[Silhouette]

One-sided consumer protections are great if you're a consumer who actually is being wronged. They're not so great for merchants when consumers who haven't been wronged abuse them, though, and that has a chilling effect that hurts everyone. Merchants will either push their prices up to compensate for the abuse, so legitimate customers end up paying the price for abusive ones, or simply not offer their products or services for sale in that channel at all if it brings more trouble and risk than it's worth.

[narism]

Is there evidence of this chilling effect in action on the App Store? What’s the restock overhead for returning a digital game?

[Silhouette]

Yes, you're talking to it. My businesses operate web apps but do not offer native iOS apps despite the occasional request. The hostile developer environment, high fees and expectation of ridiculously low prices simply aren't worth it in our view.

[narism]

That sucks but what does it have to do with "consumers who haven't been wronged abuse them"? Especially in the context of "Apple support, that allows me to return in few clicks game I didn’t like, subscription that didn’t offer what it promised and other services I was dissatisfied with".

I guess my point is that App Store metrics (total revenue, subscription revenue, average revenue per user, etc) continues to grow and maintain their lead over Google Play so the chilling effect can't be too bad.

[Silhouette]

For example, if Apple's terms require that merchants take the hit any time a consumer gets buyer's remorse and demands a refund, it's hardly surprising that some merchants aren't willing to accept that liability.

I suggest that in terms of metrics, Apple's App Store vs Google's Play Store isn't really the right comparison to see the chilling effect I'm talking about, because both mobile ecosystems have broadly similar dynamics. A more telling comparison might be something like iOS app developers vs. web developers offering SAAS. How many businesses that run successful SAAS websites charging subscription fees for access also offer an equivalent mobile app where customers can subscribe, accepting Apple's 30% cut and other restrictions?