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Why would any store allow its products to advertise a cheaper price outside the establishment? What would be the point of even offering those products?

kemayo 5y ago
Well, in Apple's case, it's because having e.g. Netflix available on iOS devices makes people more likely to buy their very-expensive hardware. If people couldn't get the assorted free service-client apps on iOS, that'd be a problem for Apple. Even with the store metaphor, "loss leaders" to draw people in so they'll spend money on other things are a popular technique.
PeterisP 5y ago
Manufacturers can and do print some 'manufacturer's suggested retail price' on their products, and (in the absence of a specific contract prohibiting so) retailers can and do sell them for a higher price despite the company and product advertising that in general they are available cheaper.
justapassenger 5y ago
A lot of products you buy (especially ones that are huge recurring purchases, like lots of baby stuff) include coupons that direct you to the website to buy more via direct subscription. It’s insane that in my product I cannot tell people about ways you can purchase it. Defending this rule seems like Stockholm syndrome.
- eigen 5y ago
  > A lot of products you buy (especially ones that are huge recurring purchases, like lots of baby stuff) include coupons that direct you to the website to buy more via direct subscription. is there a 15/30% fee for physical goods such as DoorDash, Amazon, etc? thought it was just for digital goods, subscriptions, etc.
kwyjobojoe 5y ago
Apps are not Apple products.
- vineyardmike 5y ago
  And the products on the shelves of stores are not the store's products. Apple sells apps. Apps that were made by others. Walmart sells X. X that was made by others.
  - lexs 5y ago
    Apple didn't buy the apps from the developers, they provide a marketplace. Don't most supermarkets own their inventory?
    - vineyardmike 5y ago
      I think a lot of businesses "borrow" the inventory from the supplier and only pay them once the inventory is sold. It's not the same as a marketplace, per-se but considering you pay apple, download from apple servers, after apple does "QA" and follows apple rules, i'd say its pretty similar to a store that sources select products and provides the checkout infrastructure and distribution logistics.

kemayo 5y ago

Well, in Apple's case, it's because having e.g. Netflix available on iOS devices makes people more likely to buy their very-expensive hardware. If people couldn't get the assorted free service-client apps on iOS, that'd be a problem for Apple. Even with the store metaphor, "loss leaders" to draw people in so they'll spend money on other things are a popular technique.

PeterisP 5y ago

Manufacturers can and do print some 'manufacturer's suggested retail price' on their products, and (in the absence of a specific contract prohibiting so) retailers can and do sell them for a higher price despite the company and product advertising that in general they are available cheaper.

justapassenger 5y ago

A lot of products you buy (especially ones that are huge recurring purchases, like lots of baby stuff) include coupons that direct you to the website to buy more via direct subscription. It’s insane that in my product I cannot tell people about ways you can purchase it. Defending this rule seems like Stockholm syndrome.

eigen 5y ago
> A lot of products you buy (especially ones that are huge recurring purchases, like lots of baby stuff) include coupons that direct you to the website to buy more via direct subscription. is there a 15/30% fee for physical goods such as DoorDash, Amazon, etc? thought it was just for digital goods, subscriptions, etc.

kwyjobojoe 5y ago

Apps are not Apple products.

vineyardmike 5y ago
And the products on the shelves of stores are not the store's products. Apple sells apps. Apps that were made by others. Walmart sells X. X that was made by others.
- lexs 5y ago
  Apple didn't buy the apps from the developers, they provide a marketplace. Don't most supermarkets own their inventory?
  - vineyardmike 5y ago
    I think a lot of businesses "borrow" the inventory from the supplier and only pay them once the inventory is sold. It's not the same as a marketplace, per-se but considering you pay apple, download from apple servers, after apple does "QA" and follows apple rules, i'd say its pretty similar to a store that sources select products and provides the checkout infrastructure and distribution logistics.