Spotify Encourages Customers to Cancel App Store Subscription, Resubscribe via Web to Save $3

[Benjamin Frost]

This is an excellent move by Spotify.

The whole issue of Apple's 30% fee is now in the public spotlight. Apple need to reduce In-App Purchases to a much lower fee—perhaps 5 or 10%. I'm sure many companies have been put off selling services through the App Store because of this extortionate cost.

 

[C DM]

Subscriptions are supposed to be priced the same in or out of the App Store. Now that Apple has a service Spotify is gonna get nailed by "Da Rules" for this. I give it till the end of the week.

That's what I'm thinking as well.

 

[JPLC]

Spotify is scared while Apple should be...

 

[\-V-/]

Not really a surprising turn of events. It's really stupid that Spotify charged its users extra via the App Store to compensate in the first place, but meh.

 

[postpc]

Smart move. Not that there's anything to be scared of, Apple Music being a total desaster. Apple's major selling point, curation, will never work, scripted or otherwise, music taste is just too different.

 

[Zia_001]

Spotify is scared and knows when Apple enters a market it's usually lights out for the little guy. Of course Apple Music has to work right first...

I am using Apple Music. Trust me, it works right.

 

[Rogifan]

in before apple REMOVES spotify from app store...

Why would Apple do that? Kindle and Nook apps exist in the AppStore without in-app purchases.

 

[critter13]

this is risky, might remind the user they can cancel then try apple music for free for 3 months

 

[JPLC]

Not really a surprising turn of events. It's really stupid that Spotify charged its users extra via the App Store to compensate in the first place, but meh.

Thats 30% for Apple right?

 

[BruiserB]

Seems to me that telling people to unsubscribe through iTunes and resubscribe directly could backfire on them. They give everyone the directions on how to unsubscribe.....lots of people might get through that step and then decide to use the free AppleMusic trial and then "forget" to resubscribe to Spotify.

 

[Rogifan]

If the AppStore rule is subscriptions must be priced the same in or out of app then my guess Spotify will be told to remove the in-app option.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I am using Apple Music. Trust me, it works right.

Just Google "Apple Music Problems" and you'll see it's not working right for a lot of people.

 

[antiprotest]

Their net gain might be better if they lowered their price to match and take the 30% hit.

Now this email earns them no new customers since it is sent to existing customers. And it would just give the push for some existing customers to cancel Spotify and sign up for Apple Music.

Just a guess. Maybe they have calculated the net effect and arrived at the conclusion that this move is worth it.

 

[jdillings]

Now people will just cancel Spotify and sign up for Apple Music.

Exactly. This is one of the dumbest moves by an Apple competitor.

 

[Rogifan]

Here's something else that could backfire on Spotify. If other subscription services aren't doing the same people will wonder why Spotify is passing on the 30% to consumers when others aren't.

 

[nepalisherpa]

This is an excellent move by Spotify.

The whole issue of Apple's 30% fee is now in the public spotlight. Apple need to reduce In-App Purchases to a much lower fee—perhaps 5 or 10%. I'm sure many companies have been put off selling services through the App Store because of this extortionate cost.

Excellent move by Spotify? How about they were lying to their users in the first place? Until today, these users may not have known that the premium service is actually just $9.99.

 

[\-V-/]

Thats 30% for Apple right?

Yes, I believe so.

 

[k1121j]

popping corn as we speak........

 

[SirLance99]

I am using Apple Music. Trust me, it works right.

I am using Apple Music. Trust me, it DOESN'T work right. For me.

I think it's crap as it's impossible to actually enjoy listening to what I want to listen to since it's so darn difficult to actually find a great playlist or radio station I want to listen to. Google Play Music does such a better job at this.

 

[\-V-/]

How is it not working the way you want it to work?

 

[PJWilkin]

I've already switched back to Spotify after the Apple Music disaster.

What disaster ? state the issues you've had ?
Or are you just trolling ?

 

[Presonance]

Isn't it against Apple's In App Subscription rules to charge more through the App Store?

It was against the rules to charge more in app, but they removed this rule this back in 2011. Their only stipulation now is that you can't have any links in your app to the webpage selling the subscription. This email blast is their way around this.

Just a matter of time before Spotify is no longer. Their CEO trying to play it cool isn't helping either.

 

[Rigby]

Here's something else that could backfire on Spotify. If other subscription services aren't doing the same people will wonder why Spotify is passing on the 30% to consumers when others aren't.

Rdio does the same thing.

 

[SirLance99]

Excellent move by Spotify? How about they were lying to their users in the first place? Until today, these users may not have known that the premium service is actually just $9.99.

This business model is $9.99 per month. Since Apple decided to be greedy, Spotify has to up charge to compensate for the loss they would take. Apple doesn't get to take a 30% loss for Apple Music since hey own it. It's not a fair play ground.

This is a good move by Spotify.

 

[charlitos]

What could possibly go wrong! ...