Amazon App Store Fail, Fail, Fail

darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
edited March 2012 in iPhone and Android Publishing
Just requested Amazon to remove my app from their app store.

I posted the app about 2 weeks ago, and in the first 8 days gained 16 sales. That's nothing significant, but I was pleased.

Then someone posted a very negative comment and gave the app 1 star, and sales have stopped completely.

This is despite the fact that the reviewer isn’t doesn’t have "Amazon Verified Purchase" next to their name, so it seems unlikely they’ve actually used the app. It seems clear that it was a competitor.

Regardless, I really don’t feel the comment was warranted, since it seemed to focus on only one relatively minor aspect of the app, and even then wasn’t really correct, implying that the person hadn't used it.

I asked Amazon to moderate feedback from unreasonable anonymous reviewers, but they’re unwilling to help. Anyway, I’ve now told Amazon to pull the app.

Needless to say, I’m really very disappointed with Amazon. If they’re unwilling support their developers, then it’s a waste of time bothering with their app store.

I made $24 from the sales, but I guess that Amazon will keep this, since they don't make payments until $100 has been achieved.

Darian

Comments

  • ShadowMoonShadowMoon Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2012
    Just requested Amazon to remove my app from their app store.

    I posted the app about 2 weeks ago, and in the first 8 days gained 16 sales. That's nothing significant, but I was pleased.

    Then someone posted a very negative comment and gave the app 1 star, and sales have stopped completely.

    Darian
    what is that comment about? you know there are so many bad app in app store. Most of the app could possibly made by kids. Some apps about moving squares....you know what i mean. here is the point, is your app good enough to make the reviewers leave some good comments? No one like to leave a bad comment on the game they like.
  • firemaplegamesfiremaplegames Member Posts: 3,211
    If I was you, I would respond to the comment in that thread. Hopefully you can address the issue and resolve it?

    That's actually one of the things I do like about the Amazon market - the fact that you can sort of interact with customers through those review threads.

    I've had great success on the Amazon market, it has great potential. I'd hate to see you give up just because of one bad review.
  • darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
    Clock -- I don't think I've got a great app, but it's sold about 500 copies on iTunes, and no-one has hated it enough (yet) to say a bad word. I haven't had any positive feedback either, but I reckon if it was really bad, at least some of the 500 people would have said something. But they haven't. Regardless, the negative comment was absurd because it relates to a very minor aspect of the app.

    Firemaplegames -- I did respond, but the person hasn't come back to me. I even offered to answer any questions to resolve the problem, but nothing. I don't want to give up, but sales have been a big fat 0 for the past week, after doing OK in the first week, until the comment arrived. As I said to Amazon support, I don't want to be involved in a market where anyone can say anything, no matter whether they've bought the app or not. That is just absurd.
  • ShadowMoonShadowMoon Member Posts: 146
    whats the name of ur game?
  • FallacyStudiosFallacyStudios Member Posts: 970
    In my opinion ratings are broken on all markets. That's just because for the mass majority you would need to have like 300-600 people that love a game to get 1 good review and just 1 or a few people that hate it to get a bad review. It can really destroy new games very quickly because of this. The ones that hold good ratings just have to be so damn good that no one complains (but I have seen competitors give me bad ratings on one of my apps as well). That's why I have sometimes motivated people to leave reviews by offering to release new content once it has 100 5 star ratings or what not. Works pretty well actually.

    Besides that... I know what you mean with the Amazon store. The trick is to sign on to your friends amazon accounts and just leave yourself a bunch of good ratings to out weight the bad. People that don't like a game are way more likely to complain than those who do like a game to leave a review. So if you want to give yours a shot you pretty much have to make fraudulent reviews lol.
  • FallacyStudiosFallacyStudios Member Posts: 970
    In my opinion ratings are broken on all markets. That's just because for the mass majority you would need to have like 300-600 people that love a game to get 1 good review and just 1 or a few people that hate it to get a bad review. It can really destroy new games very quickly because of this. The ones that hold good ratings just have to be so damn good that no one complains (but I have seen competitors give me bad ratings on one of my apps as well). That's why I have sometimes motivated people to leave reviews by offering to release new content once it has 100 5 star ratings or what not. Works pretty well actually.

    Besides that... I know what you mean with the Amazon store. The trick is to sign on to your friends amazon accounts and just leave yourself a bunch of good ratings to out weight the bad. People that don't like a game are way more likely to complain than those who do like a game to leave a review. So if you want to give yours a shot you pretty much have to make fraudulent reviews lol.
  • darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
    The app is Fiction Idea Generator (http://www.amazon.com/FigApps-Net-Limited-Fiction-Idea-Generator/dp/B007IUQCCU/ref=pd_sim_mas_4). It is now unavailable on Amazon, but you can still see the page. I edited the comments, so what is there now doesn't reflect the efforts I made to understand the complainers concerns (if they were genuine, which I doubt).
  • ShadowMoonShadowMoon Member Posts: 146
    "This app just gives you random thoughts without any rhyme or reason. I could just as easily open any book or magazine and close my eyes and point to a word and get the same results and that doesn't cost $2."

    He got his point. why so upset about it?
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    Yeah i see no reason to get upset over that review. He was stating his opinion.
  • darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
    Firstly, the person hasn't bought the app, at least not from Amazon. If they bought it from iTunes, they'd have left a comment there, but they haven't.

    Secondly, it's really quite hard to understand what the person is referring to in the app. There are 7 modules, but s/he seems to have focused on one, and even then not gotten the right end of the stick. If they'd actually bought and used the app, they'd have seen that for themselves.

    Thirdly, there's nothing in their review on which to base any improvement. It's just a rather mean spirited "this is a piece of unredeemable crap that isn't even worth $2". Perhaps I'm just disappointed that humans can be so shitty when veiled behind a cloak of anonymity.

    Most irritating though is that Amazon is allowing someone who hasn't bought the app to kill it dead. I'd have hoped that they'd support new developers, and it's clear they don't.
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    @darianb: I'm sorry to hear about your review.

    I hate to say it, but you have to develop tough skin, and not read too much into people's reviews.

    Granted, some of them are helpful, and even though some of them can sound mean, I try to read them constructively, and from an unbiased perspective.

    It's easy to become emotional when reading reviews, especially 1 stars, but don't take it personally, and don't pull your app over one review.

    Good luck to you!
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    Yes like butterbean said your gonna have to get used to that if you plan on releasing apps and games, if not your in for alot of stress and misery.
  • lycettebroslycettebros Member, PRO Posts: 1,598
    Actually getting one review means someone cares enough to respond.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • The_Gamesalad_GuruThe_Gamesalad_Guru Member Posts: 9,922
    Welcome to the business world.

    Guru Video Channel   | Lost Oasis Games | FRYING BACON STUDIOS  

  • NmdogdudeNmdogdude Member Posts: 174
    Don't let that 1 review get you down, eventually you'll get more downloads, also it doesn't hurt to spread the word on facebook/twitter, (if you have one).

    BTW what's it called? I would like to try it and see why that 1 guy hates it.
  • PimanPiman Member, PRO Posts: 165
    Put your app back in and make it even better. I just checked out the screenshots and it's obvious that this app is made to provide idea starters for writing. Pretty neat, especially if it boasts a substantial database to give enough varied ideas.

    The reviewer does indeed seem to have missed the point and the critique isn't valid, because no - I cannot open a random book and get a plot outline or fictional character generated.

    One thing I would change is the text that says "your random X is..." after generation. It devalues the generation - sure, it's "random", but it's not non-selectively random at all - and perhaps the person who wrote this review got stuck on that word too.

    Your character is..
    Your plot is...

    P.S. Maybe add "plot device" generation to it?

    Try to notify writer websites about it.

  • darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
    Thanks for all the advice. Android is off for now, but iPhone / iPad is alive and kicking. As a thank you to all, here are some iTunes promo codes.

    iPhone:-
    9W6HLTFTLJWF
    XJWM36XXTLA7
    J44936TLW63A
    43TH4NLM69L6
    E9M4373LWY6N

    iPad:-
    ERJAK7YRM6LP
    6EP6XHATJ7W9
    EF6LNFFPHTML
    9PP6WH3777YY
    49L7H4APHRA9

    All the best!
  • darianbdarianb Member Posts: 24
    I guess I should have posted the URLs:

    iPhone: http://t.co/UcXeDEqN
    iPad: http://t.co/TyYZkxcP
  • bajashbajash Member, PRO Posts: 215

    Hi,
    You do have to have a thick skin in this business. The 99¢ world is full of critics. If the comments are legitimate then use them to make improvements.
    Realize users forget they should just comment on what the do not like or do like about the app and that is it.
    I have read reviews before I buy an app and want to see if the app works as described. I don't care if the user feels it is boring or a waste of money, tell me why. Use your opinions wisely.

    Don't give up because of a bad review.
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