4 ms·

This sucks. I paid $25 for my play console account to monetize my extension two days ago - just to find out they deprecate web store payments entirely.

tyingq 6y ago
I think they should do prorated refunds.
sippingjippers 6y ago
Make up a support e-mail address at random, send refund request to it, wait 14 days, file chargeback, be sure to mention no response to refund request which is attached to the form. Don't worry, they probably don't pay attention to chargebacks either Alternatively, simply wait 12-18 months and the same feature will be relaunched under a slightly different name by a different team
- filoleg 6y ago
  According to everything i read about chargebacks on Google services, they indeed don’t pay attention, they just automatically block access to any of your Google accounts and services shortly after you do a chargeback. And given the horror stories I’ve heard about trying to resolve or reverse any automated account bans by Google, I do not recommend following that route.
  - marcinzm 6y ago
    Yup, companies dislike charge backs and many will block you from all their services for requesting one. So don't go that route unless you never wish to use services from that company again. My wife accidentally did one for a mmorpg she plays and after 6 weeks (and dealing with support, multiple banks, etc.) it was only social media shaming that got them to unban her.
    - Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
      A company can pay more than $100 for a $1 chargeback, regardless of the outcome, and if your amount of chargebacks exceeds certain threshold, a payment processor may just dump you entirely, so it is very understandable, why 'companies hate chargebacks'. Stripe is a processor with more generous chargeback terms than many out there, but merchants with small payments still suffer from them very much.
    - jfrunyon 6y ago
      When I did support for a newly-launched MMO back in 2014, the policy for a chargeback was to permanently disable any using the card, and ban any cards used on those accounts.
    - skinnymuch 6y ago
      There’s been a couple of casual stuff Here and there on how no one will chargeback Amazon (or Walmart depending on demographic). Not worth the risk compared to dependency. I agree myself and ate a $125 loss from Amazon recently when it didn’t feel worth the trouble. But I’m almost any other circumstance, I would’ve charged back. I used an AMEX for the purchase too. Similarly, until I weaned myself off using Amazon for majority of shopping, I had minor anxiety over other Amazon stuff. Like my return rate and I had 2 incidents of being sent junk instead of the couple hundred dollar electronic. I’m sure they log how often it happens to a customer and it’s possible to not be stealing but still get booted if it happens too much.
dewitt 6y ago
I have no connection to any of the teams involved, but if you have problems getting this resolved, please send me a mail (my HN name @google.com) and I'll make it right.
- michaelkaufman 6y ago
  Hi, I'm in the same boat. Do you mind if I write you too please? Thanks.
  - dewitt 6y ago
    Sure thing. Same address. And if it turns out that there's a pattern of a _lot_ of developers who all recently signed up for first-time Google Play Developer accounts just to monetize Chrome apps, I'd be maybe a little surprised, but more than happy to have helped identify an unexpected trend.
    - simon_weber 6y ago
      If I'm understanding the timeline correctly, it's not just recent signups but anybody who has wanted to monetize an extension from March until now, who paid under the expectation that the temporary ban would be lifted.
      - dewitt 6y ago
        Thanks! Mostly I just hated to think that a developer might fall into protracted customer support discussion asking for their account to be refunded, if the $25 turns out to be a hardship. I wouldn't expect this to impact many people, but you never know. I'd also be curious what happens if people ask the normal channels for the refund, of course.
- FriendlyNormie 6y ago
  Why? What’s so special about him that he gets special treatment from you vs the hundreds of other people in his position?
- 6y ago
molticrystal 6y ago
Do a chargeback through the card/bank, they'll have a webform for you to submit it somewhere for contested charges. They'll ask for proof, just put you paid for a service that will no longer exist and include screenshots of the deprecation page.
- xyse53 6y ago
  Has anyone tried this with Google though? Is there a chance it can result in a locked account? And what would recovery be like?
  - zaarn 6y ago
    Yes. Your account is banned. Beg for forgiveness.
- invalidusernam3 6y ago
  Don't do this if you use any other google services on the same account (gmail, drive), there is a good chance your account will get banned
seanwilson 6y ago
You can still integrate another payment system though, just not Google's one.

tyingq 6y ago

I think they should do prorated refunds.

sippingjippers 6y ago

Make up a support e-mail address at random, send refund request to it, wait 14 days, file chargeback, be sure to mention no response to refund request which is attached to the form. Don't worry, they probably don't pay attention to chargebacks either Alternatively, simply wait 12-18 months and the same feature will be relaunched under a slightly different name by a different team

filoleg 6y ago
According to everything i read about chargebacks on Google services, they indeed don’t pay attention, they just automatically block access to any of your Google accounts and services shortly after you do a chargeback. And given the horror stories I’ve heard about trying to resolve or reverse any automated account bans by Google, I do not recommend following that route.
- marcinzm 6y ago
  Yup, companies dislike charge backs and many will block you from all their services for requesting one. So don't go that route unless you never wish to use services from that company again. My wife accidentally did one for a mmorpg she plays and after 6 weeks (and dealing with support, multiple banks, etc.) it was only social media shaming that got them to unban her.
  - Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
    A company can pay more than $100 for a $1 chargeback, regardless of the outcome, and if your amount of chargebacks exceeds certain threshold, a payment processor may just dump you entirely, so it is very understandable, why 'companies hate chargebacks'. Stripe is a processor with more generous chargeback terms than many out there, but merchants with small payments still suffer from them very much.
  - jfrunyon 6y ago
    When I did support for a newly-launched MMO back in 2014, the policy for a chargeback was to permanently disable any using the card, and ban any cards used on those accounts.
  - skinnymuch 6y ago
    There’s been a couple of casual stuff Here and there on how no one will chargeback Amazon (or Walmart depending on demographic). Not worth the risk compared to dependency. I agree myself and ate a $125 loss from Amazon recently when it didn’t feel worth the trouble. But I’m almost any other circumstance, I would’ve charged back. I used an AMEX for the purchase too. Similarly, until I weaned myself off using Amazon for majority of shopping, I had minor anxiety over other Amazon stuff. Like my return rate and I had 2 incidents of being sent junk instead of the couple hundred dollar electronic. I’m sure they log how often it happens to a customer and it’s possible to not be stealing but still get booted if it happens too much.

dewitt 6y ago

I have no connection to any of the teams involved, but if you have problems getting this resolved, please send me a mail (my HN name @google.com) and I'll make it right.

michaelkaufman 6y ago
Hi, I'm in the same boat. Do you mind if I write you too please? Thanks.
- dewitt 6y ago
  Sure thing. Same address. And if it turns out that there's a pattern of a _lot_ of developers who all recently signed up for first-time Google Play Developer accounts just to monetize Chrome apps, I'd be maybe a little surprised, but more than happy to have helped identify an unexpected trend.
  - simon_weber 6y ago
    If I'm understanding the timeline correctly, it's not just recent signups but anybody who has wanted to monetize an extension from March until now, who paid under the expectation that the temporary ban would be lifted.
    - dewitt 6y ago
      Thanks! Mostly I just hated to think that a developer might fall into protracted customer support discussion asking for their account to be refunded, if the $25 turns out to be a hardship. I wouldn't expect this to impact many people, but you never know. I'd also be curious what happens if people ask the normal channels for the refund, of course.
FriendlyNormie 6y ago
Why? What’s so special about him that he gets special treatment from you vs the hundreds of other people in his position?
6y ago

molticrystal 6y ago

Do a chargeback through the card/bank, they'll have a webform for you to submit it somewhere for contested charges. They'll ask for proof, just put you paid for a service that will no longer exist and include screenshots of the deprecation page.

xyse53 6y ago
Has anyone tried this with Google though? Is there a chance it can result in a locked account? And what would recovery be like?
- zaarn 6y ago
  Yes. Your account is banned. Beg for forgiveness.
invalidusernam3 6y ago
Don't do this if you use any other google services on the same account (gmail, drive), there is a good chance your account will get banned

seanwilson 6y ago

You can still integrate another payment system though, just not Google's one.