Qbix Calendar Apps and the Mac App Store
A reader shared a story about the confusing and unfortunate situation with Qbix’s calendar apps on the Mac App Store. There are two separate apps: Calendars (which used to be called Calendar 2, previously discussed) and Calendar Plus.
Calendar Plus hasn’t been updated in 10 years but is still for sale as a $9.99 up-front purchase. The reader first purchased this one, but then he found that it doesn’t work on macOS 10.13 and got a refund.
He then purchased Calendars, which is free with In-App Purchase. He purchased the $17.99 IAP called “Unlock All Features Permanently,” rather than subscribing for $1.99/month or $15.99/year. Unfortunately, the IAP “expired” after exactly one month. Reviews say that support is only available via Facebook and that the developer is unresponsive to questions. He tried to get a refund from Apple but was told:
After reviewing your account details Apple decides no.
So the Mac App Store, which is supposed to protect customers, failed twice: the purchase didn’t work as advertised, and Apple didn’t make the customer whole. Nor did it do anything to protect future customers: nearly a year later, the app hasn’t been updated, and the broken permanent unlock IAP is still available.
Previously:
- Click-to-Cancel
- The Top PDF Reader in the Mac App Store
- IAP Bait-And-Switch Apps
- App Store Refunds and Reviews
- Calendar 2 App Could Mine Crypto-Currency in Lieu of IAP
- Apple Support Tells Customers to Ask Developer for Refund
Update (2024-10-24): sundevil671 (via Jeff Johnson):
I purchased [a different] app that doesn’t work how I need it to. After exhaustive troubleshooting attempts with their helpful support staff, it became clear I wasn’t going to be able to use the software as intended. When I requested a pro-rated refund for the annual subscription I’d purchased, I was told the request had to be made through Apple’s process since the purchase was made through the App Store. Apple denied the request so quickly it almost had to be automated, and the appeal of that decision denied almost as fast. I’m not sure how much weight such an appeal could even be given since they provide a tiny field for an explanation and no way to include supporting documentation of any kind. I was prepared to include transcripts of my interactions with the software’s support staff that acknowledged the malfunction & suggested I submit the request through Apple. The last resort was to try and dispute the charge through my credit card company, which I’ve discovered to be a fool’s errand with Chase for many years now. On that front it was denied immediately as well.
So my question is - is there any recourse whatsoever if you purchase an application that ends up not working in an essential way? Now I have a $100 application I can’t use, and am going to have to purchase another one for the same purpose.
As far as I know, there is no solution, even if the developer wants to help. Disputing the credit card charge—which, incidentally, was harder with an Apple Card—can work in other contexts but is not a good idea with Apple because it can endanger your entire Apple Account.
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Please do some fact checking.I tried to click on support link on the mac app store and it goes to developer website and the developer replies. Sure the app wasn't updated but I don't see any support request from the customer. The developer is active.
@Marek The reviews say what I said they said. The support link goes to a Discourse forum, which has no visible posts or replies for the Calendars app.
I’ve had success the very few times I’ve ever requested a refund from Apple, but this is some bullshit.
The whole point of the Apple tax is that stuff like this is supposed to be taken care of. If it isn’t — and there isn’t a way to get a refund that doesn’t endanger your entire Apple account (which is insane), that makes Apple’s rationale for charging 30% for every app, even apps that are glorified web wrappers, that much more insane and indefensible.
