This is something I had in mind since starting. It was always a paid model. And then inside the app, they pretended as if it was single person running it all.
Even description was deceptive: "I pick one app, contact developers and try to make it free for a day" (Don't remember exactly)
There's no reason for anyone to get angry about this. Apple has removed even App Shopper app (which was a genuine one), removing this paid app promotion app was a no brainer.
Calling it a "paid app promotion app" isn't factually correct. Most of the app developers who participated in AppGratis deals didn't have to pay anything. AppGratis' major revenue source was through commissions from the Affiliate program.[1]
The only justification for the removal of this app is that it was against Apple's AppStore Guidelines & policies.
It is a strange side effect that people will value something much more if its on 'sale'.
IANAY (I am not a yank) but didn't JC Penny backtrack on their idea to stop having promotions, but constant low price?
websites like hotukdeals constantly show how people will buy pointless things they never wanted, because they are 'cheap', then moan when their order isn't fulfilled, about not been able to get the thing they didn't want 6 hours ago.
tapping into that, to prime the pot for downloads is surely a useful feature. The fact these apps exist are just natural competition in the app store, against the app store.
It is that last bit that makes me doubt the validity of it as a business model.
Without their big sales, I guarantee you that Steam wouldn't be making nearly as much money. It's basic economics, plus marketing. You try to get everyone to pay as much as they're willing to.
Of course, when that price = FREE, then it really is all advertising, for IAPs or something else.
Even description was deceptive: "I pick one app, contact developers and try to make it free for a day" (Don't remember exactly)
There's no reason for anyone to get angry about this. Apple has removed even App Shopper app (which was a genuine one), removing this paid app promotion app was a no brainer.