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Comment by quitit | Hacker News Reader

This is one of the reasons why providers -hate- IAP subscriptions, even if the profit share was 0%, they'd still not be happy because with IAP it's just one click to cancel.

It's not even a practice limited to "shady" companies, the New York Times would let you sign up online, but only cancel via a convoluted phone call with one of their subscription retainment reps.

These days you're better off obtaining a credit card which lets you instantly block transactions. These companies with their b/s unsubscribe gauntlets aren't worth your time.

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Well, the "one click" cancel is hidden deep in the settings app - and when customers contact us asking to cancel, they don't like to hear that we cannot cancel or refund them from our end. (Apple doesn't even provide a way to look up the customer. Most people don't understand that Apple is actually managing the entire billing process)

>Well, the "one click" cancel is hidden deep in the settings app"

no it's not, it's not even close to being deep or hidden.

It's 2 taps inside the settings app, or a single tap when searched from the system wide search bar.

>Most people don't understand that Apple is actually managing the entire billing process

Apple marks transactions as "apple.com/bill" which provides a straightforward way to view charges or request a refund.

Here's a list of things that require more taps than accessing Subscriptions:

1. Changing the wallpaper.

2. Making a phone call.

3. Collecting apps into a folder.

4. Setting an alarm.

As someone who ran an iOS app for years

- Very little users know this is in the settings app (there are thousands of other settings that are two steps away, how many can you name?). How many people have ever clicked on their name in the settings app to see what is inside, despite it being the first item? Apple gets a cut of every transaction so it's in their interest to make it hard to stumble upon the subscription list by accident.

- Very little users understand that Apple is billing them. They buy something from X Corp and expect X Corp to be able to help them, the idea that everything is really through Apple is a foreign concept.

Depending on training Apple support can submit refund requests.

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