There are numerous complaints that customers have about Apple’s App Store. You can’t try an app before you buy it, no refunds on apps, false app reviews, and from a developer’s standpoint, too many restrictions and rules. Apple is now trying to fix at least one of those problems. The App Store now requires users to purchase an app before they can provide a review of it.
Sorry, You Need to Purchase This App First
Customers of the App Store will be in for a rude awakening if they try to review an app without purchasing it first. Customers intending to do so will encounter the following error message:
When checking out reviews of App Store apps, we’ve all seen the comments about fake reviews. The App Store’s review system has helped perpetuate itself into a free for all buffet for spam and phony reviews. Users were welcome to leave any comment they wish with no consequences. Needless to say, Apple is looking to stop this from happening in the future.
A Step in the Right Direction
While, this won’t quell more problematic concerns with the App Store, developers will appreciate the new restriction. Fake reviews can cause developers serious head-aches. These fake reviews are usually negative or positive depending on numerous factors such as developer popularity and overall community opinion. Developers won’t have to worry about fake bad press or fake positive reviews. Apple is hopying that this new restriction will stop the App Store from being more of a popularity contest, than a useful center for information.
