Ipad2 app store can't download apps - get error 'item is being modified, try again later', but daughter IS able to download it just fine!

Despite my other problems (more apps have shown up that had the error this morning), I was able to download the free version there with no problems. How random!

@adaniel87 - Haha! Yeah, I thought it might come off like that a little bit, but I'm honestly trying to figure out what's going on here. Either way, I appreciate you giving it a shot and letting me know that it doesn't work for you. 😟

@shuffle-user - Thanks for your feedback as well! I actually *did* modify the LITE (free) version right after they accepted it. For some reason it was marked as 99¢ when I'm pretty sure that when I submitted it I indicated that version was free. Either way, I should be able to modify things like pricing on the fly and not break things... Now I'm affraid to go back into the control panel and see what's going on in there, because then I might actually *be* modifying something and it won't be avaible for sure...

Bah, this *****. 😟

@foxyshadis - Really? Dang! This is so random. Thank you for your feedback though, it's much appreciated! 🙂

I get the error when trying to install your app.

Like others, I'm now able to install G.U.N.

The problem appears to be two-fold. A problem for some downloading free or discounted apps and with a communication disconnect between Apple and their outsourced customer service.

Apple needs to work on increasing the efficiency of the communication between Apple and their Arise contractors.

Better yet, how about doing your country of origin a solid and replacing your contract "employees" with actual U.S., benefit receiving employees - instead of skirting the employment protection/entitlement laws with "made in the U.S." homeshoring contract "employees"?

You made how much profit last quarter? And still you insist on waiting for congress or a federal court to catch up to you before doing the right thing. I understand it's a numbers game and your worst case scenario is better than if you'd played it straight from go, but in this case, your savings have worked against you. I've spent my last dollar on an Apple product.

Wow. So it looks like I'm getting a 25% success rate! Woohoo! That bites. 😟

I've been having the same issue since last Friday. This is the only time I have experienced this issue outside of trying to grab something as a sale is ending and the system is catching up.

Like the rest of you, I haven't really found any rhyme or reason why some apps work and some don't, though it appears to affect apps that are on sale. This means their status has changed recently, but as everyone else has pointed out, there doesn't seem to be a reason why some can download items and some can't. I've tried different devices, different wifi networks and even the cellular network without luck.

I had been trying to buy Venture Towns since Friday night and was finally able to purchase it Monday. It was still on sale. I had a few similar free apps I was able to download after a few days. Still, I have been unable to download FiTS by Reiner Knizia for a couple days without success. Like the other apps, it was on sale.

I don't really have the need or money to just randomly try apps that aren't on sale to see if the problem persists.

Very frustrating since this is clearly a problem quite a few people are experiencing (Twitter shows many, many people complaining as well). Apple might not care, but I am sure there are some developers that are missing out on revenue due to this problem.

I keep checking this thread and will continue to do so until the problem goes away.

I'm a developer and yesterday I made $0 (usualy around $100) and my App is going down in ranking in free fall. I have so many customers writing to me that they can't download the App and are unhappy because they couldn't download the App over the whole weekend. My App was on sale from Friday to Sunday. This is really bad and I wonder what's going on here.

I was extremely angry at two devs, because they put their apps on sale and then for the past 3 days, the system keeps telling me their apps are not currently available and that I should try again later. Crushing death! Then I spotted this post. At least now I know it's probably not the devs' fault. But it is so strange how only certain apps are affected and also, it's mostly free apps or apps that went on sale!! :-(

Last night I emailed iTunes support regarding the app problem. I explained in detail what has been going on and used one of the problem apps as an example. I got an answer shortly afterwards from someone named Eric. This was his reply: "I understand that many apps are saying modified on the store. I know it's important to get this resolved as quickly as possible, and your inquiry is very important to me, so I have requested assistance with the issue you reported. You will receive an email after the matter has been investigated and further information is available.". If and when I get a reply I will post it.

I am having this problem as well with 2 ea games on sale.

Been trying to buy hot pursuit for iPad since 9pm last night but getting the modified message.

Same with battlefield bc2 today.

Both 69p :(

Apple have not responded to my email yet....

first response

Dear Roy,

Greetings from iTunes Store Customer Support. My name is Shabeer.

I understand that when you try to purchase "battlefield bad" and "hot pursuit" you receive a message indicating that it is being modified. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Roy, from time to time, the iTunes Store updates the items in the catalog to ensure the highest possible quality for our customers. It's possible that ""battlefield bad" and "hot pursuit"" is being updated and is therefore temporarily unavailable. Please try again in 72 hours. If you still are unable to purchase it, please let me know.

I hope you continue to enjoy the iTunes Store, and thank you for being a loyal customer.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Shabeer

second response

Dear Roy,

This is Shabeer again. I value the time you took to write to us about your issue.

I understand that it will be lose for you if you will not purchase on sale. I have contacted my supervisor regarding this issue and he told that we will escalate this issue to concerned department.

Roy, I will also suggest you to provide feedback as well.

Apple recognizes that no one is better qualified to provide feedback about our products and services than the people who use them. I urge you to submit any feedback you have about Application at Apple's Feedback page:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

Your efforts to share your feedback are very much appreciated.

Thank you for your understanding and for being a valued iTunes Store customer.

Have a great day!

Wow. It looks to me like they are just dancing around the subject and not really admitting that there is a global issue with their servers.

I put a ticket in with them as a developer and haven't heard anything back yet (other than, "thanks for the entering the ticket") ...I'll post up here if/when I hear back from them.

@slice.net: Yeah, you got that right. I've been having a back-and-forth — that's increasingly heating up — with email support for a few days now, and it doesn't matter how simply I put it, how many screenshots I include, the fact that I've pointed them to this thread, etc. For some reason, it seems like they just aren't acknowledging this problem. I can't imagine Apple would hire tech support employees who would be too dumb (for lack of a better word) to "get" this problem, which means that they've been told to ignore this. I guess as long as the biggest noise about it is a thread with 30 or so replies, it's not worth admitting there's a problem with their servers.

I've just moved on from this issue. I was able to get some of the apps I've been wanting, and I'm cutting my losses. I feel really bad for you and other independent developers. I've already bought your game (successfully), and I am passing it along to my friends. Indie developers are responsible for arguably the biggest, most innovative games on iOS so far, and it ***** when things like this happen. You can bet that if EA was having a 25% success rate, they'd get VIP treatment.

**Edit** Ha, who knew Apple would censor the word su_cks

Message was edited by: adaniel87

@adaniel87 - Thanks for the support, I do really appreciate it - and I'm glad it actually worked for you! 🙂

I totaly agree with you that if it where EA or any other larger gaming house that was getting hosed by this, Apple would be all over it.

I *did* actually get an email back acknowledging the problem, but it was along the lines of "We'll look into this further." Not really sure what I was expecting either way.

I'll post up here if I get anything more definitive, but it wouldn't surprise me if they just quietly fixed the problem and look to the side, whistling...