Why We Agonize Over Buying $1 Apps 523
theodp writes "When it comes to explaining decision making and behavioral economics, Dan Ariely is the man. In his latest blog post, Ariely tackles the irrationality of app buying, explaining why the thought of paying even $1 for an app turns into an agonizing decision for those perfectly willing to spend $4 on coffee, or $500 on devices that they arguably don't really need. Had Apple created a really low minimum price for apps — say $0.15 — instead of offering free apps on day one, Ariely suggests, we would be anchored to the idea that apps should cost something. 'Then paying more (maybe even $2) for an app would be a simpler step,' he concludes, 'maybe one that we could take as easily as paying $4 for a latte.'"
Re:Posting (Score:2, Funny)
Modding to undo accidental posting. Oh, wait...
Re:SHOULD "Apps" Cost Something? (Score:5, Funny)
Insert Battlestar Galactica joke here...
Re:Posting (Score:3, Funny)
In Soviet Russia, accidental post undoes YOU!!!!
Re:SHOULD "Apps" Cost Something? (Score:2, Funny)
If the coffee shops were like the itunes app store, you'd pay $1 and most times you'd get a typical coffee but sometimes you'd get only half filled cup, and sometimes it would have a dead mouse floating in it, and sometimes it would turn out to be orange soda instead, but you'd have no real recourse and all you can do is hope it turns out better tomorrow, next time you shop at the world's ONE coffee shop.
I don't understand this, can you please reframe it in terms of a car analogy?
Re:SHOULD "Apps" Cost Something? (Score:5, Funny)
I agree, and it's not just remorse over the $1, it's the time wasted. When you need ONE good app and search results give you 20 hits, what do you do? Spend all weekend playing with 20 apps? Then you ask on a forum and some joker says, "what's wrong with you, I just googled and there are 20 hits!"
That's why I prefer WebOS...there's only those 5 apps, and you know which ones are good because they've been on iOS and Android for like 2 years longer. ;)