“Stats” now forcing subscription on early adopters

[dalton108]

I think that’s exactly what’s happening. All but the largest players and those that stick to the lower cost portions of the API will survive. Make no mistake though, those fees WILL be passed on to you so the days of just buying the app one time and done are dead, cremated and blown to sea.

I am not happy about it, but that’s the new landscape we find ourselves on.

All of this is correct. He did the exact same thing at Twitter. Instagram did the same thing to folks using their API and on and on! None of this is new.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to do this from the third-party developer end. This ain’t it!

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[dalton108]

Because you’re not getting the full picture.

That “Access” you’re complaining about that you have lost has been given a fee per use by Tesla. So each time you want to look at something it costs money. The developer would go broke paying for your access without charging a subscription. Once again, that’s not a choice by the developer, but by Tesla. Those fees are just being passed on to you.

His app is not fetching my data from Tesla about how much it cost me to charge last year. His app already has that data in it. My battery health through yesterday is not new information that I shouldn’t be able to access today.

Again, you don’t use the app, so you can’t know exactly what I’m pissed off about - but I have said “why is my historical data gone” that should’ve been a clue to you. I’ve got the full picture, you don’t.

 

[Redfire]

There’s no part of the picture that I don’t get. Why am I unable to open the app and see my historical data? What is the economic imperative of driving that? And again he already has my money (with compound interest). He couldn’t have turned it off after a week/72hrs/48hrs/24hrs?

He couldn’t have sent me an email as soon as he knew what he was going to do?

Get real!

My guess on the history and not current access is that it can’t be separated out due to how the programming of the storage was done. It’s possible that the historical information is being stored on another server somewhere, something the developer pays a monthly fee for, but it looks like the app wasn’t designed to access that data without live access to the vehicle. You’d have to build it from the ground up like that and I am guessing that wasn’t a thought at the time because whoever thought that they would start charging fees?

 

[MajorVictory]

I have used the app for years across four Tesla vehicles. I am unhappy about the bait and switch one time payment agreement and how he is implementing the change. I also note that he uses our data to provide features for the app that we are not compensated for and should be considered in this ex/change.

 

[Redfire]

His app is not fetching my data from Tesla about how much it cost me to charge last year. His app already has that data in it. My battery health through yesterday is not new information that I shouldn’t be able to access today.

Again, you don’t use the app, so you can’t know exactly what I’m pissed off about - but I have said “why is my historical data gone” that should’ve been a clue to you. I’ve got the full picture, you don’t.

Are you sure that information isn’t coming from Tesla through the app? Like I said, I am not familiar with that particular app, but I know that Tesla keeps that info and is retrievable. If I were designing it originally that’s what I would’ve done instead of hosting a DB server myself. That’s where the fees come in though.

 

[dalton108]

My guess on the history and not current access is that it can’t be separated out due to how the programming of the storage was done. It’s possible that the historical information is being stored on another server somewhere, something the developer pays a monthly fee for, but it looks like the app wasn’t designed to access that data without live access to the vehicle. You’d have to build it from the ground up like that and I am guessing that wasn’t a thought at the time because whoever thought that they would start charging fees?

Yes, I don’t know how it was built on the backend. But you know who does????

And if he could have just given me a pop-up that said that he’s very sorry but my app will cease to function in 24 hours because he can’t front the costs I would’ve been upset (if at all) with Tesla, rather than Stats.

Everybody here had notice that this was coming days ago - From Tesla. I got locked out of my app today with no notice whatsoever. Uncool!

When platforms do this, only the strong survive. Apple has done this 1 million times to people just completely apeing their ideas bringing them into in-house products and crushing folks who were filling in a need.

The number of times that this kind of thing has happened is uncountable.

I really loved stats and I recommended it regularly to anyone wanting to know more about their Tesla I don’t enjoy having been treated this way. This was a misstep, no matter what anyone says.

I have a long memory and I’m not going to support this developer again in the future.

People who are on the cusp of being rendered obsolete need to develop some humility; when you have customers you want to keep them happy.

 

[Texarado]

I’ve interacted with him a few times on Twitter in the past and he came across as humble and nice.

I think what’s stuck in my craw the most is the absolute temerity of his attitude here.

“Well, formally I was generously benevolent with you and allowed you to keep what you bargained for as an early supporter of my work. But now, things have changed and I’m gonna need you to give me more money so all deals are off.”

I understand that he’s only reacting to the economic reality created by Tesla, but you provide ample notice to people you don’t just turn their fucking app off and act like you’re doing them a favor or they’re the asshole if they don’t pay you instantly to keep using what they already bought!

????????????

?THIS?

 

[Texarado]

Of course another option still would be to pass through those costs to the end user. At least then users will know whether it’s worth their money or not. Looking at the pricing chart on Tesla’s website, seems like $4.99/mo will soon become $9.99.

Again, for me, it’s the how, not the what. Was not executed well by app developer. As a Tesla shareholder, I actually like the idea (in concept).

 

[Redfire]

Of course another option still would be to pass through those costs to the end user. At least then users will know whether it’s worth their money or not. Looking at the pricing chart on Tesla’s website, seems like $4.99/mo will soon become $9.99.

Again, for me, it’s the how, not the what. Was not executed well by app developer. As a Tesla shareholder, I actually like the idea (in concept).

So what you mean is your willing to pay a subscription for the app? Keep in mind it's not this simple because that's just for basic access. Dig deeper and you'll find that they start charging based on functionality and the amount of times the information is accessed. The cost becomes variable at a certain point bruins personal use. It's tough to bill folks beyond on that.

 

[Pops]

The pessimist in me thinks Tesla is doing this to prevent/mitigate 3rd parties from gathering FSD data that contradicts the marketing numbers they put out. They always say "this new version of FSD has 3x more miles between interventions", while the crowd sourced data shows far worse results.

By charging the number of end users will drop dramatically, and 3rd party data will be less reliable.

 

[Texarado]

So what you mean is your willing to pay a subscription for the app? Keep in mind it's not this simple because that's just for basic access. Dig deeper and you'll find that they start charging based on functionality and the amount of times the information is accessed. The cost becomes variable at a certain point bruins personal use. It's tough to bill folks beyond on that.

Not exactly. I understand your point, but for someone who uses the app periodically only, I may say it’s worth keeping the app and pay as you go. If the charges end up being too much, I can dial down use or disconnect altogether. Maybe he’s brilliant at predicting users and usage in the subscription model and $4.99 is the right price. Seems like there’s going to be lots of ping ponging of prices.

 

[Redfire]

Not exactly. I understand your point, but for someone who uses the app periodically only, I may say it’s worth keeping the app and pay as you go. If the charges end up being too much, I can dial down use or disconnect altogether. Maybe he’s brilliant at predicting users and usage in the subscription model and $4.99 is the right price. Seems like there’s going to be lots of ping ponging of prices.

Yep I agree. If I were him I'd shoot high initially.
The problem is that as you see how folks here are recoiling there will probably be many more folks that will say that the ongoing costs aren't worth it. Only time will tell, but if this thread is any indication then it does not bode well.

 

[dalton108]

Though there were a few of you trying to defend this nonsense (looking at you @Redfire) this guy has proven himself to be precisely what I suggested he was. Craven!

As my mom likes to say, “if I tell you that the moon is made of munster cheese; get your crackers!” (aka - you can take it to the bank!)

Now, after yanking lifetime away from his first supporters, he is trying to have people to buy it again for $250 and apparently locking down features - again!

PSA: Do not buy, trade or barter with this man!

 

[MajorVictory]

Don't give him your money or, perhaps more importantly, your DATA.

 

[dalton108]

I’ve been buying apps from the App Store since the day that it launched in 2008. I can count the number of negative app reviews I’ve left ON ONE HAND. I eviscerated this guy today! Let’s just say I wasn’t alone in my initial outrage. Not by a longshot!

These are just a tiny sample. And that’s before this latest news! I am incandescent! ?

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