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iPad Pro Offline Transaction for an APP Purchase at Massive Discount ?

V

vish26

Suspended
Original poster
Sep 17, 2012
341
23
Hi Guys,

I wanted to ask you guy something. So there is this APP which is also available on the APP Store (Without taking the APP name as it may cause problems) The APP on the APP Store is available at some absurd price (Well for me atleast). So when I contacted the developer of the APP he says normally from time to time I also offer these kind of Discounts on the APP Store directly but currently it is not running any discount, so he says he can offer me a 50% discount that too for a lifetime subscription. But the Transaction cannot happen on the APP Store as it is a direct discount he is offering to me. He wants me to paypal the money. He says once he gets the Money he will add my user Id to the database and there by I will have full access to the Pro APP with all new features coming with newer version and this is for lifetime. Otherwise his APP is on recurring basis on Monthly basis or on Yearly basis. Should I go ahead with it ? can there be anything fishy happening here ? what could go wrong here ? He wants me to make payment through Paypal and I believe paypal does offer Buyer/Customer Protection.
 
chabig said:
It sounds too fishy. I'm going to say it's a scam to get you to send money you'll never see again.
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But his APP is a very reputed one on the APP store. I have already used his APP quite a bit of time in the past.
 
I'm afraid you're going to have to name the app to continue this discussion. I think asking for money outside the App Store violates developer rules. And if Apple doesn't know that you've purchased the app, I don't understand how the app can "know" that you've paid.

The only exception I know about is if you are going to become a beta tester for the developer. Then you can install and run test version of the app without paying. But you shouldn't have to pay the developer for that privilege.
 
chabig said:
I think asking for money outside the App Store violates developer rules. And if Apple doesn't know that you've purchased the app, I don't understand how the app can "know" that you've paid.
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He Says he can add the ID directly to the APP database. Wouldn’t he be controlling that database ? It cannot be APPLE that adds to the APP database the user ID. isn’t it ?
 
vish26 said:
He Says he can add the ID directly to the APP database. Wouldn’t he be controlling that database ? It cannot be APPLE that adds to the APP database the user ID. isn’t it ?
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Developers get a number of promo codes for their apps. These are intended to be given away, and selling them is certainly in violation of the terms of the App Store.
 
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chrfr said:
Developers get a number of promo codes for their apps. These are intended to be given away, and selling them is certainly in violation of the terms of the App Store.
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Yes But I as a user get to enjoy the APP that is what it matters to me. All the other things It is Apple and the developer who have to sort it out.
 
I’m not seeing a risk to you, except perhaps losing the $ if the developer doesn’t follow through. Whatever protections PayPal offers, I’m not familiar with; but they may not cover a situation like this that isn’t going through normal channels.

I’d avoid it, though. It just seems weird.
 
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I agree it sounds very fishy. It's a lot of risk for the developer to take. Why would he do that? You could pay him and if it didn't work out, you could report this developer to Apple. The developer stands to lose his App Store account, which seems too much of a risk for the developer, not you. And you have no guarantee or protection that you would receive a lifetime subscription. I wouldn't do it.

I'd love to know what the app is. Also this seems like this question would be more appropriate in the iOS Apps forum.
 
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Do you guys suggest I should ask him some probing questions which would kind of assure that he is not doing this as click bait thing ?
 
Even if you ask him for assurance and he responds, he's under no obligation to follow through once he has your money. The weirdest part though is that you already have a written record that he intends to violate the App Store developers agreement. Ask yourself why would he do that?

How much money are you talking about here? Can you afford to take this risk?
 
Just for the record, here's what can happen per developer.apple.com:

"If you attempt to cheat the system (for example, by trying to trick the review process, steal user data, copy another developer’s work, manipulate ratings or App Store discovery) your apps will be removed from the store and you will be expelled from the Developer Program."

For this reason, it doesn't make sense the developer would risk it. I agree with nicho that it sounds like somehow you've connected with a fraudster who will take your money and doesn't care that the developer would be at risk to lose everything.

Did you contact this developer using the Developer's Website link in the App Store? It almost sounds like you may have clicked on a website offering app discounts. In fact, if that's how you connected with this person, I would report it officially to the developer using only the developer's App Store website link so you know you're on the official site.
 
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Namara said:
Even if you ask him for assurance and he responds, he's under no obligation to follow through once he has your money. The weirdest part though is that you already have a written record that he intends to violate the App Store developers agreement. Ask yourself why would he do that?

How much money are you talking about here? Can you afford to take this risk?
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$40 USD
[automerge]1589294014[/automerge]
nicho said:
Also ask yourself, are you sure this is the developer you're talking to and not a fraudster.
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Yes he is the actual developer 100% sure
[automerge]1589294124[/automerge]
Namara said:
Just for the record, here's what can happen per developer.apple.com:

"If you attempt to cheat the system (for example, by trying to trick the review process, steal user data, copy another developer’s work, manipulate ratings or App Store discovery) your apps will be removed from the store and you will be expelled from the Developer Program."

For this reason, it doesn't make sense the developer would risk it. I agree with nicho that it sounds like somehow you've connected with a fraudster who will take your money and doesn't care that the developer would be at risk to lose everything.

Did you contact this developer using the Developer's Website link in the App Store? It almost sounds like you may have clicked on a website offering app discounts. In fact, if that's how you connected with this person, I would report it officially to the developer using only the developer's App Store website link so you know you're on the official site.
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I have contacted him from the App Store. Yes.
 
vish26 said:
$40 USD
[automerge]1589294014[/automerge]


Yes he is the actual developer 100% sure
[automerge]1589294124[/automerge]


I have contacted him from the App Store. Yes.
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I think at this point, you should name the app to get more realistic answer. Without that, all our suggestions are going to ask you to back off.
 
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Namara said:
Just for the record, here's what can happen per developer.apple.com:

"If you attempt to cheat the system (for example, by trying to trick the review process, steal user data, copy another developer’s work, manipulate ratings or App Store discovery) your apps will be removed from the store and you will be expelled from the Developer Program."

For this reason, it doesn't make sense the developer would risk it. I agree with nicho that it sounds like somehow you've connected with a fraudster who will take your money and doesn't care that the developer would be at risk to lose everything.

Did you contact this developer using the Developer's Website link in the App Store? It almost sounds like you may have clicked on a website offering app discounts. In fact, if that's how you connected with this person, I would report it officially to the developer using only the developer's App Store website link so you know you're on the official site.
Click to expand...
Maybe I’m missing something, but I did not see anything in what you posted the indicates a violation of getting a license outside the store.
[automerge]1589307209[/automerge]
If it is a reputable vendor, and importantly, the app itself comes from the App Store, I see no reason not to purchase a license directly.

However, personally, I’d just buy it from the App Store as it’s just that much easier.
 
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planteater said:
If it is a reputable vendor, and importantly, the app itself comes from the App Store, I see no reason not to purchase a license directly.

However, personally, I’d just buy it from the App Store as it’s just that much easier.
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That is a good answer and this is exactly what the developer has told me that he cannot sell promotional code to the end user on rhe App store. Apple does not permits that. He has a seperate App server on which he is gonna add me to the App database and I will still have all the version updates coming from the Apple App store. And will have to download and acess the App as normally anyone would from the Apple App store on my iPad Pro.
 
vish26 said:
That is a good answer and this is exactly what the developer has told me that he cannot sell promotional code to the end user on rhe App store. Apple does not permits that. He has a seperate App server on which he is gonna add me to the App database and I will still have all the version updates coming from the Apple App store. And will have to download and acess the App as normally anyone would from the Apple App store on my iPad Pro.
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This sounds even more sketchy than it did originally. Hard pass.
 
vish26 said:
That is a good answer and this is exactly what the developer has told me that he cannot sell promotional code to the end user on rhe App store. Apple does not permits that. He has a seperate App server on which he is gonna add me to the App database and I will still have all the version updates coming from the Apple App store. And will have to download and acess the App as normally anyone would from the Apple App store on my iPad Pro.
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Yep, that sounds reasonable. Secure, and done legitimately.
[automerge]1589311485[/automerge]
chrfr said:
This sounds even more sketchy than it did originally. Hard pass.
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I’m curious why you think it is sketchy?
  • The code(app) is official.
  • All licenses are stored on developers server, which is very typical.
  • The developer wants to pass a deal on and is willing to work with the customer.
    Nobody has produced evidence that this is against Apples terms. (I could be wrong, just saying no evidence in this thread).
  • Customer is likely happy and passes a recommendation on.
 
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vish26 said:
That is a good answer and this is exactly what the developer has told me that he cannot sell promotional code to the end user on rhe App store. Apple does not permits that. He has a seperate App server on which he is gonna add me to the App database and I will still have all the version updates coming from the Apple App store. And will have to download and acess the App as normally anyone would from the Apple App store on my iPad Pro.
Click to expand...

So I'm assuming this app is free to download, but with an in app purchase to unlock the full functionality? My guess is the app has some logic in it to check with the server to see if you are on the approved list of people who have paid up, whether through the official in app purchase or by paying directly and getting added manually to the list. This way he can sorta backdoor the system, but at the same time he can basically pull the rug out from you at anytime and you're SOL without any official record that you paid.

I mean, its your money, but I sure wouldn't do it.
 
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VforVelveta said:
So I'm assuming this app is free to download, but with an in app purchase to unlock the full functionality? My guess is the app has some logic in it to check with the server to see if you are on the approved list of people who have paid up, whether through the official in app purchase or by paying directly and getting added manually to the list. This way he can sorta backdoor the system, but at the same time he can basically pull the rug out from you at anytime and you're SOL without any official record that you paid.

I mean, its your money, but I sure wouldn't do it.
Click to expand...

You say pull the rug out anytime, ie; remove the license. He could do that to any customer. So that’s not a valid point.

The OP will a receipt (assumption, but a safe one). In the event of an issue, said developer take care of it.
 
planteater said:
You say pull the rug out anytime, ie; remove the license. He could do that to any customer. So that’s not a valid point.

The OP will a receipt (assumption, but a safe one). In the event of an issue, said developer take care of it.
Click to expand...

But using the official system, if he did wipe a customer from the server they can go to Apple, who has the receipt showing this person paid this developer for this functionality. Then you at least have Apple's weight behind you.

Going backdoor, the dev could delete him off the server, then what? Go to Apple and say you have a Paypal receipt to this guy? That transaction has no proven connection to the app as far as Apple is concerned.
 
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