Developers May Soon Be Able to Automatically Charge Apple Users for Subscription Price Increases

[MacRumors]

Apple appears to be testing a new feature that would allow developers to automatically charge users when a subscription price goes up, according to TechCrunch.

Right now, Apple asks customers to explicitly agree to subscription pricing increases when the cost of a subscription goes up. If a customer does not tap on the presented "Agree to New Price" button, their subscription is automatically canceled. But if the new functionality that Apple is testing rolls out, customers may simply be notified of an upcoming change, rather than being given the choice to cancel. Essentially, Apple is testing an opt-out system rather than an opt-in system for subscription pricing changes.

When Disney+ recently increased its prices to $7.99 per month, some developers noticed that the Disney+ app sent out a notification that was more of an alert about a price increase rather than a clear opt-in choice. Disney+ subscribers received a notification with a large "OK" button letting them know about the change, but there was no built-in opt-out button, with the app instead providing a link to change the subscription.

Other developers noticed similar behavior for different subscriptions, and an Apple spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that it is running a pilot test on a new subscription system.

"We are piloting a new commerce feature we plan to launch very soon. The pilot includes developers across various app categories, organization sizes, and regions to help test an upcoming enhancement that we believe will be great for both developers and users, and we'll have more details to share in the coming weeks," the spokesperson said.

If this change rolls out more widely, App Store users will need to keep a closer eye on their subscriptions, as it will be easier for a pricing increase to go under the radar without the express opt-in system that's currently in place.

Apple would not provide more details on the pilot test, and did not offer information on the apps that are currently involved or when the feature might roll out more widely to all developers.

Article Link: Developers May Soon Be Able to Automatically Charge Apple Users for Subscription Price Increases

 

[turbineseaplane]

If this change rolls out more widely, App Store users will need to keep a closer eye on their subscriptions, as it will be easier for a pricing increase to go under the radar without the express opt-in system that's currently in place.

No thank you -- at all

Jesus -- these companies just want us hooked up to them and they can simply extract whatever money out of us they feel like

Welcome to hell

 

[HiVolt]

Yeah this is a horrible idea. I bet you scammy apps will be exploiting this big time.

 

[JKAussieSkater]

This isn't in the slightest way greedy at all for Apple… nor does it seem like an underhanded way of ensuring Apple doesn't lose a single cent from customers. \sarcasm

No never mind, this is definitely going to receive backlash.

 

[BootsWalking]

Fantastic - inflation as a feature.

 

[SW3029]

**** that. This happens and I don't subscribe to any more apps. No way is it fair for a developer to increase the price of your subscription without notifying you.

 

[TheDailyApple]

Please no.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

No idea why would Apple allow this? Looks like Apple does not want to be get into the middle of the consumers and the developers.

 

[GubbyMan]

Apple keeps touting that their first party payment methods are so good and that third party payments should be kept out of the AppStore…

…THEN THEY DO THIS! ?

 

[Ebarella]

There's already wallpaper apps charging $9 a week, price increases don't go through review right now, what will stop an scam app from starting with a "reasonable" price to pass app review and then increase it to maximize revenue?

 

[contacos]

lol I do not think that is even allowed, at least in the EU

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

If Apple decides to go down that road...they will lose a lot of business.

 

[jclardy]

This is 100% going to be abused. 99/cents/mo weather app is going to shoot up to 99.99/mo. If they “get“ 5/100 people they still make out like bandits.

Combine this with subscription groups and you get this:
1. launch at 0.99/mo
2. Get users using search ads
3. Increase launch product to 99.99/mo
4. New users get new subscription group at 99 cents/mo
5. Rinse and repeat

 

[max2]

This is 100% going to be abused. 99/cents/mo weather app is going to shoot up to 99.99/mo. If they “get“ 5/100 people they still make out like bandits.

Combine this with subscription groups and you get this:
1. launch at 0.99/mo
2. Get users using search ads
3. Increase launch product to 99.99/mo
4. New users get new subscription group at 99 cents/mo
5. Rinse and repeat

Exactly.

 

[retroneo]

Hopefully we will have a choice of App Store soon without this "feature". How can this can't be legal? Even telcos aren't that bad.

 

[tubedogg]

It would really help if certain people would RTFA before screaming "OMG NO NOTIFICATIONS I QUIT".

That said, this is in no way a "better experience" for users. It is a dark pattern intended to ensure users stay subscribed while still meeting legal obligations to notify them of price increases. Oddly enough, this time Apple and developers will end up aligned instead of Apple doing something to "protect" its users against innovative ideas from developers (as opposed to protecting its users against actual scams, which it does not currently do with any degree of regularity).

 

[Expos of 1969]

**** you Apple. How much will people take is the question and unfortunately too many will take much more.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Being able to use only the Apple App Store and Apple controlling everything is best for our "safety and security.."

 

[Techwatcher]

Apple appears to be testing a new feature that would allow developers to automatically charge users when a subscription price goes up, according to TechCrunch.

Right now, Apple asks customers to explicitly agree to subscription pricing increases when the cost of a subscription goes up. If a customer does not tap on the presented "Agree to New Price" button, their subscription is automatically canceled. But if the new functionality that Apple is testing rolls out, customers may simply be notified of an upcoming change, rather than being given the choice to cancel. Essentially, Apple is testing an opt-out system rather than an opt-in system for subscription pricing changes.

When Disney+ recently increased its prices to $7.99 per month, some developers noticed that the Disney+ app sent out a notification that was more of an alert about a price increase rather than a clear opt-in choice. Disney+ subscribers received a notification with a large "OK" button letting them know about the change, but there was no built-in opt-out button, with the app instead providing a link to change the subscription.

Other developers noticed similar behavior for different subscriptions, and an Apple spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that it is running a pilot test on a new subscription system.If this change rolls out more widely, App Store users will need to keep a closer eye on their subscriptions, as it will be easier for a pricing increase to go under the radar without the express opt-in system that's currently in place.

Apple would not provide more details on the pilot test, and did not offer information on the apps that are currently involved or when the feature might roll out more widely to all developers.

Article Link: Developers May Soon Be Able to Automatically Charge Apple Users for Subscription Price Increases

Bad idea and they will get sued.

 

[Thomas Davie]

I subscribe to Netflix, Shudder and Spotify; none of them through Apple. Thanks to the information provided by this article, I’ll make sure that I do NOT subscribe to anything through Apple.

Doesn’t affect me but I think it is obscene behaviour.


Tom

 

[Solo_Photo]

That's a big NO.

 

[Analog Kid]

Wrong answer, try again.

 

[Analog Kid]

I subscribe to Netflix, Shudder and Spotify; none of them through Apple. Thanks to the information provided by this article, I’ll make sure that I do NOT subscribe to anything through Apple.

Doesn’t affect me but I think it is obscene behaviour.


Tom

FWIW, Netflix just automatically charges higher prices, so this won‘t make a difference for that account.

 

[WWPD]

Sounds great, I'm having trouble keeping track of those pesky price increases...this makes it easier. Thanks!

 

[Gasu E.]

No thank you -- at all

Jesus -- these companies just want us hooked up to them and they can simply extract whatever money out of us they feel like

Welcome to hell

It's bad, but "hell" is an overstatement. Go hang out in Ukraine this week, and let us know if automatic price hikes is worse.