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"Restoring Purchases Failed" on iPad 2

I interupted a magazine download in the newstand (Everyday Food). I couldn't seem to resume downloading so I deleted the app and redownloaded it. Now it won't allow me restore purchases or my subscription, giving me the error messages "Restoring Purchases Failed". I restarted my iPad and still no luck. How do I fix this??

iPad 2, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 16, 2012 12:17 AM

Reply
39 replies

Mar 17, 2012 1:11 AM in response to chickenman123

Same problem with MS Living.


Used back up of iPad 2 to transfer everything over to new iPad. Ivmedic3214 - yeah - did a backup and restored from that backup. All works fine except for a few newsstand restores.


Some magazines on Newsstand will restore but it seems that a couple of them just refuse even after putting in password etc.


Uninstalled app and resinstalled to see if that helped - no difference.


Hopefully there will be a fix shortly?

Mar 17, 2012 9:49 AM in response to Elena S.

Got a far from satisfactory response from Apple. And here was me thinking that under the Sale of Goods Act, my contract is with Apple. I will write back. Here's the email:



Dear Christian,


Thanks for writing in today! My name is Matthew with the iTunes Store and I'll be assisting you with your request. I understand you recently purchased a new iPad and would like to restore your magazine purchases on your new device. I can certainly appreciate how eager you must be to keep up to date with your magazines on your new device, and I would be more than happy to help.


Christian, I am unable to determine the cause of the inability to restore your purchases, nor am I able to restore your purchases for you. However, you may be able to reach some kind of resolution by contacting the providers of the magazines in question.


Here are links to their support pages:


Martha Stewart Living Magazine for iPad

http://www.marthastewart.com/msl-support


Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine

http://www.marthastewart.com/edf-support


Subscriptions and some In-App Purchases cannot normally be restored for free. For detailed information on In-App Purchase types, please read:


iTunes Store: About In-App Purchases

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4009


If you have any questions, or if the magazine providers are unable to assist, please don't hesitate to let me know.


Take care and have a nice day, Christian.


Sincerely,


Matthew

iTunes Store/Mac App Store Customer Support


Please Note: I work Thursday-Monday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM EST


Lang_Country : en_GB

Product : iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi

Support Subject : iTunes Store, App Store or iBookstore

Sub Issue : Unable to download certain content from the App Store

GCRM Case ID : 299096124

See additional info below

Which operating system is installed? iOS 5.x

What version of iTunes is installed on your computer? iTunes 10.6

Choose the iTunes Store or App Store for your country: United Kingdom

Describe the alert message you received: Restoring purchases failed

Details:

I have just bought the new iPad. I have current subscriptions for Everyday Food and Martha Stewart Living magazines. When I go into each magazine in the newsstand, I am prompted to restore purchased material..I say yes - I want to restore - and I enter my password. Each time I get an error message saying 'restoring purchases failed' - it does however allow me to re-download single issues I have bought but not any in a subscription. I also tried to repurchase the items and then I get told that I already have a valid subscription and asks if I want to restore purchases. I click yes but the same problem I already described happens.

Mar 17, 2012 10:02 AM in response to vfbr2001

Yes, not very helpful reply at all.


I would've hoped for more help from Apple on this. Instead of a simple referral to a website that doesn't even answer the question.


Hopefully you'll get a better response to your follow-up email which may take matters further. I suspect we will just have to wait for them to release an updated app with this bug fixed. That, no doubt, could be in a matter of weeks! :(


Have to just keep trying.

Mar 17, 2012 10:34 AM in response to Elena S.

Well, I followed the link to MS and then sent an email via the following link:

iphone-support@marthastewart.com


I have a feeling this isn't Apple's problem.


Every month I get a Badge notification that the new Issue is ready to be downloaded, but it's always a day before I'm actually able to see the new issue in the library to download. I'm fairly sure Apple doesn't actually host the magazine files on their website, the files are over at Martha Stewart's site. As is the subscription data, most likely.

Mar 17, 2012 10:40 AM in response to scottinhawaii

I think you're probably right on that scottinhawaii.


Mind you, I still think it would be good for Apple to show some interest in resolving given that they are providing the service and being paid for hosting it.


I'm not convinced that the auto-download thing works at all either. When a new edition is due is sometimes get the badge icon. However, I only have one subscription that actually downloads automatically in the background. I wish more of them actually did that as it would be great to not have to actually go into the apps to download. I thought that was how it was supposed to work?


I have emailed MS too.

Mar 17, 2012 10:58 AM in response to scottinhawaii

In Settings - Store, you'll see the apps that can automatically download.


As I say, this only works with one subscription I have at the moment although the settings page suggests it works on more.


With that one subscription, it's awesome, as when I get up in the morning I have the latest version downloaded and ready to read. Shame more of them don't work like this.

"Restoring Purchases Failed" on iPad 2

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