Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Eight people purchase "I am Rich"
- Thread starter MacGeek7
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
This just brings up an interesting point to me. Apple is kind of "proprietary" with their Iphone platform, software, and app store. If they want to be in control of it all, they better be ready to handle things like this happening because they created the environment for such issues to present themselves. WM would never have such an issue, because not everything goes through a central, regulated system such as the app store.
I concur that Apple needs to review apps before they go up on the app store... or at least do a slightly better job. It's unfair to everyone - yes even the developer, for things like this to happen. Nonetheless, yeah your finger should not have been anywhere near that buy button. If you can afford to be so stupid with your money, its your choice and no one else's what you do with your money.
No doubt
How did this application fool anyone? The description and title clearly stated what the app was intended for and why.
I dont feel sorry for anyone. And I hope they don't get their money back.
True that.
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 16GB: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F97 Safari/525.20)
I'm guessing the reason Apple pulled it is to stop thousands of copycat programs being launched by other devs: one stupid thousand dollar app may be funny, but a thousand of them would simply make the whole app store concept a joke. Apple have drawn a line in the sand and hopefully stopped that happening
I'm guessing the reason Apple pulled it is to stop thousands of copycat programs being launched by other devs: one stupid thousand dollar app may be funny, but a thousand of them would simply make the whole app store concept a joke. Apple have drawn a line in the sand and hopefully stopped that happening
You're right on the money IMHO. I was going to reply to the post you made but you beat me to it and said all I wanted to say. I don't see how this was deceiving anyone - the application explained exactly what it did (or didn't!) do and the price is there in black and white on the screen before you purchase it.
People need to start taking responsibility for their own stupidity - I hope all 8 of those people inadvertantly bought it and got burned. They certainly won't do it again.
All this back and forth with EricNau. Eric is 100% right.
Sure, the app was funny. Yes, idiots may deserve to lose their money. And absolutely the app was not dishonest or a scam. It may even be possible that some of the 8 chose to buy the app knowing full well what it was (though I suspect all 8 probably made a stupid mistake).
All of that is irrelevant if the app makes Apple look bad. And if there is any doubt, just look at the reviews the app got. Obviously it's down now, but it was several hundred 1-star reviews from people complaining about Apple and/or the developer. There were positive reviews from those that found it funny, but these were by far the minority.
Awesome! Now Steve can afford a quarter of a tank of jet fuel... he will be pleased.
roflmao..... thats the funniest crap I've heard all night.....
Even if Apple did pull it, he still won.
I doubt very much this cretin will actually be paid any of that money - Apple holds it for 2 weeks or something, and will most likely just refund anyone who bought the app, so he'll be out $99 and a whole lot of goodwill for nothing.
Oh man. I looked it up. Genius. Absolute genius!
http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/
Theres the page.. oh my goodness. 1 million dollars!
Guess we disagree on this point.
I do not see how this app listing was taking advantage of the customer in any way.
Say what?
The app listing clearly stated what was being offered. There was no misrepresentation with the listing.
I don't see it this way. The app maker did not deceive anybody with his listing. All was clearly stated.
How do we know that they all "accidentally" purchased the app.
Are you saying that none of the 8 wanted to purchase the app?
Agree.
I dont feel sorry for anyone. And I hope they don't get their money back.[/QUOTE]
Agree.
Exactly.
How do we know for sure that they inadvertently purchased the app?
What exactly is he doing that's illegal? The price limit is set by Apple. Why don't they lower it if this is the reason?
Apple made money from this too you know... maybe it would generate bad press for them if they made a lot of money this way. Who knows. Relatively a lot - i.e. to me, not to Apple.
Furthermore, I doubt Apple screen prices as this really isn't up to them; they should just protect against malicious content and porn. I wonder why they cancelled it.
Friend sent me this. I'm taking the liberty of sharing.
It's not a scam. This guy deserves that. Total idiot. There are consequences in this world.
I see no problem making money on stupid people. Serves them right. I don't care what anyone says, the developer is a genius. You all just wish you thought of it first.
How do they lack morals? They clearly stated what it was for. If you purchased it, it was because you chose to. They weren't taking advantage of anyone.
Bingo!
To all the people that say that Apple was wrong in pulling this application, maybe you should look at all of the negative feedback Apple has in this thread alone. That doesn't sound like good business to me.
I think that those that bought the application on accident (it's entirely possible that someone's kid did it - and don't think it couldn't happen to you) should get a refund. If the buyers really just wanted to buy this to prove how rich they are, I have no problems with them keeping it.
When I first heard about the app, I thought it was pretty funny. Later it occurred to me that having an application like this in the store is a breeding ground for copy cats. I sure don't want to have to weed through an endless sea of $1000 applications.
I think that pulling the application was a good business move by Apple.
P-Worm
I think that those that bought the application on accident (it's entirely possible that someone's kid did it - and don't think it couldn't happen to you) should get a refund. If the buyers really just wanted to buy this to prove how rich they are, I have no problems with them keeping it.
When I first heard about the app, I thought it was pretty funny. Later it occurred to me that having an application like this in the store is a breeding ground for copy cats. I sure don't want to have to weed through an endless sea of $1000 applications.
I think that pulling the application was a good business move by Apple.
P-Worm
Friend sent me this. I'm taking the liberty of sharing.
I feel bad for this guy. We all do stupid things at times and I think he should be shown a little mercy.
P-Worm
Friend sent me this. I'm taking the liberty of sharing.
Actually -the app was far from fake, and very genuine!
I feel sorry for those that bought it accidentally (as in accidentally clicked it - if anyone clicked it deliberately, that's another story - even if they thought it was a joke). Sure, there was no ruse behind this app, but Apple's reaction to these mistakes is paid back to their reputation.
The app was amusing, and a stroke of genius in regards to marketing the developer's name and other apps. It, however, is a really *******-ish thing to release upon the public, and Apple is part way to blame. Apple is right to pull this app, because it reflects poorly on the AppStore. Will anyone visit and purchase when it's just full of 'joke' apps? Arguably, the countless flashlight apps also make a bit of mockery out of the store, but they're not $999 jokes. Regardless, Apple will have to balance the appstore with reason - keep it so apps are genuinely useful, without distancing the developer community with too much control.
Not in Belgium though (and possibly other places). Because it's a sale "at a distance" (literal translation), the buyer has 7 days to change his mind. I'm not sure if there are any exceptions to this, though.
And the one-click buy system is definitely not a good idea for anything costing more than a cd or a movie.
But I agree that those people should have thought a little bit harder before clicking that button.
Friend sent me this. I'm taking the liberty of sharing.
What happened to personal responsibility and why would this person think its a joke?
If some one wants to sell an app for $999 then let them - the developer explicitly said what he was selling. The people who bought this got what was advertised. It wasn't a scam.
For those thinking this is a 'scam', here's a definition to refresh their memories:
http://www.eecl.org/scam/definition.shtml
This app does not in anyway fall in to the definition of 'scam'.
The Reg sums up this person very well "'I blame everyone but myself' ( seen from the home page of Register )
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/07/poor_man_buys_i_am_rich_app/