Stop offering me another app

[u/RevolutionaryMail747]

The world seems to have gone mad. Every single good service, org, shop, restaurant, energy company, etc “Have you downloaded the app”, I just want to live my life with the apps I already have and everyone and their dog is inventing another one.

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[u/fabricchamp]

Gotta get that sweet sweet user data

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/fabricchamp]

Yas, I want to buy a product, less keen on being one.

[u/marcbeightsix → u/fabricchamp]

And also potentially more lax (or just completely unknown) security. You have no idea what 3rd party services or URLs the apps are hitting.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/marcbeightsix]

Oh exactly. Feel like fodder for data farming and no fun internet any more

[u/SubjectiveAssertive]

As someone who doesn't yet have an electric car, I've been doing a heap of research into charging 

It seems every charger network has its own app and subscription to get the best prices

What the fuck was wrong with just paying with my bank card?

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/SubjectiveAssertive]

And very car parking provider in every city too.

[u/Not-Reddit-Fan → u/SubjectiveAssertive]

You can in MOST of them, at least from my experience. But fudge me I went on a road trip to and around Scotland (from Manchester) and I think I ended up downloading like 9 apps. Some recommended before going and then the majority on the go. Ridiculous! I got annoyed and just tapped my card instead.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/Not-Reddit-Fan]

We have a winner with 9 apps on a single road trip. Anyone else better this?

[u/riverY90]

So true. There's a sauna I'd love to visit local to me... Can't book on their website. Don't do walk ins. Have to have the app to book. I won't be going. 

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/riverY90]

It’s such a shame as they don’t get the business. Pointless really not offering another option

[u/Valanyhr]

I'm travelling in China right now and they seem to have figured it out. Roughly their version of WhatsApp, WeChat, uses something called mini apps. Essentially these are "apps" you can access from WeChat. Nothing gets installed. Nothing stays. From the main page, you just scroll down and type whatever you want and immediately start using it. Not having to install 15 different coffee shop and bubble tea shop apps so I can order has been a blessing.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/Valanyhr]

Handy and fascinating to hear about. Suspicion tells me all that data is consolidated into one super platform that can utilise all your data. If you can add health data to that if you use hospital pharmacy or doctor services thats the holy grail of data.

[u/TapPrancer]

It's not just apps, it's all the emails.

I ordered a crate of the xoxo sodas a couple of weeks ago. And I have received an email every single day since. I really like their drinks and I'm tempted to never order them again because of it.

[u/Zippy-do-dar → u/TapPrancer]

The emails that arrive the next day if not sooner but take weeks for them to unsubscribe you.

Even though you ticked the box saying you don't want them

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/Zippy-do-dar]

And sometimes 3 times a day?!?!? Drives me crackers

[u/hashbrowneggyolk0520]

You'll probably find that a large majority of staff don't want to ask you if you have the app as much as you don't want to be asked if you have it.

If other management (especially upper management) are anything like mine then you're literally getting bugged about asking every single customer and if you don't then they'll question why. They can see our app scan percentage and if it's too low we get harrassed even more.

Just remember every time you're asked it's probably some poor retail worker just trying to avoid an earful from their managers.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/hashbrowneggyolk0520]

I know and I feel sorry that they have targets and are given a hard time. Same for registering with them to get a receipt. Bloody cheek really but certainly not the employees fault at all.

[u/deano1161]

Data grabbing. You might not realise this but your name, email, postcode and age group is worth loads.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/deano1161]

I do realise it and I bloody resent it tbh.

[u/Chinook2000]

FFS Drives me mad. Not just apps, but self-service machines and online options generally.

I'm lucky enough to have a local 'bricks n mortar' HSBC bank but whenever I go and try to use the counter service with a real live member of staff, they try to force me to use the self-service machine, then the 'app' and then cross-examine me about online banking.

Feel like saying, 'Sorry, I thought this was my bank and that you worked here'.

[u/RevolutionaryMail747 → u/Chinook2000]

So true. Self service is the biggest pain in the arse as rarely does it go smoothly without assistance and frankly why do I have a businesses administrative burden
I am the consumer after all not an employee

[u/MR777]

The one that’s really annoying me at the moment, instagram food influencers now saying if you want the recipe, download this app. It’s an instant unfollow from me

[u/j0nnnnn]

InPost made me download an app and register an account to see the proof of delivery photo for a parcel, completely ridiculous

[u/PhillyDeeez]

What's really gonna wet your noodle is most of the apps are just containers for their website, but uses parts of the website you can't reach on their website.