Seems like an extremely basic feature, one I even programmed myself for a company I worked on.
What's the point of processing a transaction each month, when I can pay you for several years of service? I absolutely refuse to subscribe to iCloud until they do.
VizualAbstract wrote:
Seems like an extremely basic feature, one I even programmed myself for a company I worked on.
What's the point of processing a transaction each month, when I can pay you for several years of service? I absolutely refuse to subscribe to iCloud until they do.
This is a user-to-user technical support forum. No one here can answer "why" Apple does anything. Also, Apple doesn't read here for suggestions or feedback. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:
For what it's worth, Apple used to offer an annual iCloud Storage plan but discontinued it. This would lead me to believe that it didn't work for them in some way.
VizualAbstract wrote:
Seems like an extremely basic feature, one I even programmed myself for a company I worked on.
What's the point of processing a transaction each month, when I can pay you for several years of service? I absolutely refuse to subscribe to iCloud until they do.
This is a user-to-user technical support forum. No one here can answer "why" Apple does anything. Also, Apple doesn't read here for suggestions or feedback. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:
For what it's worth, Apple used to offer an annual iCloud Storage plan but discontinued it. This would lead me to believe that it didn't work for them in some way.
Just spend some time on these boards and you'll see how often people want to cancel annual subscriptions and want the remainder refunded. It's probably just not something they want to deal with.
Apple is not going out of business in a week. It's just an accounting issue as it adds millions in liability to Apple's books and it's just revenue that cannot be used as it's recognized monthly.
But, you won't get am official response from Apple. If you have feedback, visit apple.com/feedback.
It gives folks the option of cancelling at any time.
As for bookkeeping; it's not that they would have an issue, it's just messy. Especially in reconciling revenue booking monthly (it's a prepaid revenue so it creates a lot of liability on the books; I wouldn't want to audit 100s of millions of accounts that way).
Hello ~ You can contact Apple but doubtful they will explain their decision on this issue. I tend to agree with *muguy* and the liability to Apple’s books and that it’s just revenue that cannot be used as it’s recognized monthly. May I ask why you would not use such a great service as iCloud based upon that one detail?
Contact Apple for support and service
~Katana-San~
Well, for starters, the service must not be great if Apple isn't confident enough to offer an annual plan, if indeed people are scrambling to cancel their old annual plans.
When it comes to actual bookkeeping and financial tracking, it's technically much easier to manage finances and spending on an annual basis. If this was an expense, it's easier to file an expense once annual than it is doing it each month. Balancing your budget for tax season? It's easier to manage an annual expense.
Tools to unsubscribe or modify subscriptions are easy enough for a small team of developers to implement.
This isn't a new or unique problem: this is something that many other companies have successfully implemented and managed.
It's unlikely that will change, but who knows. I suspect it has to do with being flexible to the consumer and it makes bookkeeping so much easier on the company.
It allows flexibility in only a very specific sense. I guess Apple isn't a very consumer-friendly company. Not everyone wants to receive a monthly charge for dollar or two.
I find it kind of funny that a multi-billion dollar company would have an issue with bookkeeping.
You're assuming someone wants to cancel at any-time. When you pre-purchase something, you're contractually agreeing to a service for a period of time.
Again, on bookkeeping: I've developed payment software for about 5 years now, that's not an actual issue that has ever come up with any reliable company.
That's like saying "Apple might go out of business in a week, so now we have to refund people for this agreed purchase" - even if that were to happen, that's where terms of service come into play.
I'd prefer an official response from Apple, not speculation.
Hello again ~ It works great for me. I don’t pay all my other bills a year in advance. I set it up and one less issue I have to deal with but there again we are not Apple and they don’t ask my opinion too often. Try it out you may find it really does simplify your life some.
~Katana-San~
Hello again ~ Now … that’s a pretty big assumption on your part. We are just giving you the info we have and trying to help out …no one’s trying to argue with you. That is the way it is billed currently and you are free to do as you will. I hope you do well either way.
~Katana-San~
Hello ~ I very rarely assume anything. If it is not convenient for you …don’t use it. You will find this forum is full of helpful and knowledgeable people that don’t work for Apple but come on this forum to help others. If you have issues in the future I will be glad to help you and I previously stated I do hope you do well and either way. Be well.
~Katana-San~
I guess you've never had to file for an expense before.
Now you're being ironic. See, I used to pay monthly, for years, and grew tired of filing expenses for it each month. But you also assumed I haven't experienced it.
What do you or would you use iCloud for???
It's not meant for backup.
BDAqua wrote:
What do you or would you use iCloud for???
It's not meant for backup.
I use it for backing up my iPhone.
Why doesn't Apple support annual plans for iCloud?
