Apps App refunds - Big issue for developers?

[jimboDK]

Hi Guys,

Are you are developer or supplier of info for apps that get published onto Android market place?

If so, how much revenure do you think you are losing from refunds? A percentage would be good to know. It scares me to think that anyone could buy, copy to a sim card or similar and then cancel. Is it that simple? Or is that just scare mongering?

Either way it feels a bit soft... can you imagine Apple doing that?!

 

[28064212]

Scare-mongering. It's a lot more complicated than just copying the apk

 

[jimboDK]

OK... good to know that someone thinks it's not true. Maybe then, it's also a way of making developers up the anti on how good their apps are? Will reduce the amount of disgruntled buyers?

What does everyone think?

 

[anomaly]

I am completely new to this, now learning how to code in Java actually.

I think the refunds may actually increase gross sales. People will be more likely to try out the app and the ones who return it will probably be 90% people who wouldn't have bought in the first place if they couldn't get a refund.

 

[mvpiggott]

I have a paid app in the Android Market and have had about 18% of the sales refunded. I think anomaly is right, more people will try out your app if they know they can get a refund. If your app is good, then I think they will be more likely to keep it.

Make sure the description of your app tells users exactly what they are getting, then I think they will be more likely to keep it installed.

 

[ttaylor0024]

Either way it feels a bit soft... can you imagine Apple doing that?!

No, apple would rather delete them from the app store.

 

[markb]

Personally, I'm quite happy with the idea of refunds. I don't think of it as lost revenue, as I never had the revenue in the first place. As for people making copies, I fear that's inevitable. you can choose to turn on copy protection when you release an app, but I haven't bothered with mine. But someone will always find a way around these things. I'm hoping that people won't be so mean that they won't pay

 

[nikkix]

Scare-mongering. It's a lot more complicated than just copying the apk

actually, it IS that simple.

 

[vesperaNovus]

The refunds aren't so much as issue for me as the Market itself is. By far the chargebacks as pointed out above are completely ludicrous and could almost be considered criminal - Google may need to require that the user MUST actually try to contact the developer. Here are some other links to check out on the subject:

Android moving forward, Market left behind – Android and Me

Larva Labs - Android Market Sales, Are Those Tears or is it Raining in Here?

 

[BinaryBulge]

Hi Guys,

Are you are developer or supplier of info for apps that get published onto Android market place?

If so, how much revenure do you think you are losing from refunds? A percentage would be good to know. It scares me to think that anyone could buy, copy to a sim card or similar and then cancel. Is it that simple? Or is that just scare mongering?

Either way it feels a bit soft... can you imagine Apple doing that?!

I'm new to the market (but not Android development or the general software game), and trying to go into it with optimism.

I try to do myself a favor and not worry about it too much. As I've explained to anyone who cared to listen, you simply can't stop people from stealing software. That, and you can't ever make anyone entirely happy. As long as I don't hope for either of those problems having a solution, I feel like I'll survive this game.

I do agree that the system has some problems. We should have the ability to go from free to paid and vice versa. It's OUR apps, and we should be able to decide whether to have giveaways now and then to boost popularity.

As for charge-backs, they should definitely be limited somehow. Perhaps Google should allow us to prevent them entirely as a preference. When someone purchases our non-refundable app, they will be told plainly that it's not refundable. After that, if they hesitate, they're free to do some more research, or just move along.

I have no doubt the system will get better and better. Google is a great company and Android is a great platform.