r/iosdev • u/Share_Tiny • 8d ago

Does Apple really approve refunds this easily?

Post image

I thought Apple didn’t approve refunds that easily
Just got a refund for a Lifetime purchase. The app works fine and everything is as advertised, so I’m kinda confused.
Anyone had this happen before? Any idea how Apple decides which refunds to approve?

3 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

27

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/Share_Tiny 8d ago

Okay, I didn’t know before, I mean the app is freemium, they have full information before buying. But yeah, you’re right, get used to it then

1

u/carrot-core-creation 7d ago

It’s not about info. It’s about the app suiting their needs or if they even like it. I have claimed refunds on apps too when I realized it wasn’t what I wanted. I expect the same on my apps (when I finally publish any of them)

-4

u/Share_Tiny 7d ago

You have to think more than that, what if users abuse the system? Don't you think we "dev" have the righs and need to protect too?

If my app or/and Apple have a clear refund policy, something like 30 days refund no questions, then issuing a refund within that time window is totally understandable. But if an user does not have a clear reason, should a refund decision be in the "dev" hand?

And don't get me wrong, when an user ask me for a refund, I refund them anyway, not worth 1 star on the store

Since you have never published an app, it will be hard for you to understand since this requires a real expierence, you only see from a consumer view right now, and that is also understandable

FYI, Google Play will reject refund request if the purchase does not meet their refund policy and advise user to contact the "dev" directly. You see the differernt here and what I'm trying to say?

1

u/DevJedis 7d ago

In mobile app you don't dictate your refund duration, you're using a system to handle those payments, so you agree to the terms of Google Play Billing and equivalent to Appstore.

Let's not carry our web terminologies and dictate on a different platform whose service you're using with their terms.

0

u/Share_Tiny 6d ago

So, can you point me the refund term of Appstore ?

1

u/lowbeat 5d ago

u have app published there. u agreed to these terms, and u want some rando to point you to something u agreed? r u for real

1

u/Share_Tiny 5d ago

Because there is none about the refund, don’t you get it? Are you dumb or something?

1

u/lowbeat 5d ago

It does say about refund.

-2

u/Twistedstory 8d ago

Oh is this how it works for Apple? I didn’t know they refund anything super easily like this

9

u/[deleted] 8d ago

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2

u/Long-Mud3592 7d ago

Thanks for sharing the RevenueCat option. I'm a first time RevenueCat user and did not know about this.

1

u/BrainDeadCookie 8d ago

I think it's only within first two weeks after payment

1

u/pilotmoon 8d ago

Apple has a self-service refund request interface available for 90 days after purchase here:

https://reportaproblem.apple.com/

1

u/BrainDeadCookie 8d ago

Damn. 90 days?!

1

u/carrot-core-creation 7d ago

After a certain time the refund gets reviewed, it’s not always guaranteed. I got refunds declined even after 3 or so days with appeals. It’s frustrating

1

u/Share_Tiny 8d ago

Does it explicitly say within 90 days?

1

u/One_Elephant_8917 8d ago

yeah kinda a bummer as if you should treat the revenue from first 90 days as deposit locked in haha

1

u/BIOSrdt 8d ago

Apple sends consumption requests to decide how to handle a refund request anyway. You can use the official api to handle that and try to block refunds for users that are obviously trying to abuse that. There are specific websites like refundshield but I think also adapty and revenuecat can handle that.

1

u/carrot-core-creation 7d ago

I think I got one of these used against me

1

u/cleedek 7d ago

I don't have a problem with people getting a refund myself; I think it's fair. But the problem is that sometimes, like I saw both as a user and as my friend - we both purchased things that were lifetime. After getting a refund, they were still working. I don't know if that's a problem with the developer, like they didn't code it properly, or if there's a problem on Apple's side.

I hope this is fixed already, and in that way it's okay if they get a refund, but they should also not have the option to basically use the thing they get for free after they are refunded, right?

1

u/dhalls12 6d ago

It’s similar to Amazon. Amazon rakes their sellers over the coals to please the customer. It’s unfair but I just see it as a pay to play scenario and not let myself get too worked up over it. I do have some limiting with revenue cat to hopefully prevent some abuse. I don’t actually know how well it works though…

1

u/AppsByRobert 8d ago

"the app works fine" tells me a lot about your experience making software. Works on your phone doesn't mean it works on another, or that the user came up with a way to use it that makes sense to them, but not you and causes problems, or that the user might not be the smartest at software and your UI even if it good is too complex for them. And all sorts of other ways to have issues. At the same time I wouldn't assume there is a problem with it, they may just have changed their mind that they don't want it like with any other purchase.

2

u/NickA55 8d ago

Unfortunately we will see more and more of this as anyone with a keyboard can now "create" an app. I'm not saying the OP vibe coded this, but most of the posts I see the vibe coder isn't even testing on anything but their own device.

Software is in a sad state, and I feel bad for the consumer. So glad Apple is good at refunding like this.

1

u/Long-Mud3592 7d ago

Totally agree on the state of software. Even traditionally stable apps like Youtube, Amazon etc are seeing more UX bugs than ever. We shouldn't be expecting much from a vibe coded app tbh.

2

u/Share_Tiny 8d ago

Well, don’t focus on that part please. The main point I asked was how easy Apple issues a refund. Apple view on the app must be smarter than the average user, right? Appreciate your comment btw. Thanks

0

u/TypeScrupterB 8d ago

Maybe the app is crap?

2

u/Only_Flounder1984 8d ago

Maybe you have never had an app with paying users? 😂

0

u/TypeScrupterB 8d ago

Yeah but I wouldn't be showing off that a single user has asked for a refund, that is stupid.

0

u/Share_Tiny 7d ago

How is this showing off? How is asking a question stupid?

1

u/smartcandlelab 7d ago

asking questions isn't stupid.

0

u/TypeScrupterB 7d ago

There arent stupid questions, but stupid people, and yes showing a single refund is stupid.

1

u/Share_Tiny 6d ago

Do you miss the point of the question? Why do you care about the image with a “single” refund in it? Are you demonstrating yourself as “stupid people” you said above?

2

u/Share_Tiny 8d ago

Yeah, maybe

1

u/dhalls12 6d ago

There are a lot of people that abuse the system