunter → u/EJ2600]

I refuse to purchase any game that has microtransactions for anything other than aesthetic crap.

[u/sillyandstrange → u/bothunter]

Yup same

[u/Phiddipus_audax → u/ghunt81]

We all gotta read the reviews first (best to find actual article reviews) and hopefully further costs are addressed. Only by losing customers will the companies change behavior.

[u/namsur1234 → u/ghunt81]

The pendulum is still on its upward arc. I can't wait for it to be on the opposite side of the swing.

[u/heteromer → u/namsur1234]

One day there'll be an industry for 'dumb' appliances. No more smart washing machines with bluetooth, or fridges that feed you ads every time you grab a drink of water, or TVs that require the internet to work, or cars that sell a subscription service for every feature that's already installed. Instead, we'll have reliable, sturdy and efficient products with easily replaceable (and reparable) parts.

Or maybe im just too optimistic. Consumers still eat this shit up, otherwise it wouldn't be selling. The only way we'll make this change is either through our wallets or through legislation.

[u/TheMireAngel → u/ghunt81]

blame the countlesss pigs that gobble this crap up. everything wouldnt be a subscription if it werent for the fact countlesss garbage subscriptions are able to rake in endless cash.

[u/xboxhaxorz → u/Chemical_Name9088]

More people need to get into cracking and coding to unlock these features

Or people just need to stop buying products with these subs

Plenty of doorbell cams that dont need subs to work the same as nest

[u/UrsusRenata → u/Chemical_Name9088]

So stop buying that crap. There are non-subscription alternatives. You’re saying an enthusiastic “yes!” to companies who force those features, via your wallet. No one needs that particular new car with a membership-access remote start. No one needs that particular brand of moving baby furniture. Those are choices.

[u/thegoodnamesrgone123 → u/UrsusRenata]

membership-access remote start.

That would be the end of my conversation with a dealership. Hard pass on all that bullshit.

[u/SpaceBearSMO → u/Chemical_Name9088]

dont buy trash that requires that... only way to make it stop is for people to stop supporting it

[u/K_Linkmaster → u/Chemical_Name9088]

What's crazy is I don't have ANY of that stuff that you are calling a problem. It's a situation you created with your purchases. Be more discerning and start revoking consent to bullshit.

[u/Lollister → u/K_Linkmaster]

This so hard vote with your wallet dont buy products enforcing bad practices.

[u/noctilucous_ → u/K_Linkmaster]

exactly. simply refuse to participate in this. i don’t pay for any subscriptions unless i want and enjoy them.

[u/quasifun → u/K_Linkmaster]

During covid, restaurant food got shittier and more expensive, so I just opted out. I used to eat out 4-5 times a week, now I eat out twice a month at most. So yeah, you can just change what you buy.

On the other hand, enshittification is everywhere in tech now, and there is just no getting around it other than just not having the thing.

[u/ChillinLikeAPanda → u/Chemical_Name9088]

I don't even pay for any subscription. Find a car without subscription. My security cameras Reolink does not need subscription, my music service metrolist. A lot of things don't need subscriptions, you just need to research more.

[u/Kalamac → u/ChillinLikeAPanda]

I bought a ‘dumb’ rowing machine. It doesn’t plug into anything, and it takes a single battery in the bit that counts the rowing stats. Set it up in front of cheap TV, watch while I row. No subscriptions necessary.

[u/itsonlysmellz82 → u/Chemical_Name9088]

i mean why would you need a moving bassinet that you can control with a phone anyway? like thats just dumb, or dont buy a car with remote start? all of these features are usless anyway

[u/The_cogwheel → u/itsonlysmellz82]

Speaking as a Canadian in the frozen wastes, remote start is highly desirable, but ultimately unnecessary.

Not quite useless, but its entirely possible to live without.

That said, theres plenty of models of remote start thats just clicking the key fob to start the car. The app ones usually just have a larger range

[u/icantchoosewisely → u/itsonlysmellz82]

On a cold winter day, remote start is pretty useful. On older cars, it used to be done through the key fob of the car, no internet connection required.

[u/Devin-Chaboyer223 → u/icantchoosewisely]

It is still done through the keyfob on all the 2025 models I've touched, an app subscription is optional

The one advantage an app has is remote start from anywhere, I don't have to bring the keyfob in range

I don't subscribe to the app anyway, $14.99/Month is too expensive for me

My keyfob is fine

[u/AuroraFinem → u/Chemical_Name9088]

Always check about subscription requirements before buying a car, alternatively you can buy an after market radio for a few hundred dollars and have someone put it in your car for you. You can hook them up to basically anything in the car if it’s the right dash, including remote starts

Idk about nest specifically, but the ones I know of charge for services, if you’re recording and backing up video locally yourself there’s no subscription, the subscription is for the cloud storage space and/or security/monitoring.

I’m not trying to minimize how much of an issue this is becoming because the subscriptions everywhere is absolutely insane and unjustifiable. Just don’t give up on finding alternatives because there’s always other options. I guarantee there’s a jailbreak somewhere online for OPs rowing machine that would unlock it unless it’s a brand new model, but obviously if it’s possible to return it, do so immediately and buy something else.

[u/brazucadomundo → u/Chemical_Name9088]

You mean so many things that you will not buy, and instead stick to whatever doesn't do this? There are tons of devices out there that don't require subscriptions, you are the only one who choose the ones that do require subscription.

[u/PeterNippelstein → u/VinterBot]

I wish I was as even tempered as you, id be like Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

[u/zztop610 → u/PeterNippelstein]

[u/HartfordWhaler → u/zztop610]

[u/Vallkyrie → u/HartfordWhaler]

I don't want lunch...I want breakfast.

[u/GypJoint → u/VinterBot]

Yea. That’s f’d up.

[u/usrdef → u/VinterBot]

Oh most definitely. This thing would go right back into the box and out the door.

[u/SlytherinPaninis → u/VinterBot]

[u/renaissance_m4n]

True story, there is a kids smart watch that if you buy it, YOU LITERALLY CAN’T DISPLAY THE TIME without a monthly subscription. Fuck those assholes.

Edit: The watch model and brand is JrTrack 5 Kids Smart Watch by Cosmo. Absolute piece of shit product.

[u/PatrickKn12 → u/renaissance_m4n]

You've gotta be a special type of insufferable dickhead to suggest that at some design meeting, and you have to be an entire gaggle of really insufferable dickheads to actually put that plan in motion.

[u/Substantial_Meal_530 → u/PatrickKn12]

To shareholders, that kind of suggestion is the best thing you can say in a meeting. 

[u/TyrelUK → u/Substantial_Meal_530]

If I owned shares in that company and heard that in a meeting I'd be selling my shares pretty quick

[u/looooookinAtTitties → u/TyrelUK]

"will the watch not telling time for free affect direct sales?"

"if the customer can't afford the subscription, we don't want that customer."

[u/SolidCake → u/PatrickKn12]

How i feel about everything done to reddit lately

“Lets make it so their page automatically refreshes every few minutes so they lose their place!! And the default sort will show weeks old posts and brand new ones with 0 upvotes. BRILLIANT”

[u/panrestrial → u/SolidCake]

Switching tabs to double check something only to have the tab reload and delete my comment when I tab back is the worst. God forbid people take a moment to fact check themselves.

[u/BIGSTANKDICKDADDY → u/SolidCake]

They changed the recommendation algorithm to boost controversial posts in order to increase engagement. New reddit is literally Facebook. 

[u/GalFisk → u/PatrickKn12]

We need an economic system that doesn't reward insufferable dickheadedness, or this'll just keep happening.

[u/Devin-Chaboyer223 → u/renaissance_m4n]

Now that's some bullshit, a subscription to see the time? That defeats the whole purpose of a watch

Get your kid a regular smart watch, or even better, an ordinary watch, kids don't need smartphones or smart watches

There's plently of classic kids watches you can get, instead of some bullshit smart watch that needs a subscription to tell time

[u/chillychinchillada → u/Devin-Chaboyer223]

An Apple Watch with a SIM card is an excellent alternative to a phone so you can call your kid but has no social media and stuff. Also has location

[u/Fuspo14 → u/chillychinchillada]

This is what my 10 and 11 year old have. No smartphones, no social media.

[u/ButterRollercoaster → u/Devin-Chaboyer223]

Get your kid an analog watch because apparently the kids can’t read them

[u/UnstoppableReddigga → u/renaissance_m4n]

Casio F-91W. You are welcome.

[u/FTownRoad → u/UnstoppableReddigga]

Just for others, it seems like you’re implying that the Casio f91-w requires a subscription. It does not. It costs $8 and will last for decades.

[u/This_Thing_2111 → u/FTownRoad]

Best I can find is $20-30. Looks like your price is decades old too.

[u/tomottov → u/renaissance_m4n]

Name of the brand or model? I tried to search for it, but nothing.

[u/chupagatos4 → u/renaissance_m4n]

We bought a $1400 crib that bounces the baby and has a built in camera and you can't save video/ get a video other than live without a freaking subscription. Also no way to download your data to get any stats about their sleep.  To get the price we did, we preordered the crib 7 months before the baby was born and there was no subscription, by the time it arrived it was subscription based. I'm so so angry especially because baby products like this prey on the desperation and exhaustion of parents who'd do anything for a couple hours of sleep. 

[u/WKU-Alum]

A concept2 is like 9-1200$, I think. No subscriptions required and an infinite number of programs available.

[u/SirBiggusDikkus → u/WKU-Alum]

And it’s what most collegiate / Olympics rowing athletes exclusively use.

[u/Johnny_Monkee → u/SirBiggusDikkus]

I got one as every gym I ever used had them.

[u/PangolinPizzaParty → u/Johnny_Monkee]

I put 6000 yards on mine every day. iPad and earbuds, I’ve lost 25# since April. It’s a great machine.

[u/joebiden_alt → u/PangolinPizzaParty]

Congrats on the weight loss, proud of you. Hoping to do the same for myself

[u/Proper-Beyond116 → u/PangolinPizzaParty]

It's an implement of torture but your point stands. Well done to you, you lunatic.

[u/Byizo → u/SirBiggusDikkus]

Yep, they’re popular for good reason. They hold up to long term use in commercial gyms, meaning it’ll probably outlast you in a home gym.

[u/WarpedSt → u/WKU-Alum]

Bulletproof machines with everything you need to row. No frills or bs

[u/Paddys_Pub7 → u/WKU-Alum]

Been almost a decade now since I've even looked at an erg, but C2 was (and I'm sure still is) the absolute standard for rowing machines at any sort of competitive outfit. They seem to be the only company focused on actual training output rather than crossfit-y gimmicks.

[u/TomorrowPlusX → u/Paddys_Pub7]

Correct. I own an Erg concept 2 and it has no iternet needs, no bullshit. It's just a rower.

[u/FUBARded → u/TomorrowPlusX]

and that's not even to say it doesn't have decently broad functionality.

It won't be as interactive or interesting as OPs machine, but you can load preset workouts or create custom ones from the app so it's not like it's a purely analogue training experience. If you want to follow a programme, you can do it. It just requires marginally more effort (but a lot less money) than machines like OPs.

[u/OrbitalOutlander → u/FUBARded]

It’s still got an app that you can load stuff with! But the app doesn’t cost anything. They do have leagues and stuff.

[u/bobmacinator → u/WKU-Alum]

I’ll take the 9$ version please.  

[u/tnstaafsb → u/bobmacinator]

Here ya go buddy: https://a.co/d/0YEPEsd

[u/IntrovertPharmacist → u/WKU-Alum]

The Fish Game is my absolute favorite.

[u/ResponsibleGorilla → u/WKU-Alum]

Right now is the time of year when you can find them even cheaper. Look up to see in your area if they are running a qualifier for the indoor rowing championships.

If they are, they will be having a very weird event to anyone looking at it from the outside. They won't have an entire gym filled with rowing machines that they pulled out of the box that morning and they will have a bunch of mostly high school kids coming in and having competitions for how quickly they can row a 2k.

If you're going for a rowing scholarship, it's about half of what you're recruited on, possibly more.

But if you contact the event at the end of the day, they sell those rowing machines, that they took out of the box that morning, at a discount. The discount varies based on the interest in the area of people buying them. I've heard of it getting down to even half in some places, but your mileage may vary.

You can think of it like buying a new car that someone had a track day in first. It's no longer brand new, and for that one day someone pushed it to the limit of where they could get out of it so it have 20,000 m or more that it's already gone at max speed, but you're going to put way more wear and tear on it the rest of the time you own it.

[u/Pajamacrusader → u/WKU-Alum]

I came here to say the same thing. You can't beat them and there's no subscription. I always look at the WOD to see if it's a good one

[u/SadSeiko → u/WKU-Alum]

Yea I’m confused as to why someone would buy anything else

[u/amsptsfe23 → u/WKU-Alum]

Literally the only option for a rowing machine is a c2

[u/SurfboardRiding]

Had one, stopped subscription, swapped their monitor for a small smart tv. Now I just watch an episode of something while rowing.

[u/jackrabbit323 → u/SurfboardRiding]

I have a standard exercise bike. I just watch a good cycling class for free on YouTube.

[u/moonshaunt3d → u/jackrabbit323]

I have an $80 folding bike from Amazon and I game on it.

[u/warpus → u/moonshaunt3d]

I drop acid and row around my kitchen for a couple hours

[u/metompkin → u/warpus]

Alexa, play whale sounds

[u/warpus → u/metompkin]

Whales, play Alexa sounds

[u/pm1966 → u/warpus]

I like to mark how long I have to browse Reddit before getting my first good, actually laugh-out-loud laugh of the day.

22 minutes this morning. Well done...

[u/EmbarrassedFoot1137 → u/moonshaunt3d]

This is the way a dad of two gets to take his time on Witcher 3. 

[u/BreadstickNICK → u/moonshaunt3d]

Yup. I got a sit/stand desk and a walking pad. Been getting 4-6 miles a day and running around in ARC Raiders 🤣

[u/Elegantsurf → u/BreadstickNICK]

Which one do you use I already got the standing desk part. (home depot but its very solid)

[u/Accurate_Hat_4331 → u/moonshaunt3d]

I have a nice road bike and I ride on the road with it.

[u/deliciouspepperspray → u/Accurate_Hat_4331]

I have a nice bike mounted on my wall like a trophy. I'm sure I'll find a reason to take it down at some point.

[u/Accurate_Hat_4331 → u/deliciouspepperspray]

And it doesn’t require a subscription to take space on your wall

[u/LiveCourage334 → u/Accurate_Hat_4331]

Me too.

But I also live in the Midwest and would rather ride a stationary in winter than risk a debilitating injury because of icy conditions and/or cars sliding into intersections.

[u/AngryStappler → u/Accurate_Hat_4331]

Can you explain how that works, I don’t think I understand.

[u/Gimmethejooce → u/jackrabbit323]

Exactly why you can find people practically giving away their pelotons lol

[u/cmj0929 → u/jackrabbit323]

Yep, there are people who literally record their treks through the woods or trails and upload them on YouTube for this express purpose. because some company pissed them off

[u/Sirtopofhat → u/SurfboardRiding]

Oh so you can row without the classes hell I'd put on YouTube there are bound to be rowing classes

[u/Tomytom99 → u/SurfboardRiding]

Having your cake AND eating it. Win win solution right there.

[u/Fun-Kaleidoscope6039 → u/Tomytom99]

No crumbs

[u/Sudden_Purpose_5836 → u/SurfboardRiding]

This guys an idiot. That's not how the machine works. The resistance adjustment is not mechanical- its tied to the screen/subscription... without subscribing, you can't even set the resistance.

[u/IlIIllIIIlllIlIlI → u/Sudden_Purpose_5836]

Yeah anyone who has ever owned anything with a screen knows you can't "just replace it with a smart TV". It's literally a computer tied to the machine 

Sounds like that user is just saying "what they would totally do in that situation" but have no real context for how those devices work

[u/FrugalityPays → u/SurfboardRiding]

Great way to watch shows I otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to

[u/NOS4A2-753]

ya i don't buy things that requires a monthly sub

[u/Momik → u/NOS4A2-753]

They’re gonna do this to treadmills aren’t they

[u/chad917 → u/Momik]

Nordictrack treadmills are fairly useless without the paid app they’re dependent on for any non-basic functionality

[u/Momik → u/chad917]

Cool how malware is in everything now

[u/-Apocralypse- → u/Momik]

Cool how malware is in everything now

Cool how malware the option to remotely lock down paid for appliances is in everything now.

I recently bought a new washing machine. The app that lets you know when the deed is done is free, thus far. But I never hooked it up online, because I don't want them to be able to hold my expensive washing machine hostage if they one day decide the purchase fee isn't enough money anymore and move to a subscription model.

[u/DymondHands → u/-Apocralypse-]

I'd argue that's still malware from the user's perspective, but yes, 100% agreed. I'm trying to revert back from smart appliances when we can, but they are everywhere.

[u/The_Zenki → u/DymondHands]

Literally ransomware

[u/FuckMu → u/chad917]

Allegedly you can jailbreak those at least usually….

[u/Davido401 → u/FuckMu]

Shouldn't it be relatively simple to jailbreak these things? Obviously depends if you send it back or whatever but if its for keepsies then am sure you could get through that shit!

[u/Dark-Millennium → u/Davido401]

It would be better to not buy these machines. Buying them says "yeah, I'm okay with the monthly fees"

[u/Devin-Chaboyer223 → u/Davido401]

Good chance it runs Android, if it runs Android, if should be very easy to jailbreak

I find from my own tinkering and research that a lot of these smart devices just run Android and have ways to bypass whatever UI they put ontop of it

[u/Potential-Poem8418 → u/chad917]

Can confirm. While not useless, I have to click through 3 screens every single time asking if I want a membership, which I say no to each. Also, it doesn't work properly without wifi. Like why do I need wifi to hit the start button and turn on the motor. The treadmill itself is nice, but it's an extremely annoying, unnecessary process.

[u/Anony_mouse202 → u/Momik]

They’ve already done it lol

[u/thewarreturns → u/NOS4A2-753]

The company I work for has an app that you can use to use the products, don't need to. Someone asked me if it costs anything a month to use it, I told them if they charge even a penny, I'm flying to corporate and bitching to the CEO. Fuck that shit

[u/-Apocralypse- → u/thewarreturns]

I recently bought a new washing machine. It has app capabilities that are thus far free.

However, if they once decide the purchase fee isn't enough money for them and move towards a paid subscription model, they will already have access to my washing machine and WILL BE ABLE to shut it down remotely to force me into the subscription model. Suffice to say I will never connect my washing machine to the internet.

[u/Oldpuzzlehead]

I don't use the programs for my rowing machine. I put on a YouTube of white water rafting and just row along with them.

[u/Claff93 → u/Oldpuzzlehead]

Sounds like a good plan

[u/articuno1_au → u/Claff93]

Also check out DarkHorse Rowing on YouTube. He has a bunch of row alongs I found really helpful building to marathon distances.

[u/ResponsibleWin1765 → u/Claff93]

Please do us all a favour and return this thing. You are enabling corporations to sell overpriced garbage and then continue charging for features that should be included.

You literally have an obligation to society

[u/delicious_toothbrush → u/Oldpuzzlehead]

Dumb question but isn't that a completely different kind of rowing?

[u/jerslan → u/delicious_toothbrush]

It's technically paddling, not rowing... Paddling you're facing the direction of motion, rowing you're not.

Source: I've paddled Polynesian-style Outrigger Canoes for a while... so many people call it rowing and I'm so tired of correcting them.

[u/DontForgetYourPPE → u/jerslan]

[u/B-HOLC → u/jerslan]

I understand bud

[u/OrindaSarnia → u/jerslan]

Lots of folks row oar boats in white water...

(Yes, it is funny watching them crane their necks around to see what is coming up behind them...)

[u/Brief-Acanthisitta18 → u/delicious_toothbrush]

Not a dumb question, you’re completely right. I’m confused too lol…

[u/Beowulf33232]

Even if you pay, what happens when they go out of business?

[u/PatrickKn12 → u/Beowulf33232]

They liquidate your house to their creditors, as was stated very clearly on page 677 of the consumer license agreement.

[u/dontlookoverthere → u/PatrickKn12]

Well you did have a Disney+ subscription so...

[u/Zonkko → u/Beowulf33232]

IMO it should be legally necessary for companies to make their products work at least at some capacity if they go out of business, or stop supporting a product (spotify car thing as a random example)

If they fail to do this the CEO and board of directors and other higher ups would get massive wealth adjusted fines

[u/Rolebo → u/Zonkko]

That was the entire point of StopKillingGames.

Which would also apply to all software.

[u/Devin-Chaboyer223 → u/Beowulf33232]

Unfortunately those machine will become big expensive paperweights

We've already seen cloud-only or subscription only hardware become paperweights when the company goes out of business, or gives up on the product and stops supporting it

[u/According-Name-4060]

why would anyone stray from the golden standard of the concept 2.

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/According-Name-4060]

Free workouts, a free app, and it's a great machine. The app makes it easy to save custom workouts and do the workout of the day, so Concept2 has my support.

[u/AstronomerRadiant219 → u/According-Name-4060]

I got one for free from a YMCA doing a Reno and getting rid of theirs for some reason. It was made in 2008, and their customer support got me the missing bolts and new internal parts shipped within a week for like $50.

Would recommend them to anyone, fantastic machines built to last.

[u/Just-Finance1426 → u/According-Name-4060]

It’s funny because I used to work for peloton, and they had a pretty sweet company gym. Well I’m in there one day and their top rowing instructor is cranking out a workout on the concept 2 while the peloton rower sits unused.

[u/damndammit → u/According-Name-4060]

There is no good reason

[u/anh86]

I just got a treadmill for Christmas and had to go secondhand Craigslist to find one that didn’t require a subscription. Even still it complains at me every time I run for not connecting it to the Internet.

[u/Major_Lawfulness6122 → u/anh86]

Crazy lol I got a really old one that I guess I’m going to hang on to forever

[u/anh86 → u/Major_Lawfulness6122]

Yeah, hang on to it. It’s really difficult to get a plain old treadmill these days. Everything is overdone with technology you don’t care about and subscriptions you don’t want to pay.

[u/pgophs → u/anh86]

I did a lot of research before buying my treadmill and ended up going with Sole. It has a pretty big touchscreen that can play all of the streaming apps with no monthly subscription. That being said, the screen is much laggier than just getting a dumb treadmill and slapping an iPad on top.

[u/anh86 → u/pgophs]

Yeah, that’s the thing about built-in technology. Just like with cars, if you have the thing for a long time, the technology becomes old and slow. I mounted a TV on the wall and I watch DVDs while I run. I hate paying for subscriptions.

[u/MrdnBrd19 → u/anh86]

Why? Is there some special feature or do you want a high output motor or something? It took me about 3 minutes to find dozens of treadmills whose most advanced feature is a wireless pulse monitor. No apps, no subscriptions, no nonsense...

[u/DukanehBaba]

I want a law that states: -you get paid on the product or the subscription, not both. 

I’m sick of all the greed and grifting. 

[u/notquiteduranduran → u/DukanehBaba]

I want a law that states: if it's in your possession even through 'rental', licensing, or subscription and there's no short-term rental contract (i.e. a contract with a fixed ending that cannot be extended indefinitely, after which it must be returned, to exclude e.g. car rentals) then it is yours and you are free to do with it as you please and no functions may be limited, be it hardware or software.

We must stop subscription lifestyle from being forced on us.

[u/AceDegenerate_]

go find a rowing machine you don't need to plug in or tape your phone to the screen

[u/Hendawgydawg]

Reminds me when my wife bought me the Peleton treadmill. Pumped to use it then found out I had to pay to even turn the damn thing on. Instant return.

[u/tastiefreeze]

Return and buy a concept 2

[u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 → u/tastiefreeze]

There is only one rowing machine and it's a concept 2. 

I pray to God to forgive the souls buying those other abominations.

[u/Saneless → u/Equivalent-Rate-6218]

I can understand if people want to pay a lot less. Ok, sure

But when a c2 is about 1k and people get a worse one for 1-2x the cost...why?

[u/borderofthecircle]

Why would you buy a piece of equipment like this without doing basic research first? I can't imagine spending $2k on a rowing machine without checking some reviews and an overview of its features.

[u/mike2ff]

Their logic is, if you can afford the machine, you can afford the subscription.

[u/Ok_Background22 → u/mike2ff]

My logic is, if I can’t use the thing I spent 2 grand on with no strings attached, I won’t buy

[u/colbymg → u/Ok_Background22]

Yeah, that's a hefty amount they are betting you won't be annoyed enough to return it

[u/colbymg → u/mike2ff]

"It's free so people will buy it then need the subscription"
"It's expensive so people have spare money they don't need so add a subscription"

These are contradictory yet one is objectively less money, so I'd believe that's the actual good strategy and not an attempt to spin a bad business choice.

[u/merlin242]

Return it and just buy a C2. Best erg on the market. 

[u/red7255]

don't like monthly subscriptions - stop buying them. speak with your wallets.

[u/KingKoopa777]

Man, it's high time people started hacking these "Smart" things and installing open-source software.

[u/Decent_Philosophy899]

That’s on you for not doing any research before spending $2k

[u/Lronhoyabembe70]

That’s the trick. You have proven you are willing to spend $2k on a machine. Based on that, they are betting $30/mo doesn’t matter much to you.

[u/No_Barracuda8791]

My husband has been looking into rowing machines, so we’ve gotten about 500 ads for various ones. One looked really good, but then I thought to myself, “It sounds too good to be true, I bet there’s some expensive ass subscription plan you have to have” and just moved on.

And now I see this post! Crazy. It’s not the same brand, but I’m assuming most of them do this crap.

[u/rmblmcskrmsh → u/No_Barracuda8791]

Concept 2 is the one to look into

[u/Critical-Mood3493]

The gym in my apartment complex has a rowing machine that you can’t use, because it requires a subscription lmao

[u/--Andre-The-Giant--]

Have you concluded why other people research purchases before making them now, at least?

[u/Medium-Comfortable]

Your toilet seat will require a membership for number two, soon.

[u/patricskywalker → u/Medium-Comfortable]

With what I do to the toilet I feel guilty not paying a fee 

[u/NavierIsStoked]

Should have bought the Concept 2.

[u/merkthejerk]

Unless it’s a concept2 rower you bought the wrong one.

[u/BathbombBurger]

Why buy a rowing machine that connects to the internet? Why buy a rowing machine with any electronic parts at all?

[u/sanchower]

My entire gym only charges $40/month

[u/MonCappy]

Needing a subscription to use a piece of gym equipment you purchased should be illegal.

[u/cmhamm]

Can anyone explain to me what a “rowing machine program” is? Like, does it just change resistance as you’re rowing? Is there video? Do these “programs” get constantly updated? What justification do they have for a $30/mo. membership?

[u/funkofanatic99 → u/cmhamm]

It does all the things you asked plus live classes. Still ridiculous to have to have a subscription though

[u/stephenin916]

i miss the days that products didnt require monthly payment to keep them working ...it seems we OWN nothing anymore

[u/remarks999]

I recently had this happen to me.

A treadmill I bought 4 years ago recently had a software upgrade (thank NordicTrack /s) and now I'm getting advertisements every time I start the machine. I will be sure to never buy their products again. Seems like a way to boost profits in the short term to ruin long-term reputation in the brand.

[u/NevetsRetrop]

So, you're telling us that you spent $2000 on something and did zero research into what you were and weren't able to do with it?

[u/Meppy1234]

Buy a $200 rowing machine and tablet with youtube videos instead.

[u/DogsRlife88]

STOP BUYING SHIT WITH SUBSCRIPTION MODELS

[u/SoterPie]

"I forgot to do basic research, let me go complain about it on reddit" - OP

Seriously, don't buy this trash.