Samsung Electronics has revamped its home-appliance subscription service two years after its launch. The company has renamed “AI Subscription Club” as “Samsung AI Subscription,” added care plans for newlyweds and seniors, and introduced a lower-priced plan. It has also launched its first subscription service for businesses, expanding beyond individual customers. Samsung Electronics announced the changes on Sept. 28.
◆ Moving support for newlyweds, phone assistance for seniors
The revamp centers on “Blue Pass,” a service in which Samsung Electronics Service engineers handle care from installation through after-sales service. The company has divided the service into two plans based on customers’ life stages.
The “Newlywed Pass” is designed for newly married couples and single-person households who may buy several appliances at once or move frequently. After a move, an engineer will check that the appliances are working properly. When a dishwasher or robot vacuum is installed or removed, an official Samsung Electronics partner will restore the cabinetry to its original condition. Customers who have difficulty making time during weekday daytime hours, such as dual-income couples, can schedule cleaning visits at night or on public holidays.
The “Easy Care Pass” is for seniors. A counselor will call regularly to advise them when consumables need replacing and explain how to use their appliances. A dedicated counseling channel for seniors will also be available.
◆ Lower-cost plan cuts subscription fees by 10% by reducing visits
Customers will have more options for how their appliances are maintained. Samsung has added “Light Visit Care” to its existing plans: free repairs, Visit Care and Self Care. The new plan lowers subscription fees by reducing the number of engineer visits or specialized service visits.
For the Bespoke AI WindFree Combo Gallery Pro air conditioner on a six-year subscription, Visit Care costs 92,000 won per month, while the Light plan costs 82,000 won. The number of professional cleaning visits will be lower. The plan will be introduced in November for subscribers to water purifiers, air purifiers, robot vacuums, Air Dressers and dishwashers.
◆ B2B subscription service launched for business customers
“B2B Samsung AI Subscription,” aimed at public institutions and businesses in the hotel, medical and financial sectors, helps reduce upfront costs when purchasing products in bulk and includes up to six years of free after-sales service. Business customers’ Blue Pass service will be handled by B2B engineers from Samsung Electronics Service and Samsung Electronics Logitech.
“Time-Scheduled Intensive Care” provides maintenance at a time chosen by the business. For example, a bank with branches nationwide can schedule service for late afternoon, after closing, so that appliances at multiple branches can be maintained at once.
“48-Hour Emergency Dispatch” provides an on-site visit within 48 business hours of an after-sales service request. The service is intended with hospitals, where hygiene is especially important, in mind. Each business location will be assigned a dedicated engineer, and the “One More Service” will provide a free inspection of one additional Samsung product during each visit.
“We will continue to innovate Blue Pass, which takes responsibility for the entire subscription process, from sales and delivery to installation and repairs, and provide a differentiated subscription experience that brings convenience to everyday life with Samsung AI appliances,” said Lim Sung-taek, vice president of Samsung Electronics Korea.
◆ Discounts of up to 20% through the end of October
The second-anniversary promotion runs through Oct. 31. Discounts of up to 20% are available at Samsung.com, Samsung Stores, and online and offline retailers including Electroland.
Customers who subscribe to eligible models will receive membership points worth up to six months of subscription fees, plus additional points worth 5% of the subscription fee, and a 5% discount on the total subscription cost.
Customers who sign up for two or more subscriptions at once can receive an additional discount of up to 5%. Those who bundle multiple products can receive points worth up to 6 million won, depending on the number of product categories. Existing customers who add a product will receive an additional discount of up to 3%, depending on the product.
The maximum upfront payment has been raised from 30% to 50%. Customers who pay 40% or 50% upfront will receive an additional 5% discount on the total subscription cost.