thedba

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thedba
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  • Apple is letting Tesla skip millions of dollars in App Store fees

    thedbathedba
    dave2012 said:
    thedba said:

    As for the alert where Apple directs the customer to alternate payment methods via the DEV's website, that's old news. 
    It was an issue and I think one of devs was Netflix at the time, where they wanted to put a message with a hyperlink in the description of the app in the App Store and Apple clearly said "NO". 
    Oh, that doesn't sound good if Apple doesn't alert us, it sounds like they're trying to keep us in the dark about alternative payment methods and then exploit our ignorance. I don't like companies that play those sort of tricks on their own customers.
    Well then you’d have to tell me which company/distributor alerts its customers that the same product they’re selling can be purchased elsewhere for less.

    Does your grocery store advertise that “Tide laundry detergent” can be purchased at the Walmart down the road, for $2 less?
    Does Microsoft advertise on their site, that a Windows or Office license can be purchased from a reseller for much less?  https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/06/27/pick-up-a-standalone-microsoft-office-license-for-mac-or-pc-for-only-2999

    Pretty standard across the industry, I say.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Apple is letting Tesla skip millions of dollars in App Store fees

    thedbathedba
    dave2012 said:
    thedba said:

    Take a look at Reply #10 from "yours truly" as to why Apple may take a cut of 15% or 30% from in app purchases or subscriptions. 
    Could that "overhead" be lower? A separate debate I guess. 


    Thanks, sorry, yes you've answered already! So it's a processing fee. Well then, 15% or 30% sounds way to high for that - it sounds like Apple are exploiting us. Maybe it would be a good idea if Apple were forced to show an alert that it may be cheaper for us to go directly to the developer's website.
    I wouldn't take my word for it but I'm pretty sure that "processing fee" as you put is part of the reason. There may be other reasons and yes, one of them could be "greed". 
    Either way I haven't looked deeply into Apple's financial reports to answer with any kind of authority. 

    As for the alert where Apple directs the customer to alternate payment methods via the DEV's website, that's old news. 
    It was an issue and I think one of devs was Netflix at the time, where they wanted to put a message with a hyperlink in the description of the app in the App Store and Apple clearly said "NO". To my knowledge this isn't an issue any longer and like I mentioned Microsoft, Netflix, Adobe cloud I think, only have subscriptions to their services through their webpages. Apple gets, you guessed it, $0.00.  And no Apple will not give them free advertising in the app store dangling a free hyperlink to the customer.  
    watto_cobra

  • Apple is letting Tesla skip millions of dollars in App Store fees

    thedbathedba
    dave2012 said:
    thedba said:

    01. There are no ongoing fees for apps that charge an upfront price and then you own it. The game "Monument Valley" comes to mind. I bought it and now I own it. I can redownload it with no additional fees if I replace my iPhone. 
    Subscription apps are different (Disney+, DAZN etc.)  They constantly churn out new content and that "content" has a cost ($9.99/month $19.99/month or a yearly $149/year to name but a few examples). 
    So from what you're saying the App Store IS like a 'normal' store. So when rob53 says:

              'It appears that people don’t think computer-type things, including app stores, should have to follow what “normal” stores have to follow.'

    Then the 'people' he's actually referring to are people at Apple who think this entitles Apple to mark up in-app subscription fees? So these Apple people don't seem to realise there's no connection between where you buy an app and the consequential future payments. No connection I can see, anyway.  

    And from what Kurai_kage says there are two different ways to pay these subscription fees:

           1. on the web
           2. in the app

    If someone chooses to pay in the app then presumably Apple is actually charging a processing fee? In which case 30% or 15% sounds too high to me. This suggests to me that Apple is using its monopolistic position to profiteer.  Can't say I particularly understand it though!

    Take a look at Reply #10 from "yours truly" as to why Apple may take a cut of 15% or 30% from in app purchases or subscriptions. 
    Could that "overhead" be lower? A separate debate I guess. 

    Some bigger app developers do require you to subscribe via the web for their services (Netfllx, Microsoft come to mind) and Apple gets $0 dollars from the customer.
    Others OTOH (Disney+, Hole19 a golf app) are willing to let you go through the app store and Apple's cut and if those apps are popular, then Apple gets even less percentage wise. 
    There's no right or wrong here and like I explained before, it's not like Apple is just sitting back and collecting. They do offer additional services to both the app developer and ease of use to the customer. 
    thtwilliamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Apple is letting Tesla skip millions of dollars in App Store fees

    thedbathedba
    dave2012 said:
    rob53 said:
    It appears that people don’t think computer-type things, including app stores, should have to follow what “normal” stores have to follow. 
    This confuses me! Two questions:
    1. If the App Store was like a 'normal' store then once you've bought an app you wouldn't have any subsequent payments - so why are there ongoing fees?
    2. Why does this happen on IOS but not on Mac OS?

    01. There are no ongoing fees for apps that charge an upfront price and then you own it. The game "Monument Valley" comes to mind. I bought it and now I own it. I can redownload it with no additional fees if I replace my iPhone. 
    Subscription apps are different (Disney+, DAZN etc.)  They constantly churn out new content and that "content" has a cost ($9.99/month $19.99/month or a yearly $149/year to name but a few examples).  

    02. It happens in MacOS, iOS, tvOS etc. Only difference, in MacOS you are allowed to go to outside sources (not the App Store) for your apps. Many Devs have decided to bypass the Mac app store entirely. It works because it's always been like that on that platform. 
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Apple is letting Tesla skip millions of dollars in App Store fees

    thedbathedba
    freeassociate2 said:
    People really need to stop having shit-fits over Apple’s mark-up. EVERY vendor does it (and the entire supply chain gets their pound), some in the hundreds or thousands of percent.

    It’s as if folks don’t understand that’s how they get paid. And the ones that do, don’t think of it as graft.

    PS - STOP SAYING TAX. Look up the meaning of the word before you abuse it. Apple is not a governmental organization, full stop. 
    You're correct. Very few understand Apple's role in the app store and the 30% or 15% overhead they charge.
    Many think that a dev who sells through the app store, did all the work and all Apple has to do is sit back and collect.
    Well, NO!
    Apple's system collects the money from the customer, whether it's a one time purchase or recurring fees (like Disney or Paramount subscriptions) and Apple's systems then distribute the money out to the Devs while keeping their 15 or 30%. But Apple is also responsible for charging the customer any state/provincial/federal taxes and then sending that money back to the appropriate government. The adjustments made to those systems and ensuring that these exchanges all go smoothly are all on Apple's shoulders.
    One can always argue whether 15 or 30% is too much but like others have said, that pretty much is the norm in the industry. 
    As for the article, my feeling here is that Tesla Motors are exploiting a loophole, one that Apple may be willing to live with for the time being. 

    dewmestompywilliamlondonAlex_VFileMakerFellerjony0watto_cobra