Xbox Live Diamond now requires membership fee

by Dustin Burg { Jan 8th 2008 at 11:30AM }

If you're familiar with the Xbox Live Diamond Card program, then you know that membership in it entitles you to all kinds of deals from a bunch of online retailers as well as retailers in your neighborhood. Some offers are rather good while others are worthless, but membership into the Diamond program has been free since its launch, so we've never complained. That is until now.

Starting in March, Microsoft's program partner Passport Unlimited will be taking complete control over the Diamond program and will begin charging an annual fee. $6.95 a year to be exact. Registration is closed until the transfer is complete and current members will keep their membership free of charge until their 2008 expiration date when Passport Unlimited will require payment to renew. Honestly, the program isn't super useful and we don't see many people forking over $7 to keep access to a free Taco Johns softshell taco coupon. Then again, those tacos are mighty tasty.

[Via Gamertag Radio]

Tags: diamond, xbox-live-diamond

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Tony @ Jan 8th 2008 11:35AM

I signed up for this over a year and a half ago. I never received my card. Any time I'd try to sign in or request a new one it'd tell me I already did. I eventually just gave up... I'm not paying $7 to go through that again.

Louis @ Jan 8th 2008 11:37AM

Haha, seriously? Pay for the Diamond card. You have to be kidding me. That thing is so worthless.

DWells55 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:13AM

Agreed. Although this was a mostly worthless service, I think it's completely ridiculous that Microsoft is taking away benefits of Xbox Live Gold, especially in light of the recent troubles. For me this is really the straw that broke the camel's back and as a result I've written an open letter to Microsoft on their forums for anyone who's interested - http://forums.xbox.com/17809534/ShowPost.aspx

Lucipher @ Jan 8th 2008 11:39AM

bahhhh......whatever. i just wanted it so i could have a card with my gamer tag on it. i have never used it for the coupon aspect. i will not be paying the new $7 fee. but, i will be keeping the card.

ushman @ Jan 8th 2008 1:27PM

Thats why I wanted one too, still haven't got it tho!

Adam @ Jan 8th 2008 11:41AM

Maybe with the fee their will be better offers.

Adam @ Jan 8th 2008 11:42AM

there* fuck :(

elmersglue @ Jan 8th 2008 1:53PM

thats what i was thinking

Knight Marquise @ Jan 8th 2008 11:44AM

Hmm...have =never= used my diamond card, can't see why I'd pay anything to continue to not use it.

Neon Jebus @ Jan 8th 2008 11:44AM

Oh man, that's rich!

You have to be kidding me. Maybe they'll use the extra money to get Live up and running.

I want to sit in one of these meetings that result in decisions like this. I want to sit in one so that when I hear the suggestion be made, I can stand up, walk over to the one that said it, and smack them upside their head.

"Are you out of your ever lovin' mind you idiot!"

My Fanboy tastes are starting to sour and it isn't going to be much longer until I'm all about telling M$ to eat my backside. With syrup.

AnOffday @ Jan 8th 2008 11:50AM

I've had a card, but the offers suck. I remember one was like 10% off a home security system, and a free month of pet insurance. It's just the most retarded crap. Not too mention we already pay 50 bucks for Live. Looks like my card is going in the trash.

Paul @ Jan 8th 2008 12:07PM

yeah i know most of the offers are like that.....i remember when it first came out the only place i used it at was quiznos. they had a buy one get one free offer there for any sub. now that was a pretty good deal but then they just randomly stopped doing it. i haven't used my diamond card since then. like someone else said i wonder if the offers are going to get better since they are charging us for it now. i mean surely they have to get people to actually pay for these things.

Scott @ Jan 8th 2008 11:51AM

I'm also in the "have it never used it" club. Its even in my wallet. But what, I have to memorize everywhere on the planet that I get a 5% discount if i buy a combo meal? And now you are going to charge for this chore?
Who are the ad wizards that came up with this one?

Modeps @ Jan 8th 2008 11:52AM

I got my card, I've never used it.

andyg8180 @ Jan 8th 2008 11:53AM

gheyyyyest thing ever... i used it for 10% off a target product... but i could have found another coup anywhere else... They have some frickin nerve charging us when XBOX LIVE IS SUCKING ASS AND IM PAYING $50 A YEAR FOR IT NOT TO WORK!!!

sorry...

Neon Jebus @ Jan 8th 2008 11:53AM

Also I didn't notice but you said something about Taco Johns Dustin.

Man that was one of the best parts of being in Iowa for a week. Taco John tater tots are amazing.

Sadly I had the coupon to Carl's Jr. for a free burito. I live in Indiana, which means we have Hardee's and they don't offer mexican food. And most of the other offers were terrible and just junk.

Dustin Burg @ Jan 8th 2008 4:58PM

Potato Oles do rock, especially with nacho cheese. Yummy!

Larry not allowed to say cheevo @ Jan 8th 2008 11:55AM

Wow... really? First of all, it took me six months to receive my card, and I've never really used it. It's cool to have that little card with your gamertag on it, but membership fee? WTF? Whatever, good bye diamond card. I have to say that this development, while it doesn't really affect me, it's rather annoying. Nickels and dimes my friends.

HazyCloud @ Jan 8th 2008 11:56AM

For all those that have not used it, the diamond program offers rent one get one for movies and games at all Hollywood Video locations. That alone is worth my 7 bucks.

Neon Jebus @ Jan 8th 2008 11:59AM

I'm shocked you still have an open location near you. All the stores in my area shut down 3 months ago.

AnOffday @ Jan 8th 2008 1:15PM

Yeah. It's only a matter of time before they all shut down. I use to work there and for some reason they keep sending me letters describing their bankruptcy issues like I care.

Mighty Healthy @ Jan 8th 2008 2:01PM

Thank you very much, sir. That made the Diamond Card invaluable for me.

Of course, since the local HV closed, I'm SOL, and sure as hell wouldn't pay 7 bucks a month for a card I can't really use.

Unless there's some kind of overhaul on the deals (having less useless ones might help them get a useful one), count me out.

Darkharmony @ Jan 8th 2008 2:24PM

Never had a Hollywood Video store here. All we have is Blockbuster.

Edgar N, @ Jan 8th 2008 11:57AM

well thats the end of the diamond card!

Boff @ Jan 8th 2008 11:59AM

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: huge success.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.

Microsoft.
We do what we want because we can.
We love to rip you off
We'll milk you till you are dead.

HazyCloud @ Jan 8th 2008 12:00PM

For all those that haven't used it, the program offers rent 1 get 1 free on all movies and games at Hollywood Video. You can even combine movies and games. Hollywood also has a great selection of the Blu and Red. That right there is worth 7 bucks in my book.

animefan316 @ Jan 8th 2008 12:00PM

I got it when it first came out, never used the thing. I'm guessing its the same for a lot of Diamond Card users. I won't be paying for this thing.

Big Filth @ Jan 8th 2008 12:02PM

i like tacos!

HazyCloud @ Jan 8th 2008 12:03PM

Wow the first post took me to an "IE cannot disply the page" site. Figured it didn't go through. Sorry.

To Neon Jebus,

I hear you. I had 3 in my area but now its only 2. I do remember hearing Game Crazy/Hollywood Video was having some money issues. If Hollywood shut down coast to coast, my diamond card would not get used.

Jer @ Jan 8th 2008 12:06PM

I used it once. I printed out a coupon to get some discounted food and I got hassled for it. Why would I pay to be hassled over an Internet coupon? That card is about as useful as a poopy-flavored lollipop.

Jayslacks @ Jan 8th 2008 12:07PM

The only reason I got the card was because I thought it was cool to have my gamertag on a piece of plastic. 7 bucks a year? That is a matinee movie, mang!

HaVoC @ Jan 8th 2008 12:10PM

I got mine and pretty much threw it in the junk drawer of my desk. One of the kickers when I looked into the “deals” was that you needed to print out coupons at most of the brick and mortar stores for any kind of discount. What made it so laughable was that you could find better coupon deals in the Sunday newspaper.

Sean @ Jan 8th 2008 12:14PM

I used to use it all the time when they offered $2 off a quiznos sub, using that twice a month basically paid for my live service

teknomusik @ Jan 8th 2008 12:20PM

Lame! No way I'll be subscribing.

Michael Paul @ Jan 8th 2008 12:34PM

One of the Xbox sweepstakes last year required a Diamond card and I won a copy of "Crackdown".

That's the best deal I've gotten out of it. I occasionally print the Arbys coupon but I keep forgetting to use it.

Somehow I doubt I'll [B]pay[/B] to renew it, unless some SERIOUS benefit upgrades are included with the invoice...

HaniPIG @ Jan 8th 2008 12:45PM

I signed up right in the beginning. I used a coupon for 10% off accessories at Circuit City to get some MS points. I think I may have used the Target one too.

Best deal: Free Zune. It was from the contest this past summer. Granted I already had one but still free is good. If they did more contests and better coupons (more electronics or not "sales" that are everyday offers) I would be inclined to pay, but that will be a wait and see kind of thing.

NATO_Duke @ Jan 8th 2008 1:00PM

I have never used mine and cant see a reason to pay for it. Pretty sad that I haven't actually tried it out.

To folks saying they never got one, I just emailed MS in the past and they were very polite and mailed one out. That happened to me with my first one, and then when it expired I had to email them for a new one. Wasn't a real big deal.

jeffs3rd @ Jan 8th 2008 1:15PM

I have the card, but have never been compelled to use it anywhere. I actually forgot I had one until I read this post.

MS can stuff their $7 fee, I don't see why anyone would pay for that.

NukeAssault @ Jan 8th 2008 1:22PM

I never use mine anyway. Its just cool to have. XD

Darayz @ Jan 8th 2008 1:30PM

I've used my card several times. That 10% off all purchases at Target.com is useful in my household. Other than that, the other deals are kinda useless.

sam @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM

the 10% off target purchases and 3$ off movie tickets will pay for itself in one use. Not to mention the 15$ off a 75$ purchase from Ace Hardware..

It's really not bad guys.

Amber @ Jan 8th 2008 2:06PM

I had one because I thought it would be cool to have my username on a card. Then they took 6 months to mail it out and by then I'd changed my username. Pretty lame.

David W. @ Jan 8th 2008 2:39PM

Isn't this supposed to be one of the perks of being a Live member?...

I'm disappointed Microsoft :(

and like all the others, I've never used my card. I should use it at Target since I shop there all the time, but I always forget.

Neon Jebus @ Jan 8th 2008 4:17PM

But do you shop target.com all the time? It's only good online.

ShadowGod @ Jan 8th 2008 3:15PM

I signed up for this when it first came out, I never got anything.

ShowStopper @ Jan 8th 2008 3:24PM

Sounds like Microsoft is starting to show their true colors they must really think they have the console race in the bag.It must suck to be a Silver member,I bet soon they'll bottleneck dvd playback again so you can buy a new remote (if you don't already have one),amerpics and theme prices are going up next week.

Adorada @ Jan 8th 2008 3:27PM

Yeah, I basically got mine for the "cool" factor and I still love mine (only for it's looks, nothing else). Though, I do use my Hollywood Video R1G1 Free coupon which is literally 2 mins away from my college that I go to. Other than that, it is SO useless. I won't be renewing mine when its up in November (luckily signed up recently so mine is still good for a long time), unless it gets MAJOR revisions. GG Microsoft....