The bottom two plans are reasonable at $19 and $24, which to me has some value but not enough to pull the trigger. The problem is what I want is the top tier, but since I have an iPhone with Google Maps, Yelp, and so much more, I just can't see the need to pull the trigger on the top plan either. I also have an older Garmin which is still usable and for $349 bucks (the cost of year of OnStar Guidance Plan) I could get a really sweet upgrade to a new Garmin with lifetime maps and traffic, and have road visuals, Turn by Turn is mostly audio with a large icon showing the direction of turn.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/2015-line/nuvi-2789lmt/prod154718.html
I fully understand the call center cost model of agent/hour. The problem is that a large portion of the the services of OnStar are fully automated or a section of what they do is, such as crash detection which brings an OnStar rep on line. and while there's a whole other discussion on minimum wages or outsourcing (some consider slave wages), It's all about what people are willing to pay for, or choose to do without.
What I don't know the the average amount that people actually use OnStar. During the first 6 months I had it free, I only used it a few times, mostly because I didn't really want to talk to someone for assistance. I'm a guy, that's pretty much typical. That lack of use is probably a good indication of usage stats of OnStar in general since it's a huge cash cow for GM. I would also imagine the monthly charge just happens for a lot of people along with the cell phone bill, XM Satellite, Cable/Dish/Internet addon after addon until people suddenly wonder where all their money went.
I'll just stick to my iPhone and Garmin and limit some of extra charges.
