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It is similar, but not identical. A department store buys physical goods from a vendor, and then sells them to consumers. An App Store provides distribution and

It is similar, but not identical. A department store buys physical goods from a vendor, and then sells them to consumers. An App Store provides distribution and payment services to vendors and consumers. For a department store, it is very clear that you are buying from the department store. They own the physical goods at the time of sale. For an App Store, most people would agree that the Store does not own the digital goods they are selling to consumers. So, while a superficially similar transaction occurs, both the nature of digital goods and the difference between goods and services makes for pretty vast differences under the surface.

jimktrains2 7y ago
> For a department store, it is very clear that you are buying from the department store. They own the physical goods at the time of sale. Just to bit pick and it doesn't really change your point, but I thought a lot of places basically do consignment now for their vendors and don't own much of their stock?
- bduerst 7y ago
  This is true. A lot of inventory in big box retail isn't owned by the retailer, but the distributer/manufacturer. More and more big box retailers are moving into the business of leasing out floor space, and ditching buying and selling inventory. The difference is that big box retailers won't force you to only make purchases with their credit cards or other vertical integration limitations.