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Apple's hostile App Store rating system

lapcatsoftware.com

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Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#41

Post by ezfe »

FabHK wrote: post #23
ceejayoz wrote: post #3

> Imagine if a professional writer for the tech news media submitted this app review to their editor for publication. The writer would likely be fired for incompetence. It's not an article, it's a review. Everyone knows it's some random fuckwit. > Below is a one-star review that I discovered today—App Store developers must check manually for reviews because Apple fails to send us email notifications... There's an API…

> > Indeed, if ratings requests were initiated by Apple, then Apple could go as far as to ban developer-initiated ratings requests in the App Store. > They did! It's a one-shot dialog now. No. Apple provides an API, but Apple doesn't ask for reviews. The app has to initiate the process to ask for a review (through Apple's API). That is what the developer highlights: If Apple were to solicit reviews from customers, th…

The API limits how frequently (3/year) *and* can be fully blocked by any user for all apps.

They do get banned, effectively.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#42

Post by tensor »

scottyah wrote: post #29
jurgenkesker wrote: post #6

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

The exact opposite, really. You live or die by app store ratings. Too many ratings are bogus (don't accurately describe the app's functionality, just some random feeling the user has in the moment). Either the App Store should take on more burden to ensure ratings are accurate (perhaps criteria? disincentivize false ratings?), or eliminate/downplay the system. There are already commenters proudly declaring they abuse…

The one star nag review is accurate to me. As a potential user, I know not to buy the app. I despise ads and nag screens are in the same boat.

Just because you don't like the value system of your users doesn't mean you get to call them false or fake. Good product managers LISTEN to their users. You clearly are not willing to do that, despite the now overwhelming validation of your users complaints you are receiving.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#43

Post by Grombobulous »

scottyah wrote: post #29
jurgenkesker wrote: post #6

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

The exact opposite, really. You live or die by app store ratings. Too many ratings are bogus (don't accurately describe the app's functionality, just some random feeling the user has in the moment). Either the App Store should take on more burden to ensure ratings are accurate (perhaps criteria? disincentivize false ratings?), or eliminate/downplay the system. There are already commenters proudly declaring they abuse…

Or maybe you don’t live or die by ratings.

The #140th most popular free app, StudentVUE, has an abysmal 2.1 star rating.

The app for my soundbar has a 1.8 star rating.

The app that my favorite karaoke bar uses to sign up has a 2.3 star rating.

Whether you live or die by App Store ratings depends on your chosen business model.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#44

Post by ghusto »

spacedcowboy wrote: post #2

Just because “everyone does it” doesn’t mean you get a pass to do it too. Nagging the user to “rate my app” is pure self-interest at the expense of user-experience. I rate any app that nags (ie: more than thrice) me to rate it too. OTOH if I genuinely like some software I’m happy to rate it highly. Bottom line: It’s not my job to help sell your software - that’s your job. As for trying to get Apple in on the “screw w…

Did you read the whole thing? His reasoning is difficult to dismiss as "well, you shouldn't do it anyway".

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#45

Post by ceejayoz »

schmorptron wrote: post #40

App tells customer to review it. Customer reviews the app honestly (the nag is annoying and deserves 1 star). Seems like the nag screen worked? :) (Although in seriousness, I get this point they make further down in the article: "If we don’t request ratings from all users, then the self-initiated ratings tend to be disproportionately people with a complaint rather than satisfied users. ". That's a real problem. )

There are ways to non-annoyingly ask for a review.

Wait until the user has meaningfully used the app. Don't interrupt the user mid-flow (a banner on the dashboard, a call-to-action on a piece of existing copy) with a modal. Provide a clear "never ask me" option.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#46

Post by ghusto »

jurgenkesker wrote: post #6

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

You are mistaken.

> Indie developers can’t win in the App Store. Since we’re mostly unknown to the public, we need positive App Store ratings and reviews for our apps to encourage purchases. If we don’t request ratings from all users, then the self-initiated ratings tend to be disproportionately people with a complaint rather than satisfied users

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#47

Post by ceejayoz »

protimewaster wrote: post #36
FabHK wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple does prioritise their users even above their developers, fair enough.

Are developers not users too? In my mind, people using the App Store to post apps are also users of the App Store.

I'd bet 90% of people implementing a nag screen go "ugh, a nag screen" when they're in user context on the App Store just like the rest of us.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#48

Post by ghusto »

tensor wrote: post #16
jurgenkesker wrote: post #6

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

That's my read. Both reviews seem fair to me. E.g. if translation is important to that user then maybe it's better to take a note of it rather than be angry. Also, being upset about users hating your obnoxious nag screen? hahah wow.

"This app didn't have a feature that it didn't advertise it had, ONE STAR!". Really?

He explains why the request for ratings exists in the post. I'll never review a well known brand if they pester me, but go out of my way to make time for indies (including real world shops) when they do.

Let's all be a little less entitled.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#49

Post by lapcat »

Author here. A few things to keep in mind:

1) I'm criticizing the system because crowdsourced song reviews are a very poor fit for software. Although I personally get frustrated with some dumb reviews, overall my software is highly rated and well reviewed.

2) Some of the comments are making baseless speculations about my software, without having used it. One commenter says I'm trying to "avoid being called out for making shitty and/or obnoxious software", which is easily disproven with a little investigation. Another commenter says, "This probably means you've made your support system too hard to find/use." Probably? In other words, the commenter has never used my software and doesn't know. The same comment and others mention a "nag screen", but I don't actually have a nag screen. I try to make support as easy as possible to find, and also to make the review request as unobtrustive as possible.

I wish the comments here could focus on the rating and review system, refrain from making it all about me, making it personal, which it's not. Of course I'm personally affected by the system, but so are thousands of other developers, many of whom I know feel the same way as I do.

Re: Apple's hostile App Store rating system

#50

Post by tredre3 »

scottyah wrote: post #29
jurgenkesker wrote: post #6

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

The exact opposite, really. You live or die by app store ratings. Too many ratings are bogus (don't accurately describe the app's functionality, just some random feeling the user has in the moment). Either the App Store should take on more burden to ensure ratings are accurate (perhaps criteria? disincentivize false ratings?), or eliminate/downplay the system. There are already commenters proudly declaring they abuse…

> just some random feeling the user has in the moment

That is the risk you take when you spam the user with popups begging for a review after a specific action. If the user isn't satisfied with the result or the popup disrupt their flow, they will (rightfully) be in a bad mood when they review your app.

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