3 ms·

Am I mistaken or is the premise: I don't like that users have an opinion about my app?

kotaKat 2mo ago
I think Principal Skinner tried to learn how to code. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1E847QrQs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1E847QrQs
tensor 2mo ago
That's my read. Both reviews seem fair to me. E.g. if translation is important to that user then maybe it's better to take a note of it rather than be angry. Also, being upset about users hating your obnoxious nag screen? hahah wow.
- ghusto 2mo ago
  "This app didn't have a feature that it didn't advertise it had, ONE STAR!". Really? He explains why the request for ratings exists in the post. I'll never review a well known brand if they pester me, but go out of my way to make time for indies (including real world shops) when they do. Let's all be a little less entitled.
scottyah 2mo ago
The exact opposite, really. You live or die by app store ratings. Too many ratings are bogus (don't accurately describe the app's functionality, just some random feeling the user has in the moment). Either the App Store should take on more burden to ensure ratings are accurate (perhaps criteria? disincentivize false ratings?), or eliminate/downplay the system. There are already commenters proudly declaring they abuse the system because there is just no incentives not to.
- ezfe 2mo ago
  People I know have confirmed that using the built in rating prompt system yields a high volume of 5 star ratings
- tensor 2mo ago
  The one star nag review is accurate to me. As a potential user, I know not to buy the app. I despise ads and nag screens are in the same boat. Just because you don't like the value system of your users doesn't mean you get to call them false or fake. Good product managers LISTEN to their users. You clearly are not willing to do that, despite the now overwhelming validation of your users complaints you are receiving.
  - lapcat 2mo ago
    > The one star nag review is accurate to me. As a potential user, I know not to buy the app. I despise ads and nag screens are in the same boat. How do you know it's accurate, when you haven't used my app? That's actually not accurate. I don't have a nag screen.
    - echoangle 2mo ago
      > complaining that my app requested a rating… like the majority of other apps in the App Store! But your paid for app does request a rating when using it? That’s what people call a nag screen
      - lapcat 2mo ago
        > But your paid for app does request a rating when using it? Yes. > That’s what people call a nag screen No. Where do you get "screen from? Ironically, there are some comments here that suggest I do the something that I'm in fact doing already: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49099655 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49099655 > So put a "hey, a rating really helps" somewhere in the app that doesn't interrupt? > The bottom of the dashboard. Top of settings. A banner that shows up after a while. Let me permanently say no; none of the passive-aggressive "maybe later" shit. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49102435 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49102435 > Well, not covering content helps. People read the single word "nag" and assumed something much worse than the reality. If you define "nag" as any request for a review, regardless of the form in which it appears, then you could say that it nags, but as soon as you start talking about a nag screen, covering content, a modal dialog, etc., that's a totally inaccurate depiction of what my app does.
- Grombobulous 2mo ago
  Or maybe you don’t live or die by ratings. The #140th most popular free app, StudentVUE, has an abysmal 2.1 star rating. The app for my soundbar has a 1.8 star rating. The app that my favorite karaoke bar uses to sign up has a 2.3 star rating. Whether you live or die by App Store ratings depends on your chosen business model.
  - scottyah 2mo ago
    Oh yes let me just change my business model from being a solo dev to a thousand employee+ business in a completely different industry that just happens to have a companion app with almost no bearing on the company's success. Why ever did I not think of that?
- tredre3 2mo ago
  > just some random feeling the user has in the moment That is the risk you take when you spam the user with popups begging for a review after a specific action. If the user isn't satisfied with the result or the popup disrupt their flow, they will (rightfully) be in a bad mood when they review your app.
ghusto 2mo ago
You are mistaken. > Indie developers can’t win in the App Store. Since we’re mostly unknown to the public, we need positive App Store ratings and reviews for our apps to encourage purchases. If we don’t request ratings from all users, then the self-initiated ratings tend to be disproportionately people with a complaint rather than satisfied users
duxup 2mo ago
I think it is more that ratings just aren't a great metric for app quality. The people doing the rating aren't necessarily even knowledgeable about the app they're reviewing let alone other similar apps. I would agree. But I'd also say basic ratings of all kinds ... sort of stink for the same reason(s).
wanhandle 2mo ago
Yes, but I want to give OP the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure it's frustrating to put the work into building an app with several features only to receive a one-star review because a user feels slighted by one specific behavior, but this is how users have been trained to behave because it's the only lever of power the users have. Writing a thoughtful and detailed feature request or bug report is often a fool's errand. Users just give the app 1 star and move on.

I think Principal Skinner tried to learn how to code. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1E847QrQs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1E847QrQs

tensor 2mo ago

That's my read. Both reviews seem fair to me. E.g. if translation is important to that user then maybe it's better to take a note of it rather than be angry. Also, being upset about users hating your obnoxious nag screen? hahah wow.

ghusto 2mo ago
"This app didn't have a feature that it didn't advertise it had, ONE STAR!". Really? He explains why the request for ratings exists in the post. I'll never review a well known brand if they pester me, but go out of my way to make time for indies (including real world shops) when they do. Let's all be a little less entitled.

scottyah 2mo ago

The exact opposite, really. You live or die by app store ratings. Too many ratings are bogus (don't accurately describe the app's functionality, just some random feeling the user has in the moment). Either the App Store should take on more burden to ensure ratings are accurate (perhaps criteria? disincentivize false ratings?), or eliminate/downplay the system. There are already commenters proudly declaring they abuse the system because there is just no incentives not to.

ezfe 2mo ago
People I know have confirmed that using the built in rating prompt system yields a high volume of 5 star ratings
tensor 2mo ago
The one star nag review is accurate to me. As a potential user, I know not to buy the app. I despise ads and nag screens are in the same boat. Just because you don't like the value system of your users doesn't mean you get to call them false or fake. Good product managers LISTEN to their users. You clearly are not willing to do that, despite the now overwhelming validation of your users complaints you are receiving.
- lapcat 2mo ago
  > The one star nag review is accurate to me. As a potential user, I know not to buy the app. I despise ads and nag screens are in the same boat. How do you know it's accurate, when you haven't used my app? That's actually not accurate. I don't have a nag screen.
  - echoangle 2mo ago
    > complaining that my app requested a rating… like the majority of other apps in the App Store! But your paid for app does request a rating when using it? That’s what people call a nag screen
    - lapcat 2mo ago
      > But your paid for app does request a rating when using it? Yes. > That’s what people call a nag screen No. Where do you get "screen from? Ironically, there are some comments here that suggest I do the something that I'm in fact doing already: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49099655 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49099655 > So put a "hey, a rating really helps" somewhere in the app that doesn't interrupt? > The bottom of the dashboard. Top of settings. A banner that shows up after a while. Let me permanently say no; none of the passive-aggressive "maybe later" shit. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49102435 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49102435 > Well, not covering content helps. People read the single word "nag" and assumed something much worse than the reality. If you define "nag" as any request for a review, regardless of the form in which it appears, then you could say that it nags, but as soon as you start talking about a nag screen, covering content, a modal dialog, etc., that's a totally inaccurate depiction of what my app does.
Grombobulous 2mo ago
Or maybe you don’t live or die by ratings. The #140th most popular free app, StudentVUE, has an abysmal 2.1 star rating. The app for my soundbar has a 1.8 star rating. The app that my favorite karaoke bar uses to sign up has a 2.3 star rating. Whether you live or die by App Store ratings depends on your chosen business model.
- scottyah 2mo ago
  Oh yes let me just change my business model from being a solo dev to a thousand employee+ business in a completely different industry that just happens to have a companion app with almost no bearing on the company's success. Why ever did I not think of that?
tredre3 2mo ago
> just some random feeling the user has in the moment That is the risk you take when you spam the user with popups begging for a review after a specific action. If the user isn't satisfied with the result or the popup disrupt their flow, they will (rightfully) be in a bad mood when they review your app.

ghusto 2mo ago

You are mistaken. > Indie developers can’t win in the App Store. Since we’re mostly unknown to the public, we need positive App Store ratings and reviews for our apps to encourage purchases. If we don’t request ratings from all users, then the self-initiated ratings tend to be disproportionately people with a complaint rather than satisfied users

duxup 2mo ago

I think it is more that ratings just aren't a great metric for app quality. The people doing the rating aren't necessarily even knowledgeable about the app they're reviewing let alone other similar apps. I would agree. But I'd also say basic ratings of all kinds ... sort of stink for the same reason(s).

wanhandle 2mo ago

Yes, but I want to give OP the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure it's frustrating to put the work into building an app with several features only to receive a one-star review because a user feels slighted by one specific behavior, but this is how users have been trained to behave because it's the only lever of power the users have. Writing a thoughtful and detailed feature request or bug report is often a fool's errand. Users just give the app 1 star and move on.