14 Obsolete Services You Forgot You Used to Pay For
These old services used to cost money, but now they are mostly gone or free.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
There was a time when people paid for things like DVD rentals, landlines, and printed maps. These services were once normal, but now feel outdated or unnecessary. Most have been replaced by modern technology. This list looks back at 14 services we used to pay for but no longer do.
1. Dial‑Up Internet Subscriptions
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Using the internet used to mean dialing a number and waiting for a connection. It was slow, and people paid by the minute or hour. Today, fast internet is always on and much cheaper.
2. Cable TV Tiered Packages
Yiğit KARAALİOĞLU on Pexels
People used to pay a lot for cable bundles they barely watched. Channels were grouped into packages, so you had to pay extra for the ones you liked. Streaming has replaced most of that now.
3. Blockbuster and DVD Rental Stores
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Renting DVDs or VHS tapes was once the main way to watch movies at home. Late fees were common if you forgot to return them. Now, we just stream everything online.
4. Landline Phone Plans
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Almost every home had a landline phone, and the bill came every month. Long-distance calls were expensive and often limited. Today, most people just use their mobile phones.
5. Print Maps & Atlas Subscriptions
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People used to buy paper maps and atlases every year. They needed updates because roads and routes changed. Now, we just use GPS apps that update automatically.
6. Magazine & Post‑Paid Newspapers
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Subscriptions to magazines and newspapers were very common. People looked forward to reading the latest issue in the mail. Today, most people read the news online for free.
7. Film-Processing Lab Services
Francisco Gonzalez on Unsplash
Taking pictures used to mean dropping off film at a store. You had to wait days to see your photos. Now we take digital pictures and see them instantly.
8. Pager/Beeper Subscriptions
User:Wiki-observer on Wikimedia Commons
Many people had pagers before cell phones became popular. You paid for a monthly service to get messages. Now smartphones do that and much more.
9. Rolodex / Directory Update Services
Poolcode on Wikimedia Commons
Businesses once used Rolodexes to organize contacts. They paid to update the cards with new info. Now, everything is digital and synced automatically.
10. In-Car Navigation Device Subscriptions
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Cars used to need paid updates for their built-in GPS systems. It was common to pay yearly for new maps. Today, apps like Google Maps update for free.
11. Wake-Up Call/Hospitality Messaging
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Hotels used to offer paid wake-up calls or message services. People depended on them while traveling. Now, we just use alarms on our phones.
12. Prepaid Fax or Calling Cards
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Fax and calling cards were used for long-distance communication. They were sold in stores and had limits. Now, calls and emails are easier and cheaper.
13. Fax-on-Demand Bulletin Subscriptions
Tumi-1983 on Wikimedia Commons
Some companies sent daily updates by fax. You had to pay to get news or stock reports. Now, we get those by email or apps instead.
14. MP3 Subscription / Download Club Fees
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MP3 clubs let you download songs for a fee each month. Some even mailed CDs to your door. Streaming music services have now replaced them.