Add this to the long list of how the App Store doesn't serve the needs of application producers are their customers, and because the needs of these very important members of the app ecosystem aren't being served it really isn't serving Apple as well as it could either.
When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
201–210 of 583 posts
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#202Earlier quoted context omitted.
Anti-monopoly legislation seems like a good starting place. Game console app stores are, at least in my opinion, equally exploitative, but Apple is one of the most problematic publishers out there. Being able to run whatever software you want on general purpose hardware isn't what this is about (although you should be able to, as the FSF has been saying for years). It's that Apple can't monopolise the market like thi…
Apple has a monopoly on designing the features of it's products and on deciding who they do business with and on what terms, that's all. What other monopoly do they have? Youre not actually answering my questions. Exactly what features should Apple, Samsung, Pinephone, etc be required to implement? How should we decide what products these new requirements should apply to? Who gets to specify those features and certif…
I'm not a legislator, but I'd like to be able to run an app store of my choosing. I'd like to be able to use my general purpose computing device as a general purpose computer, instead of Apple's business connections deciding who I get to do business with. So far as not implementing features, if the bare tech were exposed, I'm sure people would be very happy to implement it outside of Apple. Just because they perpetuate the platform doesn't mean they should control how I use it. As to implementation (i.e. enforcement), that's just whataboutism because the government is more than capable of regulation.
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#203A Statement of Tim Cook for the House of Representatives claimed that "For the vast majority of apps on the App Store , developers keep 100% of the money they make." [1] How can this be even remotely true if Apple takes a 30% commission for every sale in the App Store? [1] https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU05/20200729/110883/HHRG...
Two options:
1) Free apps with advertisements. Paid apps are by far the minority.
2) I guess this statement is related to subscription models like spotify. If you acquire the user outside of the apple ecosystem and they subscribe on your own website and then download your free app from the app store, you get to keep 100% on the revenue that the user generates as well.
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
correct, there is a huge difference between taking 3% and 30% one is the cost of doing business, the other is predatory
You aren’t required to sell apps for Apple platforms. Has anyone even looked at what it takes to make and sell console games? Do you know how much manufacturers earn on products sold in grocery stores? Far less than 50% of the retail price. When distributors are involved, it’s even less. The company that makes a bar of soap might get paid $1, the distributor gets $1 and the retailer sells it for $3 and has the right…
Retail is crazy miserable for the person actually MAKING the product.
Getting INTO stores is hard. The store can dump product back onto you - so they have no risk. The price on shelf has NOTHING to do with what you get, if you are small you are already going through some intermediaries. Ie, person making product, packing, shipping to distributor (some make you pay cost to get it to them), then distribution costs then retailer markups then return handling yadda yadda. THEN retailers will ask you to run promos and give them discounts or they will drop you.
3%? EVERYONE would pay that. In retail I'd say person making product gets maybe 20%? 80% is taken by others?
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#205A Statement of Tim Cook for the House of Representatives claimed that "For the vast majority of apps on the App Store , developers keep 100% of the money they make." [1] How can this be even remotely true if Apple takes a 30% commission for every sale in the App Store? [1] https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU05/20200729/110883/HHRG...
Perhaps he means that they keep 100% of their 70% ;)
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#206A Statement of Tim Cook for the House of Representatives claimed that "For the vast majority of apps on the App Store , developers keep 100% of the money they make." [1] How can this be even remotely true if Apple takes a 30% commission for every sale in the App Store? [1] https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU05/20200729/110883/HHRG...
Apple doesn't take a cut of your advertising revenue, and most apps are ad-supported rather than paid.
That's why it's true.
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#207[dead]
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#208Had a look and it seems that Google do refund the transaction fee, which I think adds weight to the argument that is unfair behaviour by Apple: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... "Google will return the transaction fee to you. You'll see the returned transaction fee on your next earnings report."
On the Play Store there is a two hour window after purchasing apps where you can simply return to the store and refund your purchase yourself as the 'buy' button temporarily turns into a 'cancel purchase' button. This feels like the future to me, not some regressive scheme where refunds are discouraged and 'taxed'.
Absolutely – I don't want to feel bad for the developers of apps I return either. Sometimes the app just isn't very good, or doesn't do what I thought it would. I shouldn't have to feel guilty about returning it.
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've never heard of any jurisdiction where unconditional refunds are required. A lot do require refunds if the product is faulty but that's different.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/gua... > In the EU you have the right to return purchases made online or through other types of distance selling, such as by phone, mail order or from a door-to-door salesperson, within 14 days for a full refund. You can do so for any reason – even if you simply changed your mind. There is a potential exemption for digital content "if you have already started d…
> Apple does not appear to have its customers agree to that
Actually, with an EU iTunes account, you have an additional popup dialog you have to agree to with every in-app purchase where you have to agree that it does not qualify for the exemption.
Re: When a customer refunds your paid app, Apple refunds its 30% cut [edited]
#210I don't understand something here.. let's say I sold an app to someone for $100. 1. Someone pays me $100. 2. Apple takes 30%, so I only get $70. 3. Customer asks for refund and gets back $100. 4. Apple takes back the $70 from me. If Apple was skimming 30% off from the start, how does that affect me during a refund?
I would guess what happens is actual money does not change hands when a purchase is made. Instead, Apple keeps records of what it owes each developer, and at some later date (likely monthly), it makes one big payment to the developer. Thus at purchase time, Apple enters +$70 in the records it keeps of what it owes a developer. And at refund time, it enters -$100. So the net effect of a purchase and then refund is +$7…
OK, this helped me understand things better. If true, I'm surprised we're just hearing about this now.