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Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

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Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#21

Post by igorlp »

warp wrote: post #20
rgovostes wrote: post #16

Is it really that they are forcing them to implement auto-billing, or that they are forcing the trial to go through standard App Store mechanisms? Is it anti-consumer to make all subscriptions behave the same? Suppose half of apps managed their own trial period and half of them used auto-renewing App Store trials. Also worth noting it is really, really trivial to cancel an app subscription from within your Settings,…

> Also worth noting it is really, really trivial to cancel an app subscription from within your Settings, and to see much of the trial period is remaining. I think for most people it's pretty hard to find. It's not actually in Settings. You have to open the App Store, click your face, and that screen has a "Subscriptions >" menu item. I don't subscribe/purchase that much stuff on iOS, so it always takes me a while to…

You can also access subscriptions via “Settings > AppleID Banner > Subscriptions”

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#22

Post by bluesign »

itsdrewmiller wrote: post #15
kemayo wrote: post #9

Apple's approach isn't as bad as this title makes it sound. Mostly because they're aggressive communicators about subscription billing -- they send emails well in advance of any subscription renewal, telling you when you'll be billed, how much for, and giving you a link to cancel the subscription. Makes me feel this isn't them hoping you'll just forget and be billed. In fact, I'd suspect this is intended as a user-fr…

I don't think this passes the sniff test - if their trial doesn't require providing a payment method, how is Apple possibly protecting anyone?

Cause the consumer thinks app is free or one time purchase, they may even not say anything about payment, till your trial is over.

And you invested your time on a training, later surprised by the cost, but as you were invested timewise, you are more likely to pay.

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#23

Post by ascagnel_ »

igorlp wrote: post #21
warp wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also worth noting it is really, really trivial to cancel an app subscription from within your Settings, and to see much of the trial period is remaining. I think for most people it's pretty hard to find. It's not actually in Settings. You have to open the App Store, click your face, and that screen has a "Subscriptions >" menu item. I don't subscribe/purchase that much stuff on iOS, so it always takes me a while to…

You can also access subscriptions via “Settings > AppleID Banner > Subscriptions”

I think this was only added in the latest iOS release. That said, most iOS devices that can run the latest version are running some variant of v13.

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#24

Post by gardaani »

Apple has introduced an appeal process for these kind of rejections. They could challenge the guideline.

"Additionally, two changes are coming to the app review process and will be implemented this summer. First, developers will not only be able to appeal decisions about whether an app violates a given guideline of the App Store Review Guidelines, but will also have a mechanism to challenge the guideline itself."

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-reveals-new-dev...

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#25

Post by krrrh »

warp wrote: post #20
rgovostes wrote: post #16

Is it really that they are forcing them to implement auto-billing, or that they are forcing the trial to go through standard App Store mechanisms? Is it anti-consumer to make all subscriptions behave the same? Suppose half of apps managed their own trial period and half of them used auto-renewing App Store trials. Also worth noting it is really, really trivial to cancel an app subscription from within your Settings,…

> Also worth noting it is really, really trivial to cancel an app subscription from within your Settings, and to see much of the trial period is remaining. I think for most people it's pretty hard to find. It's not actually in Settings. You have to open the App Store, click your face, and that screen has a "Subscriptions >" menu item. I don't subscribe/purchase that much stuff on iOS, so it always takes me a while to…

It’s also in Settings (at least in 13.5.1, not sure when this was implemented). Tap on your name where it says “Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store” at the top of the first screen.

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#26

Post by gizmo »

kemayo wrote: post #9

Apple's approach isn't as bad as this title makes it sound. Mostly because they're aggressive communicators about subscription billing -- they send emails well in advance of any subscription renewal, telling you when you'll be billed, how much for, and giving you a link to cancel the subscription. Makes me feel this isn't them hoping you'll just forget and be billed. In fact, I'd suspect this is intended as a user-fr…

Hold up, the point of the trial is so people can try the app for free. Then, after having tried the app, users can choose to pay. Or not.

There is no issue about misleading customers here, because many apps promise features that don't work well or have other problems and the only ways for the user to figure out if an app is worth it is by (a) reading reviews and (b) trying it, and that will result in an informed decision. What's the difference between misleading users about functionality and misleading them about price? In both cases you're wasting your users' time and in both cases they'll ultimately choose not to buy.

What Apple is doing here is moving the purchase decision forward, to the point where the user knows practically nothing about the product. How can you make an informed decision if all you've seen are a couple of screenshots and some vague list of features on the App store page?

Re: Apple forcing app developers to implement auto-billing after free trial

#28

Post by mtnGoat »

berkes wrote: post #19
iandanforth wrote: post #11

The comments here read like people with Stockholm syndrome.

There certainly seems a bias for Apple in here. What I really don't understand is why Some Random Hacker feels the need to jump into a thread and defend Apple, one of the wealthiest companies in the world.

Wealth does not dictate right or wrong nor the need to defend it. Why would someone's income matter anymore then race or religion when it comes to choosing a side in a billing related conversation?
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