Topic: WU ending free subscriptions for PWS contributors?!?!?

[vreihen]

From the latest WU iOS "Storm" app a few minutes ago:



Notice that today is March 4th, and they are claiming that my ad-free time on my account ends on February 26th (of next year)...and how this date in 2017 was about when they announced the elimination of several other services.

I never paid attention to the frequency of WU updating free memberships in the past, but I certainly hope that this isn't a sign of things to come because I'll certainly be telling them where to shove their gold star if they do start charging PWS contributors for an ad-free experience!!!!!

[vreihen]

Oh, it also points out that I was apparently paying member #432.  Anyone have a lower number?????

[Jáchym]

Proves my theory of WU's slow death...

[ALITTLEweird1]

I Can't find that info anywhere on wu website.

[Fox_Of_The_Wind]

from the settings menu of my WU app it says that my ads free will expire on dec 9 2017. I just thought when that time comes I will just get rid of the app on my phone. I don't use it much anyway. its on there because of the no ads

[chief-david]

on my account on WU computer

[miraculon]

Does this apply just to the referenced "app" or is it for the entire site? I may do with WU what I did with AWEKAS if they pull this for the normal web site. I may go "WU Free" (with a nod to Cutty).....



Greg H.

[Jáchym]

Or just use AdBlock, I have been using it for over 3 yrs now and surfing the internet on a computer where it is not installed is always such a shock...

I understand ads are a source of income for the websites and I have several exceptions added to my AdBlock, so if I want to support a site, I make an exception for it and I see the ads (and just ignore them...). But when there is flashing banners all over the place, or even worse, popups, automatically playing videos etc. I block everything.

However, in this case I would probably stop sending data to WU too, Adblock solves the ad issue, but what they do and where that site is heading is not something I want to support. (though unfortunately some people still like it, some of them being Meteotemplate users so I have to work with that page even if I dont want to send data myself)

[vreihen]

Does this apply just to the referenced "app" or is it for the entire site? I may do with WU what I did with AWEKAS if they pull this for the normal web site.

I did a little bit of digging, and think that I figured out what is going on after reading recent reviews in the app store.  WU purchased this app from another company a few years back, and the app was selling ad-free subscriptions through Apple's in-app purchases and not WU.  They discontinued the *in-app* ad-free sales for this app with an update at the end of February, and apparently added WU logins (that I don't recall being supported in the past) as the only option to remove ads.  (I imagine that Apple takes a hefty chunk of the subscription revenue for processing the payments, which is why they changed over to their own subscription system without a clear explanation to the users.)

Anyway, since my WU account expiration date is not unusual in being less than a year, I'm going to lock this thread and apologize for the sky not falling.....