Re: Paid apps

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:
 

where did you see Play Store apps were getting forcibly reduced for
all apps to 95% of their prior price?  I'm sure other Android users
would like to know the official Google announcement or their sales
event.

>
They're not unilaterally changing the price of apps, but they can give
whatever discount they like (out of their pocket rather than the author's)
 
<http://andyburns.uk/misc/play-discount.png>

Okay, for some apps Google reduces their commission.  That means the
discount cannot be larger than Google's commission which ranges from 30%
the first year, and 15% thereafter.  So, I can't see how Google could
discount an app more than 30% - nowhere near the 95% discount.  They
could omit their commission, and offer the app author a payment for the
rest which what the coupon you show probably does, but only for 1 app,
and a max of 6 pounds total for the discount.  That means you could get
one app that normally costs 6.32 pounds at the special 6 pound price.

I just checked my history of purchases (not many) which cost me (in US
dollars):

Talented Apps ParKing ($6.98) - abandonware for a couple years now
Network Cell Info & Wifi ($2.14)
GPS Status Pro ($2.14) - they now want $13.99
Torque Pro ($5.32) - use with OBD2 in my car for diagnostics

That's it for paid apps.  Since I already paid for them, I can't use
this 95% discount.  When I have a need is when I hunt for an app.  I
wouldn't know what to search for an app that I don't need just to save
some money on an unnecessary app.

Back when I bought those apps, I had to add money to my Google Pay
wallet.  Google Pay died on June 4, 2024, and why my "Payments &
subscriptions" info on my Google Play account shows "Google Pay balance
- Unavailable".  I would have to add one of the following payment
methods:

credit/debit card
Paypal
Cash App Pay
Redeem code

Well, I'd rather not let Google have any payment methods, especially
since they don't have payware in their Play Store that I need now.
Usually I can find freeware apps that are devoid of ads, or the ads are
hidden (you have to dig for them to explicitly view them).

The reason why you got the notice, and not I or others, is the following
condition: "Open to select participants based on their purchase
history".  My purchase history is so old and measly that Google will
never be sending me that discount.  Interestingly it also says "Google
Payments account required", yet Google Pay is dead.

Trying to get suggestions on buying something because you might get a
big discount reminds me of the comedy skit where the husband comes home
to find bags of dry dog food in the kitchen, and asks why there are bags
of dog food.  Wife says there was a huge sale on dog food.  Husband
remarks "But we don't have a dog."