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Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

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Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#151
post #146

> When people buy access to a service via a subscription in an iOS app, they are essentially Apple’s customers. For privacy reasons Apple does not provide much information about them to the apps or businesses that run the apps. That means it’s hard to do customer service, address issues, or solve any problems. > “The user experience is much worse,” a marketing executive from one company told me. “When you buy with th…

As an iOS user, I do not want the publisher knowing anything about me. I'm happy to pay for the app, but I do not want to tell the publisher a single thing other than the fact that it is paid. Nothing else. I do not want to share my email, I do not want to share any form of cardholder data. I want to cancel in one tap for any subscription. I do not want to go through shitty, abusive retention flows.

Until last year it took 11 taps to cancel through iOS. Bet it’s a whole lot less if you try to cancel HBO from their website.

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#152

Dirty tricks. All the money in the world isn't enough for Apple. I wonder if Google can be said to be colluding with Apple on this.

App developers have signed a contract giving permission for Apple to do this. There is nothing illegal or dirty about this and frankly I fail to see how it is that different to bidding on competitor's search terms.

By "contract" do you mean the ToS that you can't read, can't negotiate, and have no choice but to sign as is in order to appear in the app store?

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#153

> When people buy access to a service via a subscription in an iOS app, they are essentially Apple’s customers. For privacy reasons Apple does not provide much information about them to the apps or businesses that run the apps. That means it’s hard to do customer service, address issues, or solve any problems. > “The user experience is much worse,” a marketing executive from one company told me. “When you buy with th…

>You can no longer help the customer who’s buying your product with the following requests: Refunds, credit card changes, discounts, trial extensions, hardship exceptions, comps, partial payments, non-profit discounts, educational discounts, downtime credits, tax exceptions, etc. You can’t control any of this when you charge your customers through Apple’s platform. So now you’re forced to sell a product - with your name and reputation on it - to your customers, yet you are helpless and unable to help them if they need a hand with any of the above.

From https://www.hey.com/apple/iap/

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#155
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok maybe i’m not following your question then - do you mind rephrasing and asking again?

Sure! Imagine we're talking about users searching in a way that indicates very strong intent to subscribe, like "how do I subscribe to Tinder". These users are almost certain to subscribe. There are two ways that can happen: a) They can click through to a Tinder site, where they subscribe directly. b) They can click through to the App Store, where they end up subscribing via Apple's in-app purchases. Apple gets a 30%…

So are you saying that the clearing price for the ad inventory they’re competing over is $27? (If so I’ll explain why that’s not the case)

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#156
post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an iOS user, I do not want the publisher knowing anything about me. I'm happy to pay for the app, but I do not want to tell the publisher a single thing other than the fact that it is paid. Nothing else. I do not want to share my email, I do not want to share any form of cardholder data. I want to cancel in one tap for any subscription. I do not want to go through shitty, abusive retention flows.

Until last year it took 11 taps to cancel through iOS. Bet it’s a whole lot less if you try to cancel HBO from their website.

It’s an infinite number of taps to cancel nytimes though. I guess Apple subscription is an equalizer, they all become somewhat horrible.

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#157
post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an iOS user, I do not want the publisher knowing anything about me. I'm happy to pay for the app, but I do not want to tell the publisher a single thing other than the fact that it is paid. Nothing else. I do not want to share my email, I do not want to share any form of cardholder data. I want to cancel in one tap for any subscription. I do not want to go through shitty, abusive retention flows.

Until last year it took 11 taps to cancel through iOS. Bet it’s a whole lot less if you try to cancel HBO from their website.

This is a very odd comparison. You’re comparing a past workflow for one service against an existing workflow for an entirely separate service, but only speculating on whether it is actually less.

It’s currently 6 taps to cancel a single subscription in Apple and 2 taps extra for each service you want to cancel right after. I love knowing that I don’t have to figure out what magical incantation I have to do to cancel any/every service I sign up for.

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#158

> When people buy access to a service via a subscription in an iOS app, they are essentially Apple’s customers. For privacy reasons Apple does not provide much information about them to the apps or businesses that run the apps. That means it’s hard to do customer service, address issues, or solve any problems. > “The user experience is much worse,” a marketing executive from one company told me. “When you buy with th…

Mobile app operator here - let me clarify some things: 1. Until June it was impossible for a developer to issue a refund to an angry customer - Apple simply did not allow developers to do that, despite the app store being around for 13 years. This has led to untold frustration among developers - angry customers email us, leave horrible reviews, leave screeds on social media about how we “won’t” refund them, when in a…

> Apple doesn’t allow subscriptions priced at less than $0.99. Why not? What if I had a product that i wanted to sell for $0.50 a month?

I’d pay $0.50 more.

I just had the unpleasant experience of canceling a non-Apple controlled service. It sucked. Pages and pages of “are you sure you want to cancel” dark patterns.

You guys did this to yourselves with absolutely shitty customer experience. Could not care less if Apple makes things harder for you. Do not care if I pay more.

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#159
post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an iOS user, I do not want the publisher knowing anything about me. I'm happy to pay for the app, but I do not want to tell the publisher a single thing other than the fact that it is paid. Nothing else. I do not want to share my email, I do not want to share any form of cardholder data. I want to cancel in one tap for any subscription. I do not want to go through shitty, abusive retention flows.

Until last year it took 11 taps to cancel through iOS. Bet it’s a whole lot less if you try to cancel HBO from their website.

When I say cancel in one tap, what I mean is I have a list of every subscription I am holding, and I pick that one and it goes.

I do not want any kind of retention, I do not want to be messaged in any way, just stop renewal. I do not want to call in, live chat, give a reason, etc.

Re: Apple buying Google ads for high-value subscription apps

#160
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure! Imagine we're talking about users searching in a way that indicates very strong intent to subscribe, like "how do I subscribe to Tinder". These users are almost certain to subscribe. There are two ways that can happen: a) They can click through to a Tinder site, where they subscribe directly. b) They can click through to the App Store, where they end up subscribing via Apple's in-app purchases. Apple gets a 30%…

So are you saying that the clearing price for the ad inventory they’re competing over is $27? (If so I’ll explain why that’s not the case)

Yes: I would expect them each to be willing to bid up to $27
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