The official line on this from Apple in their iTunes Connect FAQs:
----
Q: I sold my app to another developer and can no longer distribute it on the App Store. Can I transfer the app to the new developer's iTunes Connect account?
A: No, you can’t transfer the app to another developer account on iTunes Connect. To add the app to another account, remove the app from the current account and upload it to the new iTunes Connect account.
Note that uploading the app to a new iTunes Connect account will disable current customers from receiving automatic and free updates of your application. All customer reviews, rating, and ranking information will be reset. You will not be able to reuse the app name and SKU in the old account. If you have uploaded a binary or used the app with the iAd Network, your Bundle ID will not be reusable either.
-----
I have no idea if special exceptions are possible, but that is their official policy:
Not selling because it's "failing". I consider it a success. I just don't have time to make it profitable enough to live on. I'd love to see some one take it to the next level.
I would set the minimum bid on Flippa far lower than the $125,000 asking price if you want to get any interest on there. People on Flippa are not startup guys and are a lot more realistic about valuation. I for one would be interested in exploring buying this, but it's not worth anywhere near what you're asking, so it's a non starter for me.
Two separate points there. On Flippa, you want to start lower to generate interest and start bidding, but you want the bidding to build up to a higher amount. But it's also true that Flippa users tend to be "value investors" not ones who buy high potential. They also are not developers.
No doubt, and it wasn't meant as a potshot, although perhaps it came across too sarcastically; anyone that can build an audience of that size, especially with paid users as a portion, is doing something right. I wrestle with free user bases barely 20% of that, and growth is harder to achieve that most people think.
Serious question here: what portion of the audience base is using this because of you personally? Not that you know 30k people, but perhaps a large part came because of your connections. Relatedly, how many of them might leave if they saw it changing hands to someone they didn't know (or perhaps everyone would cheer because someone with more time for new features was taking over)???
If they honestly think 500 million people are going to pay for their service, they are greatly mistaken. I can dream 100 billion people are going to give me a dollar, but that's not going to happen for many reasons. The same is true with their "dream."
Design is quite nice. I really do like your stuff, Sam. Colors are very pleasant, but I think the highlight is a little distracting from your content. Goes against your design principles, in my opinion.
Thanks for the info!