Product Management’s Best Kept Secret You Didn’t Know (Hint: It will save you $$$)

Ever felt like your monthly subscriptions are slowly draining your wallet?

You’re not alone—and here’s a little-known trick that could save you serious cash.

Here’s the move: Try to cancel.
That’s it.

Sounds too simple, but it works more often than you’d think.

Take my Barron’s subscription for example. I was shelling out $29.99 a month—until I decided it was time to cut back.

The moment I hit “cancel,” I got an instant retention offer: 50% off for the next six months. I stayed subscribed for just $14.99/month and saved $90 without lifting a finger.

This isn’t a glitch. This is product management in action.

Retention product managers are laser-focused on keeping you around—especially when acquisition costs are high. They know that when you’re about to cancel, it’s their last chance to win you back. So they deploy smart, real-time offers (sometimes even personalized) to change your mind. Think of it as a digital “wait, don’t go!” that actually works.

I’ve seen this trick work with LinkedIn Premium, The New York Times, HBO Max, Spotify, and more. Some services even offer extra months for free or upgraded tiers at no extra cost.

So next time you’re debating whether to keep a subscription, try going through the cancellation flow.

Worst case? You cancel and save money.

Best case? You stay—and still save money.

And to the unsung heroes behind the scenes: God bless retention PMs.

Have you tried this hack yet? If so, what’s the best deal you’ve scored?