PandoDaily:
Apple has a serious problem on their hands, and it is one they need to fix it as soon as possible. This is an issue that Apple’s biggest ally – iOS developers – are complaining about, one that hurts the user, and one that could end up damaging the iOS ecosystem more than any set of labor issues ever could.
The issue we are facing, is the proliferation of scamming apps. Apple needs to take better care of its walled garden.
The problem could easily be solved if there was a 7-day refund period (leave the implementation details to Apple).
The side benefit is developers of GOOD apps could raise their prices, while developers of weak apps would go out of business. The current ecosystem requires low-priced apps–I may be willing to spend $10 on a photo app but since I can’t try them out they all need to be $2-3 each, so I can buy 3-5 of them, decide which is best, and “throw away” the others. And the great apps make about the same amount of money as the weak ones. With a refund period, I could safely buy 5 $10 apps and return the 4 that didn’t suit me. The best app developer profits greatly, the mid-tier guys do okay, and the lame apps eventually disappear.
No, solution to these scam apps is the the thing developers have been clamoring for since day one of the iOS App Store: trials. The problem with refund periods is processing the refunds. Why not let users try apps in a system that has worked great for 20+ years? Its actually pretty dumb its taken Apple this long to implement this.
There are solutions already in the store for allowing Lite apps etc. Developers choose not to use them. That is not Apple’s issue and customers need to be griping at the developers.