This really should be included in the piracy debate. For example one would argue that was 100,000 in lost sales/revenue and that had the app never been available for free that 100,000 (or near that amount) would have paid for the app at full price. This is utter BS and is reflected in users revealing that they grabbed the app when it was free mostly for the sake of having it, even if they never used it. On a side note it looks like the exposure the app received generated an additional 130+ sales over the course of the month and beating out their total sales before the app was free the very first few days after the exposure.
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Amazon App Store Fight
- Thread starter HardOCP News
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Devistater
Gawd
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And they've posted the sales numbers in the link for the period after the free day, pretty pitiful. 100k free downloads and dropped to 5 sales a day.
I don't blame them at all for dropping the amazon store if its only getting them a few sales a day and amazon changing terms on them and saying they can't talk about it.
I've been picking up the free app-of-the-day since I've gotten my transformer. Some of the apps just plain sucked. The apps that were something special ended up getting shown to everyone, along with a healthy recommendation to spend a few bucks as well as install the Amazon app store to score some free stuff. Good or bad, it does generate word of mouth. I can think of several people where I picked up a game/app for free, showed it to them, and they picked it up at the discounted rate the next day or two. I don't get the angst.
Monkey God
Mangina Full of Sand
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The angst is merely misplaced. Developers ignore the fact their app didn't sell for shit even at a low price. People only downloaded it when it was free. Instead of considering that their app just plain sucks, they direct their anger towards Amazon.
If an app is good, and word gets out, people will buy it. If people aren't buying it, chances are it sucks, or you suck at marketing. Blaming Amazon for your failures is a classic transference scenario.
JimmayLong
Limp Gawd
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Agreed if the app was worth of day they would have received sales anyway.
odoe
[H]F Junkie
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Actually, the point is that Amazon has these hidden terms that are not divulged to developers until the time they are offered a FAD spot. The devs have already paid their $99 Amazon Dev fee. These terms are not in the public policy. The Amazon Dev Blog on FAD makes no mention that the terms are different. That's the point. This is to make other developers aware of the risks they may take by accepting a FAD spot before they spend their $99 to join the Amazon App Store.
Everyone seem to think these guys are pissed that Amazon stole der' moneez.
They experimented and are letting the community know what the real terms are like.
Monkey God
Mangina Full of Sand
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Hidden terms? Please. Thats called breach of contract and that gives you right to sue. More like, most developers dont read the contract (see South Park Centipad episode.)
odoe
[H]F Junkie
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The FAD terms are not disclosed when you sign up. Only when you are offered a FAD spot. Then you are asked not to disclose the terms publicly.
The deal will obviously benefit some and not others. But it should at least be outlined when you sign up how it will work.
The deal will obviously benefit some and not others. But it should at least be outlined when you sign up how it will work.
LeninGHOLA
Vladimir Hayt
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Hello, GoldenTiger. Thank you for your kind contribution. I can't seem to find anything on the Amazon site stating they pay you 20% of what you would normally get if the app weren't free that day. The only place I see that stated is on the blog from this butthurt dev, and it isn't even in quotes. The email Amazon sent was BEFORE they submitted their app, and it clearly stated they wouldn't be paid anything on the day it was featured for free. In fact, I can't tell if some of their claims are true at all.
Even the TechCrunch article doesn't have a clear quote on this, and they never referenced Free App Day still netting you 20%. Actually, their article makes it sound like if Amazon thinks your app is worth $0 EVERY day, you weren't entitled to money. At which point, if you didn't think you wanted to go with it, you could opt out.
odoe
[H]F Junkie
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This is the Amazon FAQ on fees and submissions
https://developer.amazon.com/help/faq.html
The Blog post on FAD
http://www.amazonappstoredev.com/2011/06/index.html
And in all fairness, a terms page that states Amazon can change terms at any time.
https://developer.amazon.com/help/developer-conditions.html
Those emails seemed canned, even the response one, so I'm wondering if they offer 1%, 2% deals depending on apps and that's why they ask that terms not be disclosed. I don't know, but just curious.
https://developer.amazon.com/help/faq.html
The Blog post on FAD
http://www.amazonappstoredev.com/2011/06/index.html
And in all fairness, a terms page that states Amazon can change terms at any time.
https://developer.amazon.com/help/developer-conditions.html
Those emails seemed canned, even the response one, so I'm wondering if they offer 1%, 2% deals depending on apps and that's why they ask that terms not be disclosed. I don't know, but just curious.
griffinhart
[H]ard|Gawd
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The only thing that talks about the FAD process is the blog post. It's clear that the FAD program is above and beyond the normal App Store process.
Amazon isn't hiding anything from devs. Everything is quite up front. Amazon makes no promises of being a FAD when you submit an app to be on the marketpace. Developers go through a seperate process to have their apps become a FAD and before it becomes so, Amazon spells out the terms clearly to them. The Developer even admits that they willingly agreed to the terms.
There isn't anything Shady or hidden about it.
Amazon isn't hiding anything from devs. Everything is quite up front. Amazon makes no promises of being a FAD when you submit an app to be on the marketpace. Developers go through a seperate process to have their apps become a FAD and before it becomes so, Amazon spells out the terms clearly to them. The Developer even admits that they willingly agreed to the terms.
There isn't anything Shady or hidden about it.
LeninGHOLA
Vladimir Hayt
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Amazon also doesn't randomly select an app to be FAD, you have to specifically submit your app for FAD consideration, which is when they tell you you get no money for the day it is free. These devs are a joke. I hope nobody buys their app.
If this were the Apple "AppStore" (copywrited by apple 
, I am willing to bet the reaction would be waaay different. Sure there would be some "you agreed to it, shut up" posts but not as many as there are. I find this interesting. If Apple controlled the price, when to discount etc people would be up in arms (but mostly making fun of iOS devs) yet very little outrage due to it being Amazon.
They did get a little douchy in the middle about the 50k sales numbers, but other wise though most of the post was more informative. The report I am sure is canned so it was at first glance a little exciting until reality set in.
I think they have every right to disclose their sales before/during/after the promotion, so other devs can evaluate their FAD opportunity.
Secret deals (aka disclaimers at bottom reported) is the crap Apple pulls and I default to thinking there is a serious reason for the hush hush.
It would be nice if Amazon would at least give some info to these devs other then 0%. Like average downloads, average sales boost while in the featured page etc. These devs should have known it would probably cost them more for servers since it is a requirement of the app but some sort of estimate of how much would have been helpful in their decision.
, I am willing to bet the reaction would be waaay different. Sure there would be some "you agreed to it, shut up" posts but not as many as there are. I find this interesting. If Apple controlled the price, when to discount etc people would be up in arms (but mostly making fun of iOS devs) yet very little outrage due to it being Amazon.They did get a little douchy in the middle about the 50k sales numbers, but other wise though most of the post was more informative. The report I am sure is canned so it was at first glance a little exciting until reality set in.
I think they have every right to disclose their sales before/during/after the promotion, so other devs can evaluate their FAD opportunity.
Secret deals (aka disclaimers at bottom reported) is the crap Apple pulls and I default to thinking there is a serious reason for the hush hush.
It would be nice if Amazon would at least give some info to these devs other then 0%. Like average downloads, average sales boost while in the featured page etc. These devs should have known it would probably cost them more for servers since it is a requirement of the app but some sort of estimate of how much would have been helpful in their decision.