Reselling promo codes to sell/promote my app.

[markvdb]

This is my first question to this forum, so go easy on me if this has been answered already.
I am working on an iPhone app, and dreaming up ways to promote it at specific events. I know Apple provides 50 free Promo codes to developers. I understand those must be given away free, not sold. This is perfect, but I will need more than 50 promo codes.
My question:
Will apple sell me more promo codes, which i can then resell ? (or some similar workflow ?)
ie. Can a developer promote an iTunes app by reselling voucher codes?
When I become a developer, I want to purchase extra codes and sell them by printing them on scratch cards.
Will apple have a problem with this way of promoting/selling my iPhone app?
I figure Apple will get there cut when I buy the vouchers from apple. But will Apple have an official problem with me reselling those codes?
Thanks so much for this fantastic forum.

 

[darksx]

sounds like a really interesting way to make this work. well.. most likely, you won't be able to purchase the promo codes from apple. you can only get 50 per update. but you can still try asking apple and see what you guys can work out. spore did give out like 200promo codes all at once. so i'm sure something can be done.

 

[iFerd]

You will probably also be constrained by the 28 day life of the promo codes you get. They expire after that if they are unused.

 

[Jeremy1026]

spore did give out like 200promo codes all at once. so i'm sure something can be done.

Spore is also made by EA, a MAJOR player in the app store. They have much more pull then an independent developer.


To the OP: You can't resell promo codes.

3. NO PAYMENT. Except for Application Provider’s obligations set forth in SectioProvider shall provide no payment to Apple for the Custom Codes.

10. WAIVER OF PURCHASE PRICE: Application Provider hereby waives any right to collect any
purchase price, proceeds or remuneration for the distribution and download of the Application in the
Territory via the Custom Codes (regardless of whether any remuneration otherwise would be payable
under the Program Agreement, including Schedule 2 thereto, if applicable). For avoidance of doubt, to
the extent applicable, as between Apple and Application Provider, the Parties’ respective
responsibilities for the payment of any royalties or other similar payments to third parties with respect
to any such distribution and download of the Application shall be as set forth in the Program
Agreement.

11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Application Provider further agrees to the following:

a. Application Provider shall not resell the Custom Codes or accept any form of payment in connection with the distribution of the Custom Codes.

 

[SilentPanda]

Don't have access to the App store right now but can you "Gift" apps to people? I think it just e-mails a code to people... so you might be able to Gift the app to yourself multiple times to get codes...

I don't think you can Gift apps though... might look at it. I don't think the Gifted codes are tied to the receivers e-mail since you may not know that persons account e-mail if it is different from their real e-mail. Like I have an e-mail for friends/family and one for companies.

 

[Jeremy1026]

Don't have access to the App store right now but can you "Gift" apps to people? I think it just e-mails a code to people... so you might be able to Gift the app to yourself multiple times to get codes...

I don't think you can Gift apps though... might look at it. I don't think the Gifted codes are tied to the receivers e-mail since you may not know that persons account e-mail if it is different from their real e-mail. Like I have an e-mail for friends/family and one for companies.

Nope . You can only gift music and video. I would love if Apple would change that and make it so we could gift apps.

 

[gary001]

you are only allowed to give the codes, not sell them. also you get more 50 more codes after each update, so if you need more codes just release an update. it doesnt matter how small it is

 

[jmairs]

Gift apps would be great

 

[MacToddB]

Right. In theory, you could submit 28 apps back to back, and get 50 codes each time, and try to keep track of it all. But in reality, Apple might catch on or get confused when they try to review an update and see 3 more in the queue, and just review the most recent.

On a related note, EA apparently had a LOT more than 200 Spore codes. I was in a BestBuy and they had about 50 preprinted plastic gift cards hanging on a rack in the iPod section, EXCLUSIVELY for the Spore app. And they were selling them for $6.99 (the cost of the app). So there was no financial advantage, just the ability to "give" the app in meatspace.

But here's the kicker... they had an expiration date BEFORE the date I was in the BestBuy store. So people might have purchased them and been SOL. I tried to find a BestBuy sales rep but they were all busy and I had to run.

Here's a link to an offer with a card to be mailed separately...so EA clearly has their own deal:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat167900050124&type=category&DCMP=rdr0001702

 

[markvdb]

Does apple have no way for someone to buy an app for a friend as a gift?

 

[Jeremy1026]

Does apple have no way for someone to buy an app for a friend as a gift?

See the above posts (mainly mine)...no you can't.

 

[Jeremy1026]

Right. In theory, you could submit 28 apps back to back, and get 50 codes each time, and try to keep track of it all. But in reality, Apple might catch on or get confused when they try to review an update and see 3 more in the queue, and just review the most recent.

Only problem with that is that you can't have more then one update in queue for any one app at a time.

 

[KRAPPS]

Does apple have no way for someone to buy an app for a friend as a gift?

No kidding .... absurd ... I am floored Apple is missing out this additional revenue stream, especially during Holiday season. Gift app's are a no-brainer for everyone ... consumers, developers and Apple.

 

[gary001]

Right. In theory, you could submit 28 apps back to back, and get 50 codes each time, and try to keep track of it all. But in reality, Apple might catch on or get confused when they try to review an update and see 3 more in the queue, and just review the most recent.

actually, once an update has been approved, the codes made on the old version no longer work. So u wait till all the codes r gone THEN u submit an update. Apple probably wont get too suspicious this way, plus they have to deal with all the crap that comes thru, they might not notice

 

[MacToddB]

actually, once an update has been approved, the codes made on the old version no longer work. So u wait till all the codes r gone THEN u submit an update. Apple probably wont get too suspicious this way, plus they have to deal with all the crap that comes thru, they might not notice

We had another thread on this and the consensus was the old codes work.