[yummies]

The most ridiculous example of this is Tesla's offering of in-app Autopilot upgrades. At $10k, imagine what Apple's cut is, for absolutely no value added.

[AlexandrB]

It's interesting that this seems more shocking even though it's not much different than Apple collecting 30% on one thousand $10 purchases.

[nolok]

It's because Apple's actual costs are pretty much fixed (storage, bandwidth, ...) so clearly on a low price / many customer scenario it seems fairer.

That's why a per usage pricing would be fairer. And yes, the app having one thousand $10 purchases would pay way more than the app having a single $10000 purchase, but that's the point.

[AlexandrB]

But for Spotify or other apps that sell content Apple is not providing storage, bandwidth, or anything else. They do provide payment processing, but it's common for that to be a small percentage of purchase price already (e.g. ~1-2% for credit cards).

[nolok]

> But for Spotify or other apps that sell content Apple is not providing storage, bandwidth, or anything else.

Indeed, I missed that layer when answering you. That's makes it even worse and unfair.

> They do provide payment processing, but it's common for that to be a small percentage of purchase price already (e.g. ~1-2% for credit cards).

And working with Visa doesn't stop you from offering Mastercard or Paypal or others. Apple mandates you use them.

[xxs]

>e.g. ~1-2% for credit cards

It's capped in the EU - 0.3% for credit card, 0.2% for debit ones. That fee includes all the risks of chargebacks and fraud processing.

[shuckles]

Buying a physical good or an upgrade to a physical good isn’t an “in-app” purchase. I don’t think Apple is taking a cut here — it’s probably just Apple Pay.

[charwalker]

Apple Pay IS Apple. In app purchases are also subject to their % cut.

[shuckles]

I think you don’t understand what you’re talking about. If I buy a kiddie pool from the Shopify app with Apple Pay, it is not subject to the App Store in-app purchase terms. Similarly, if I book a massage through Yelp and it supported Apple Pay, there would be no App Store fee. Apple’s cut is for digital goods whose consumption is facilitated through your app.

[charwalker]

In app purchases from the Apple store are subject to the cut to Apple. Apple pay is separate and though the consumer does not pay the transaction cost (Like VISA/etc), Apple is still taking a cut.

> Apple currently takes a 30% commission from the total price of paid apps and in-app purchases from the App Store. For some small app makers, the new policy could cut the amount that they pay Apple in half.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/18/apple-will-cut-app-store-fee...

[minhazm]

Apple does not take a cut of this. It's charged to your existing payment method on file. It's closer to a physical good, since it's an enhancement for an actual physical good.

[amelius]

Perhaps we should be selling dummy physical goods with our software then. E.g. software $1, coffee mug $100.

[bryanrasmussen]

The mug has your personal QR code on it! It's unique!

[kevingadd]

Some of the big loot box mobile games in fact use this model to pull in more revenue - they sell soundtracks or other goods at marked-up prices that happen to include in-game bonuses you'd otherwise be giving Apple 30% for.