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!

Update: Apple support just replied again, after I pointed out that there really is a problem and that telling people to just try again in 72 hours isn't acceptable:

I reviewed your request with my supervisor and he informed me that the item may be in the process of being altered by the developer. I suggest that you try again after sometime or contact developer by visiting www.sega.com/support/

Thank you for choosing the iTunes Store. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Have a pleasant day!

Oddly enough, I was having quite a pleasant day until I read that email. Interesting that they should also thank me for 'choosing' the iTunes Store. I wasn't aware of any other stores I could legally purchase iOS apps from… but I digress.

If that reply isn't bad enough, I just tried to purchase the app again, and now I'm getting this error:

Store Credit Unavailable

Due to a problem with the iTunes Store, your store credit balance is temporarily unavailable for use in purchasing music; you may continue purchasing using a different method of payment.

So now it seems I can't even try the gifting idea because my store credit is locked up.

Well I figure I can get angry about Apple Support's continued denial of the problem, or just have some fun with it. So here's my reply to their latest email:

I reviewed your request with my supervisor and he informed me that the item may be in the process of being altered by the developer.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you, yes I do have some questions for you:

1. Can you please ask your supervisor if he has actually tried to download the app in question himself, or in fact carried out any investigation into the issue at all?

2. Can you please ask your supervisor, when a developer does alter an item (i.e. changes the description, screenshots or price), is it a common occurrence for their app to become unavailable for three or more days? I'm not an expert in these things, but I think most online databases are able to update a little bit quicker than that.

3. Can you please ask your supervisor to explain why there are developers reporting this problem on Apple's own support forums when they are doing nothing to modify their apps?

4. Did your supervisor read the part of my email where I said that I now cannot open any of my iPhone apps that I previously downloaded from the App Store? Do you think I should contact the developer of every app about this? I'm worried it could take me more than 72 hours to do this.

5. Upon trying to download the app in question again tonight, I am now getting a brand new error from the iTunes store:

'Store Credit Unavailable

Due to a problem with the iTunes Store, your store credit balance is temporarily unavailable for use in purchasing music; you may continue purchasing using a different method of payment.'

This says there is 'a problem with the iTunes Store', but that can't be right surely. Can you please ask your supervisor what this really means? When do you think I will be able to access my store credit again?

6. Is there a way for a customer to have their support request escalated to a higher-level where someone will actually investigate the issue, instead of just telling me to try again later?

I suggest that you try again after sometime or contact developer by visiting www.sega.com/support/

Indeed I have contacted Sega, a day or so ago, and suggested they might like to put some pressure on Apple to fix the problem.

Thank you for choosing the iTunes Store.

You're welcome. But now with all the problems I'm having, I'm wondering if maybe I should choose a different store. Can you please tell me where else I can purchase iOS apps from?

Sincerely

You are my idol, sir. hahaha

Thanks bobby (and Culinate)! I was just able to gift myself the app.

Had this problem yesterday with three free apps and it has started again today. Another free app is being 'modified'.

Very frustrating since no explanation is provided by Apple.

For some reason, I can now download the appeals trying to download. Maybe Apple finally solved the issue? Best of luck to you guys!

Apps I was*

I've been putting the unavailable apps into my wishlist then go back a few times a day to try them, some of them eventually become available.

Just reading all these posts... Do these replies from apple support not sound like robots to you?

There is no human emotion and all replies seem soulless . Maybe I'm watching to many sci fy flicks:)

I know, the whole 'Have a pleasant day!' after basically telling me to go tell someone who cares—it's pretty fake isn't it. Perhaps they should give the task of customer support to Siri? You know, to make it seem more human. 🙂

Oh wait!! The shock!! It's DOWNLOADING! This time it said I had to confirm my account details, but lo-and-behold, it has finally worked! My store credit is working, the app is downloading… my kids will get to play Sonic CD this side of next Christmas. I am so happy. 😀

I had this same issue.

Try changing your DNS settings to google's servers:

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

i couldn't download Dungeon Hunters from the Mac App Store when it went on sale for $.99 from $14.99, i changed my DNS on a whim, and BOOM.

Interesting idea re the DNS change, but that (alas) made no difference for me.

This has been an aggravating and recurring problem about the last month for me. At least a couple dozen apps missed as a result.

Current, I cannot get "Komos", "Air Media Center", or "Fera for Facebook", e.g. Typically, in my experience, if this condition lasts for mor than a very short while, it will not go away until the sale is over. The only exception may be if the developer updates the app again, mid-sale, even in some trivial way (adding a blank line to the item description, e.g.) -- resubmitting to iTunes at least sometimes fixes the problem. But why would they do that when the problem is completely invisible to them?

Add me to this list. I'm very frustrated and disappointed with Apple. There is no way that this is a device issue. This is an Apple server issue. This problem has been occurring for over a week now. This is hurting developers who have paid good money to post their apps and now we can't download them. It's hurting their business. Hey Apple! Can we please take some of those billions of dollars you pocketed and fix this? That would be nice and appreciated.

Apple needs to do something. Reboot the servers. Purge the cache. heck, eject the warp core. Something! I think developers and customers should be creditted something for this nonsense. I'm not trying to start trouble or stir the pot but fair is fair. If I hiccuped or caused error in paying Apple developers fee or app fees, there would be a problem? Apple would not allow that. Same should go vise versa. You can't expect to take money from us without hiccups but excuse yourself for not doing the same.

I'm just frustrated.

BTW, "Air Media Center" just downloaded for me--no idea what changed. "Komos" and "Fera for Facebook" still will not. >:^(

BTW, I do not think this matters one whit, but I am using an iPhone 4S. And obviously, I do not think this is a device issue either.