3 years ago
I don't necessarily like or agree with Facebook's ...
I don't necessarily like or agree with Facebook's policies, and particularly don't agree with any one executive having dictator like power, however I am in full support of this corporate giant taking the initiative to fight another corporate giant's wrongdoing. These 30% royalties, or whatever you want to call them, which are imposed by app stores (which similarly have dictatorial power - there are 2 of them, which control the vast majority of the market), are highway robbery. At this point, that 1/3 of the payment, is not justified, these corporate giant's are not taking any substantial risks, worthy of that price. Let's look at Shark Tank, another group of power and wealthy individuals, who are trying to make money off other people's ideas (stated broadly to ensure all parties fit clearly within this camp). Those sharks, or investors, are taking larger risks than that of these stores, and they rarely if ever get 30% royalties from each purchase (that would be absurd, leaving no margin for profit from the individuals taking the most risk).
I, as a small business owner, which is honestly just a side hustle for me, could not possibly afford to loose 30% of all digital sales. As is, I currently loose 20% off the top for another application's cut (and I think that cut is too high, given what little they bring to the table). But, if the digital stores weren't robbing 30% of all digital sales, the application charging users 20% could drop, too, creating healthier competition.