Package Tracking App 'Deliveries' Switching to Paid Subscription Model Across iPhone, iPad, and Mac

[drew0020]

I always find it ironic when people spend $700+ on a new iPhone every 2-3 years, $100+/month for cellular service in the USA, and balk at spending $5/year (in this case) for an app that they find useful.

I guess my question is do people think these developers are working for free? I really don’t understand the mindset. I personally don’t use this app, but would gladly spend a fair amount of money to keep developers developing great apps.

 

[reubs]

I've been using Deliveries for years, and the convenience of it is so good. I'll happily pay $4.99/year for this to support the developer and ongoing upkeep.

What I like about it is that I can consolidate all my shipments in one place (as well as things I've sent to other people), and it's quick and easy and as reliable as the shipping services it draws from.

In other words, it's $5 well spent for me.

 

[macsound1]

I mean, Google integrates tracking right into the search engine.
I just right-click a tracking number, choose "Search with Google" and I get the tracking info without ever visiting the UPS etc. website.
And my day job involves tracking about a dozen packages a week...

 

[topmounter]

Makes sense. Everyone likes money.

 

[Brookzy]

All these subscriptions need to END. The only thing I would ever subscribe to are services that I can CONSUME and keep adding new CONTENT to CONSUME. My currency app now asks for a subscription and I am like WHY. It literally has not changed since 2014 or something besides adding annoying ads. Give me a break.

I'm sure independent developers who have to pay for hosting, development, support, and countless other things would like a break too.

Sadly the app economy has evolved to value things at below cost.

I don't like paying for subscriptions either, but I also don't expect developers to bankroll my use indefinitely.

 

[fhall1]

"Junecloud hopes that switching to a subscription model will attract a wider customer base"

I see it doing just the opposite!

 

[Wowfunhappy]

I always find it ironic when people spend $700+ on a new iPhone every 2-3 years, $100+/month for cellular service in the USA, and balk at spending $5/year (in this case) for an app that they find useful.

I guess my question is do people think these developers are working for free? I really don’t understand the mindset. I personally don’t use this app, but would gladly spend a fair amount of money to keep developers developing great apps.

I absolutely agree that the price is right in this case.

I just find subscriptions difficult to manage, from a mental perspective. If there was a $30 lifetime subscription option, I would pay that, no question!

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

this helps break it down better and really should’ve been in the article

 

[Wowfunhappy]

To everybody freaking out, if you already bought the app, nothing changes. We just don’t get some new features and possible advancements in the future. But the app seems to continue working exactly as it always has for us. View attachment 961072

"Nothing changes" except Junecloud access! The email forwarding is key to how I use their software.

 

[ersan191]

I don't mind paying but it pisses me off how they frame it as "oh the $4.99 one time purchase is such a high barrier to entry so we're helping everyone by charging $4.99 a year instead!".

Just be honest and don't treat us like we are stupid.

 

[drew0020]

I absolutely agree that the price is right in this case.

I just find subscriptions difficult to manage, from a mental perspective. If there was a $30 lifetime subscription option, I would pay that, no question!

I think from a developers perspective they need to be able to count on regular cash flow in order to best support development expesnes. I just think the race to the bottom on app pricing is only going to hurt future app development...

 

[compwiz1202]

The problem isn't one app; it's that nearly EVERYTHING is subs now which could be HUNDREDS. Just go back to charging a flat fee like it used to be.

 

[adamjackson]

For the developer of this application, thank you for making the transition to a sustainable business model for you and for clearly outlining the path for existing customers. While I thought I was a power user, I realize that I wasn't. My workflow is

I own Deliveries on iPad, iPhone, Mac, WatchOS
I receive shipping emails and I copy the tracking number
I paste it in Deliveries
I name the delivery
I sync with iCloud Not JuneCloud

So it seems what I'll be missing out on is dark mode on iOS and the other things I don't need or want so I admit I'm going to remain on the current applications until iOS progresses to where your current apps don't work anymore then I will re-consider your subscription model OR find a free alternative

But what I will say as a user is that your steady improvements, features, bug fixes and cross-platform work is great. You have a fantastic application suite and if I was able to simply pay upgrade pricing of $5 every 2-3 years, I would gladly do so today. I'm just not ready to commit to a subscription that will be for features I don't need access to.

Good luck in your transition to a subscription model, I'll play a wait & see approach.

 

[richard4339]

When they announced this on their blog, I tweeted at them and pointed out that their main competition is Parcel, which costs $2.99/year, and if they priced themselves over that, they needed to be able to show us what they offered which Parcel does not. As far as I'm aware, they're functionally identical, and now cost almost double.

That said, I've been using Deliveries as far back as 2008. I have no idea if I paid for the Mac app, presumably I paid $5 for the iOS app (it's been too long, I have no idea). That works out to $0.50/year, and they are running all this stuff on their own servers which do cost money. They are providing a service app, not a local only one. They have to make money to cover that.

At this point, I don't know if I'll stick with Deliveries or switch to Parcel. Anybody tried both?

 

[Alshujibi]

Once Deliveries was an amazing app. But now 17track is doing the trick for FREE. So, skipping your options mam.

 

[Weaselboy]

Perhaps, anyone who's going to be ordering a new iPhone should be downloading this app. Does anyone know how accurate it is?

The app just pulls in the info from the web site, Apple in your example. So whatever shipping info is shown on the Apple web site is mirrored in the app.

 

[compwiz1202]

I don't mind payhing but it pisses me off how they frame it as "oh the $4.99 one time purchase is such a high barrier to entry so we're helping everyone by doing this".

Just be honest and don't treat us like we are stupid.

Yea would rather pay the one time and keep it until it breaks due to no support etc. And if a better version comes out, charge again, and I can choose if I still want to use to old or pay again.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

I think from a developers perspective they need to be able to count on regular cash flow in order to best support development expesnes. I just think the race to the bottom on app pricing is only going to hurt future app development...

Then price the lifetime subscription appropriately so it can be invested (in aggregate) and drawn from in the future. It doesn't have to cheap.

Admittedly, in theory I could do this too, but they're the ones running a business.

 

[Chaos215bar2]

I have a free version of this. It's called an email address.

Seriously, though. UPS My Choice. FedEx Delivery Manager. USPS Informed Delivery. All free, and they'll notify you when there's a package headed to your address.

 

[JayMysterio]

Sad about it. Have had this app forever, but sadly this seems to be the way things are going. Hope enough others go along as well to sustain it.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Seriously, though. UPS My Choice. FedEx Delivery Manager. USPS Informed Delivery. All free, and they'll notify you when there's a package headed to your address.

Yup, exactly what I use. Love not needing to rely on the store to email me the tracking number.

 

[timber]

I feel like this is feature, not a product .

 

[Stromos]

I always find it ironic when people spend $700+ on a new iPhone every 2-3 years, $100+/month for cellular service in the USA, and balk at spending $5/year (in this case) for an app that they find useful.

I guess my question is do people think these developers are working for free? I really don’t understand the mindset. I personally don’t use this app, but would gladly spend a fair amount of money to keep developers developing great apps.

You you might have a leg to stand on if the app was free. No it was paid for. You want to milk new customers for a subscription? Go for it. Grandfather your customers. Don't tell them sorry the app will slowly lose features until you start paying us more.

I am grandfathered into a handful off apps that are no longer one time buy. I will always support and recommend them to others. Apps that do this? I'll make sure anytime they come up that they should be avoided.

Thanks for making us what we are today and supporting us now we want more.

 

[mrz_V1]

I've been a huge fan for years...this will be the end for me. A subscription model for a deliveries app? This subscription services are getting out of hand and I wont promote any app that does it anymore. All I wanted this company to do was add it so I could login into my amazon account to track my amazon purchases.. I wanted to be able to login to my gmail to scan through my emails and automatically track packages.. None of that is in the plans apparently, its all focused on how to change people money for the same features they already paid for when they bought the app.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Subscriptions will make it possible to download the app on all your devices and try it for a month, or even a full year, for less than it would have cost to buy both versions.

Y'know, I hate to say it, but assuming Junecloud is being honest about their motivations, there is another way to read this:

"Subscriptions will make it possible to download the app and try it for a month, because Apple won't allow us to offer a free trial on a paid app."