OnStar Offer
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 762
Likes: 125
From: Houston TX
OnStar Offer
Just got an "Special Savings Offer" email from OnStar:
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
Just got an "Special Savings Offer" email from OnStar:
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 66
From: . Wyoming .
I don't talk on the phone in my car, so they are useless to me at any price.
Definitely do not give your credit card number to OnStar or Sirus/XM. There are countless threads about this here and on the C6 forum.
Definitely do not give your credit card number to OnStar or Sirus/XM. There are countless threads about this here and on the C6 forum.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 402
Likes: 47
From: Los Angeles California
I have so many OnStar minutes and I will most likely never use them. I do believe in the OnStar crash notification services though. They sent help when my wife was in an accident and badly shattered her wrist. She couldn't call for help and was dazed in the accident. Within minutes Police, Fire and EMS were there getting her out of the car. After that incident, I vowed to NEVER own a car without OnStar. It's cheap insurance knowing my wife and kids are safe and help is never far away.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,321
Likes: 3,920
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
I wouldn't "buy" them if it was free. Why do you need cell phone minutes from OnStar if you have a cell phone? Their claims about those minutes is a borderline scam.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,321
Likes: 3,920
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,361
From: Chirper Island
You buy it hoping you'll never need it, but it sure comes in handy if you do. I have been known to leave w/o my phone, and for sure have driven through areas w/o cell coverage.
It's a risk-reward situation if you ask me. Everyone who has this car makes this decision, whether they realize it or not.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 762
Likes: 125
From: Houston TX
Can someone pls clarify that once I'm out of T-Mobile cell phone coverage area, the On-Star minutes uses satellite signal, thus ensuring that in emergencies, we still have cell phone signal via OnStar's satellite?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 549
Likes: 41
From: Kansas City MO
OnStar through 2014 models use Verizon 3G for voice calling. Most 2015 OnStar models use AT&T 4G LTE. I doubt that OnStar uses any satellite phone service. You may be confusing that with OnStar's utilization of GPS for locating the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
The OnStar cellular is able to pick up signals much better than any cellphone.
I purchased minutes because you just never know if you leave your cellphone behind, lose your cellphone or break it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,800
Likes: 2,422
From: DFW/Long Island
I've never heard that claim. They do say that the antenna is stronger in the car than on your phone, so in an area with very weak signal, the car might pick up a weak signal better than your phone.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
300 minutes at 9.99 is 3.3c / minute.
On a "double minute" plan, tracphone (my carrier) is
about 6c / minute.
Tracphone works out to average about 10/month
To that end, either route is cheaper than 39.99+ /month for "normal" cell service. (which I can't justify b/c of how little I use the phone)
That said, having cell time in the car can be convenient, as others have stated, regardless of carrier, you can have dead phone battery, left it at home, whatever.
Be aware once the free trial period ends, Onstar will require you have the basic safe/secure plan for 19 and change, plus the cost of minutes.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 762
Likes: 125
From: Houston TX
Thanks for the responses.
Yes, my T-Mobile signal sucks, esp inside car with tinted windows. That's why I'm looking into this.
I don't plan to continue with OnStar plan after the initial free trial period.
So will those leftover minutes go away also?
Yes, my T-Mobile signal sucks, esp inside car with tinted windows. That's why I'm looking into this.
I don't plan to continue with OnStar plan after the initial free trial period.
So will those leftover minutes go away also?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 67
From: Cumming GA
They are a use or lose deal.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
Nobody was talking about the regular rates Onstar charges for minutes. It also does work where your cell phone does not as I had it happen to me many a time where I was in a dead cell area but Onstar worked every time with no drops. Onstar's cell phone uses a 3 watt transmitter where I think a hand held cell phone pushes 1-1.5 watts, could be the difference right there.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Just got an "Special Savings Offer" email from OnStar:
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
"Buy 60 Hands-Free Calling minutes for only $4.99, or get 300 minutes for $9.99..."
I already declined once before, upon initial setup with OnStar when leaving the dealership. I was hesitant about giving my credit card number also.
I carry my smart cell phone with me 99.9% of the time.
So what are these hands-free calling minutes for?
& are they worth it?
Bill
