Apple decided on Friday to waive its usual 30% App Store fee for Facebook events until the end of the year.
Last month, Facebook launched a new feature letting small businesses charge users for online Facebook events, but publicly criticized Apple for continuing to take a 30% cut from in-app purchases, which Facebook said would result in small businesses only getting 70% of event profits.
Adding to the conflict, Apple then rejected an app update from Facebook attempting to notify iPhone users about Apple’s 30% cut inside the Facebook app, Reuters reported.
But on Friday, both companies appeared to reach a compromise: Apple won’t take a cut of Facebook event transactions until the end of the year… Apple said it gave Facebook a reprieve because small businesses need time to adjust to holding online events during the pandemic.
MacDailyNews Take: Waiving the App Store fee through the end of the year is very generous of Apple as, despite what some delusional companies seem to believe, the App Store doesn’t just magically operate for free.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Stupid Apple it will never end, sometimes you have to say no like saying no to Flash on the iPhone.
I agree Danox, this is the wrong precedent to set, whoever within Apple gave Tim that advice is a corporate mole. Very unjobsonian.
Apple should have no say in the matter. None.
But why Facebook? Already they are inequitable.
Now Epic will whine for a variance too.
The situation seems to be a bit different here since it’s not FB that’s charging the ‘consumer’ (Event provider) as would be should it be a ‘normal’ in-app purchase. In this case, like Apple, FB is the ‘merchant’ meaning if Apple does charge the 30% it’s actually charging the consumer not the App provider FB which appears to be taking no cut. If FB had taken a cut I would agree that Apple could have 30% of that.
I create Facebook events all the time. Sometimes I charge. Almost always for non-profits, schools, and political campaigns. Sometimes I use Eventbrite who have a partnership with Facebook. Sometimes I use ActBlue, Mobilize, Donorbox, or NGPVAN. I’m sure other event organizers have used hundreds of other payment systems. I never set-up these events on a mobile device, only on my computer. But I will awfully fu¢king pissed off if Apple tries to take a 30% cut off of my event from the people who buy a ticket using an iOS device, something that wouldn’t happen if they purchased a ticket using any other operating system. That has zero to do with the Apple Store and would be a PR disaster for the world’s largest business to charge an “iPhone tax” to ripoff small business, charities, PTAs, and public servants.
I hate to see Apple getting biatch-slapped by Facebook because Facebook can get away with all sorts of privacy- and security-breach shenanigans and is never punished. The Feds have no control over Facebook because Mark Zuckerberg is smarter than most of those people. Zuckerberg is so wealthy, I’m sure he strikes fear into any group of people going after him. Anyway, since people love Facebook, so I suppose as long as the masses are happy, Facebook will do whatever it pleases. No one fears Apple because it seems to be a pacifist type of company. It seems as though a lot of people are trying to tear down Apple’s walled garden. That’s a shame when a company can’t protect a secure platform.
Tim Cook is a hired hand, not the owner operator, being a hired hand makes you weaker (not as person) than the owner operator of a company……ie Bezos, Zuckerberg or Larry Ellison they control and own their companies. Jobs however was in a little different position. (he was known for taking no crap and he was at one time a owner operator at Apple).
Tim isn’t weak but I think some, however perceive him wrongly as being weak or as a hired hand temporary as a CEO.
Bullshit. Facebook isn’t making money off of this feature, small business, charities, and PTAs are. If Apple charge a 30% fee that would be hurting the smallest of entities.
The new age culture of entitlements and freeloading is upon us.
Zuckerberg touts FB’s security but it’s the kind where all comments and images are secured within FB so that he gets it all and sells you as a product to advertisers and people fall for this bullcaca as if it’s the same high level of security as Apple that does NOT sell you as a product.