Stuff They Don't Want You To Know The End of Ownership
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May 1, 2026 They unpack the surge of subscriptions overtaking traditional ownership. They explore how devices and software can be stripped from owners and how companies design recurring revenue. They trace subscription history and Amazon’s expanding bundle. They consider dystopian and neo-feudal risks, plus signs of subscription fatigue and practical ways to push back.
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Subscriptions Replace Revenue Volatility With Predictability
- Companies favor subscriptions because they provide predictable, recurring revenue and reduce sales volatility.
- Hosts explain forecasting drives firms to convert one-time purchases into ongoing services for stability.
BMW Tried Charging Monthly For Preinstalled Heated Seats
- BMW attempted to lock already-installed heated seats behind an $18/month subscription causing backlash and a reversal.
- Hosts use BMW and Tesla examples to show automakers turning built-in car features into paywalled services.
WEF Vision Of A City Where You Own Nothing
- The World Economic Forum piece envisioned a sharing/subscription city where nobody owns much and services are delivered on demand.
- Ben reads Ida Auken's 2030 imagining where living rooms become rentable workspaces and many goods are provided as services.