Thread

1. pi-victor · 1790425525 · focus · HN ↗

   I think it bothers OP less that they take a 15% tax than the fact that google provides terrible support for their own play store. If they would take that tax and provide good feedback and speedy version reviews, nobody would ever complain - it is expected to pay something since the play store doesn't run on good thoughts and prayers. But because they're a monopoly (or a duopoly if you count apple, which is a different platform altogether) they can afford to act this way.

   1. chii · 1790425734 · focus · HN ↗

      people hate taxation without representation. That's why this model has to be unsustainable, but the legislation has not caught up at all.

      1. philipallstar · 1790427322 · focus · HN ↗

         This isn't taxation. It's just a silly name for a fee. Fees are what make things sustainable.

         1. bambax · 1790427776 · focus · HN ↗

            It's taxation when it's imposed by a monopoly over users who have no choice except walking away.

            1. mitxela · 1790428174 · focus · HN ↗

               This definition doesn't work, because my only choice when buying a burger at Dairy Queen is to pay the burger's price or walk away too, but it's not taxation.

               1. chii · 1790428284 · focus · HN ↗

                  you have the choice not to purchase burgers from dairy queens, but from macdonalds, or five guys, or wataburger.

                  You don't have a real choice in an app store on android (except recently, and even then, the alternative stores don't behave well for google-based apps).

                  That's why it's not a tax when you choose to buy DQ burgers, but a tax when you choose to deploy an app to google app store.

                  1. mitxela · 1790428846 · focus · HN ↗

                     If there's no other burger joint in the small town it's the only place I can get burgers.

                     I agree Google is using a tax here but the rule you suggested doesn't work

                     1. Nevermark · 1790430815 · focus · HN ↗

                        Your town prohibits you from making your own burger?

                        Because burger meat is commonly sold in the smallest of grocery stores, and is not technically dependent on what buns, sauces, tomatoes, lettuce … or other ingredients you pair them.

                        And you can grow your own veggies, and bake your own bread.

                        It is an entirely componentized market. No gatekeepers.

                        Even single groceries in tiny towns continue having to compete with larger stores in bigger towns. Because they carry small selections most people make the drive to load up their larder regularly.”

                        You need to find an example that matches the point you are trying to make.

                        TLDR: Analysis reveals burger markets are nearly perfect economic opposites of centralized app store markets.

                        1. mitxela · 1790432495 · focus · HN ↗

                           Who is stopping me from strapping a Raspberry Pi to a battery pack? Nobody, that's a componentized market too.

                           1. chii · 1790433356 · focus · HN ↗

                              but that raspberry pi won't be able to run google apps (or other apps like your bank's) that require play store certification.

                              1. mitxela · 1790445227 · focus · HN ↗

                                 I can't make a DQ burger at home either.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.