4 ms·
App Store bundles are a potential solution, especially since developers can now unlist an app so it can't be found unless there's a direct link to it. It's not
by eddyg 5y ago
App Store bundles are a potential solution, especially since developers can now unlist an app so it can't be found unless there's a direct link to it. It's not perfect, but it's a workable approach.
Say you've had FooBarWizard in the App Store for a couple years at 99¢ and want to offer "upgrade pricing" to the all-new FooBarWizard 2 (which will be $1.99).
Add FooBarWizard 2 in the App Store. Publish a new version of FooBarWizard that includes an announcement that "FooBarWizard 2 is now available in a specially-priced upgrade bundle" (a one-time pop-up or something, and then a mention on the Settings screen, for example) so existing customers know about it. Create a bundle in the App Store with FooBarWizard and FooBarWizard 2 priced at $1.99, then unlist FooBarWizard.
The price of the bundle has to be at least as high as the most expensive app in the bundle. The net cost to the user is the difference between the bundle price and what was paid for the original app. So an existing user can buy the bundle and get FooBarWizard 2 for the "upgrade price" of $1. (A "new user" that tries to buy the 2-item bundle that only has 1 item pays $1.99 and still only gets FooBarWizard 2, because the original FooBarWizard is unlisted.)