We hesitate to write an article about ourselves, however we have recently been placed in the very same position that many iPhone developers have unwillingly found themselves while submitting an app. It is expected that after submitting an app to the App Store, it will either be accepted or rejected. Unfortunately, we found out the hard way that there also exists an unspoken third possibility.
Some time ago we had an idea for an app that would bring some of the benefits of our website to the iPhone. Reports on price drops in the App Store have always been some of the most popular articles on our site. So, we created the app our viewers had been longing for, BargainBin. BargainBin is a FREE real time feed of every app that ever goes on sale in the App Store.
We went through the entire development process; we spec’d out the app, hired a development company to code it, and tested it. It was built well, very stable and very fast. It also featured unique user interactions that made it a pleasure to use. We then excitedly submitted BargainBin to the App Store with high hopes.
Knowing that marketing is most often what brings an app to success (sadly), we even spent time creating a mock infomercial to announce the app once it was available in the App Store.
Based on our conversations with dozens of developers, the current average review time for an app to get accepted or rejected is about five days. We submitted our application several months ago with no response from Apple. We have now come to the point where we have lost hope that our application will ever be allowed to sit in the App Store we love so dearly.
We now know first-hand what many developers have had to go through. The whole experience has been extremely demoralizing for our team. It is hard to put so much thought, time and money into something and then have it lost in an ether of uncertainty. The most difficult part about all of this has been our inability to get any answers from Apple.
We have made countless phone calls to Apple trying to find out why BargainBin is not getting approved. All we have received is a handful of “be patient” comments and several so-called “escalations” by Apple that have proved to be fruitless. We also sent several dozen emails that resulted in nothing more than we will be notified once the app is “ready for sale.” Apple has set-up a firewall, an entire team of courteous phone representatives who are hired to deal with this exact issue.
Just as when the President lets a bill die on his desk by not dealing with it, it is now clear that Apple uses the same policy; BargainBin has been “pocket rejected.”
This pocket rejection has been extremely frustrating. If there is something wrong with our app, tell us so we can try to fix it. If Apple wants to flat-out reject our app, at least give us the courtesy of letting us know that.
We would like this article to be more than us just our whining. We want to share some things we have learned from our experience in dealing with Apple in hopes that we can help others who end-up in a similar situation when they search for answers.
First off, dealing with Apple is like talking to a brick wall. Say what you want to them, but don’t expect a response. Don’t even expect them to acknowledge any of your comments or questions. That is just the sad reality of the App Store submission process.
Secondly, the App Store approval process is designed to let the simplest and most meaningless apps in the easiest. The App Store is filled with “crapware” and Apple has set-up a system which aids this. The less your application does, the quicker it will become approved for sale in the App Store. If Apple reads from your app description that it features many complicated functions, it will undoubtedly be tested longer and harder than other apps. This reality has been combated by some wise developers who minimize the description of their features of their app when they submit it for approval, only divulging the full feature list after approval. The bottom line is – don’t tell Apple that your app does a lot and maybe they won’t notice.
Lastly, anyone who is planning on developing an app to submit to the App Store for approval must realize that they are essentially playing a game of Russian roulette with Apple. Don’t expect the process to be fair. Actually, don’t even expect the process to be logical. And most importantly, don’t expect to have any knowledge about the status of your app throughout the process.
(afterword: Thanks to Proximi Inc. for helping us develop BargainBin. You guys did a great job, I am sorry that others will not get to see your hard work.)
Are you sure its rejected? How did this get rejected when AppSniper didn’t and are essentially the same thing?
We remained hopeful after seeing AppSniper and all their updates get approved. Unfortunately it has now been MONTHS since we submitted BargainBin. There is a chance that someday it will be approved, but as of right now it appears unlikely.
This app reminds me of “podcaster.” Maybe Apple is trying to build this functionality into the existing App Store and don’t want any competitors.
Can’t you distribute through other means (Cydia)?
That commercial is great! I am glad to see that you guys practice what you preach about really marketing an app rather than praying you hit the top 25.
I’m with David, the hell with Apple and the App Store, make it available through Cydia. Many people have jail broken their phones and those who haven’t should to use the full potential of the iphone.
I am a developer and I know that you can build ad hoc copies for people. If I email you my UDID can you build me a copy?
Wow. That’s got to be infuriating…. On another note, you wrote:
“We have not come to the point where we have lost hope….”
Did you mean, “We have *now* come to the point where we have lost hope…?”
Hi AJ,
Thanks for this very timely post.
I’m going through a very similar development process to your team (I spec out the requirements, hire artists, hire developers, etc). Although the costs for my app has been high, I didn’t realize that there was a third status for an app once it has been submitted for approval.
I’ll take your advice about keeping the description to a minimum.
If possible, can you post additional tips for a first-time publisher/developer?
Mark: Yeah, “not” was a typo.
Octavio: I emailed you about the ad hoc build.
Hau: Tyler is going to write a series of post on the insides of the App Store and tips we have discovered.
Wow, LOVED the commercial
It’s really a shame that Apple doesn’t let us decide what we want on our phones? This doesn’t break any of the rules that Apple say they don’t want in the App Store.
We had an experience submitting an app that was “pocket rejected” as you say staying unchanged in their system for over 5 months. Once we settled it as a sunk cost one team member had the idea to remove the app from the store and then resubmit the exact same binary and description. The app was approved in 2 days. Just thought I’d share that experience. Best of luck dealing with this!
Have you tried withdrawing the submission and trying again? Matt Gemmell did that after waiting a month and six days, and Apple approved his app in about two and a half days the second time.
My advice:
Submit it again – under a different (app) name.
If that doesn’t work, setup a whole new ADC account (unfortunately this means another $99) and submit it a third time under a third name.
I have a feeling that your app has just got lost somewhere in the system – not an excuse I know, but possible..
Nice article and very familiar. I’ve submitted an app early january. No rejection or accepted email, but an email simply stating: “we need more time to review your app” The app is still in review after 3 months! I didn’t crack my iPhone and I simply refuse to publish my app using cydia. But waiting this long for an app without any response from Apple is kind of frustrating.
In all seriousness, you should definitely put this into Cydia. Apps get mothballed (what you are calling “pocket rejected”) by Apple all the time: Cycorder was my foray into that world. You wouldn’t be the first, you won’t be the last, and frankly: you will be /way/ more successful on jailbroken phones. We have a _10%_ marketshare of devices, but a fraction of the number of applications. We support more business models, obviously more phone features, richer package descriptions, better marketing… it’s just nuts. We even have users who are willing to buy $20 apps. Why are you waiting on Apple?
This is tough. My first app got ‘pocket rejected’ too. I tried everything and it was all a brick wall. After resubmitting with many features pulled (guessing what the problem was) still nothing, about to give up, when I re-submitted the dumbed down version to a different category. In the ‘test account section’ in iTC I basically begged, explained how I’d removed everything that maybe they didn’t like, and how another similar app had since been approved. I was approved 3 days later. End to end it took 101 days.
Apple sucks, they are control freaks, I hate apple for just that… I had an Commodore Amiga in the past, Apple back then was struggling quite a lot because of their controlling phobia, it will hurt them at some point. People do like their products but they are walking on very thin ice…
Anyway I did try your App and I love it… great job guys.
Can anyone give me a number to call so I can talk to a human. we’ve submitted our app and they keep saying it crash’s the Itouch, when we specifically spell out that its for the IPHONE ONLY. I need to talk with a person. Any help is appreciated.
So I just app stored your app and it is up… What was the issue did you ever find out? And how long did it take to get approval? Did you resubmit? I would like a followup.
I think it all makes sense…
You’re developing an application that mimics the appstore, that siphons away its focus. Developers may take advantage of your application by setting an initially high price then immediately lower it, as is the general strategy in retail marketing. Apple is spending alot of money on homogenizing the marketing side of iphone applications by acquiring Quattro, and doesn’t want to lose that direction or leadership role. A lot of developers should be considering the type of precedents their applications are setting, and the implications thereof before putting an admittedly great amount of effort into creating their applications. I don’t think apple, acting as a non-transparent business, can alleviate this problem; the onus has to be entirely on the developer.
imho