There should be an app cooling off/demo period.

[LiveForever]

I have brought about three apps I am really not happy with as they don't do what was on the box or they are basically not very good and imo over sold.

apple should really introduce a 2 (??) day cooling off or demo period so you can decide to either keep or give back the app.

As the app store is so tightly integrated with your itunes account and iphone I'm sure they could think of a way to delete it off your iphone and itunes account so there would be no risk of copying it.

I am now extremely cautious when I buy apps as the developers spin a lot of garbage to try and sway you to part with your few dollars.

OK only a few dollars but it adds up.

I would rather pay double knowing I had the option to test it before I commit to it.

I'm sure this would push up the general quality of the apps too as now its "well what do they expect for a dollar"

 

[WPB2]

Well thats life i guess. I paid 20 buck for an app that seems crappy. I just live with it. i will make the money back on my next paycheck though.

 

[LiveForever]

There aren't many examples of things you buy on good faith but have no chance to test out or return if you don't like them.

Even conventional software have demo or trial licences.

If you brought say a packet or chocolate covered cornflakes but they didn't have chocolate on them its not oh tough but we WILL add chocolate in the next batch. You take it back to the shop for a refund.

I have brought apps which clearly do not have features claimed in the app store and there should be some recourse. The report a problem button never ever yields a reply.

For example in Diet Tracker it says it has an excercise point calculator, well I can't find it. It's also very bad to use and not a patch on other free weight control apps.

 

[saltyzoo]

There aren't many examples of things you buy on good faith but have no chance to test out or return if you don't like them.

Even conventional software have demo or trial licences.

If you brought say a packet or chocolate covered cornflakes but they didn't have chocolate on them its not oh tough but we WILL add chocolate in the next batch. You take it back to the shop for a refund.

I have brought apps which clearly do not have features claimed in the app store and there should be some recourse. The report a problem button never ever yields a reply.

For example in Diet Tracker it says it has an excercise point calculator, well I can't find it. It's also very bad to use and not a patch on other free weight control apps.

I agree with you, but it will not happen.

The problem is that the whole sales model is based on impulse buying. I'll bet I'd have "returned" over half of the apps I bought to "try".

It would probably take a huge bite out of their profits.

Also, what prevents me from "trying" an app out every time I need it and never buying it?

 

[iFerd]

Also, what prevents me from "trying" an app out every time I need it and never buying it?

There is lots of trial software in the desktop and PDA world that have time limitations on being functional. And they keep track of prior installations in some way so that you can't install repeatedly. I can't see any obvious reason iPhone applications couldn't do the same if the will to do so were present.

Pirates will defeat such safeguards, I suppose, but I assume there are currently ways to get around the App Store to pirate today's iPhone apps. So that seems like a lame excuse to prevent try-before-you-buy in the App Store.

 

[LostLogik]

If an app doesn't do what it's advertised to do then kick up a fuss with Apple. I managed to get my money back from Apple for a duff app just by clicking the report problem button, so refunds are possible.

But a demo period is highly unlikely to happen. However you can sort out the chaff from the wheat when developers start offering "lite" versions. That sort of commitment usually suggest good support and worth investigating.

Do impulse buying and you may suffer.

 

[kyto]

And they keep track of prior installations in some way so that you can't install repeatedly. I can't see any obvious reason iPhone applications couldn't do the same if the will to do so were present.

if that were true what if there is a major update and you want to buy the app but can't becuase you have already gotten your money back.

 

[Tallest Skil]

There is lots of trial software in the desktop and PDA world that have time limitations on being functional. And they keep track of prior installations in some way so that you can't install repeatedly.

And both of these limitations can be removed so that the trial can be reused just by deleting the appropriate files in your Library.

You see, "they" is actually "your computer's Library file".

 

[Daremo]

I think a fully functional app should be downloaded for free, and only launch 4 or 5 times to test it. Then, if you want it, purchase it.

 

[firewood]

If an app is expensive enough that I care about whether it's worth the asking price, I wait for several good reviews from competent sounding users before I purchase. That time is your "cooling off" period. The current "Terms of Sale" for the App store don't allow you to do much more about apps which don't live up to your interpretation of the product description.

If you don't want to wait for enough reviews, and buy a bad app, consider that a cost of your hastiness.

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