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Breaking Up with Google Play: Why Conversations Is Now Free

708 points · 296 comments · ezst

  1. pi-victor · · 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 · · 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 · · focus · HN ↗
        This isn't taxation. It's just a silly name for a fee. Fees are what make things sustainable.
        1. bambax · · focus · HN ↗
          It's taxation when it's imposed by a monopoly over users who have no choice except walking away.
          1. mitxela · · 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. pydry · · focus · HN ↗
              if the only way to use government services was to purchase either a dairy queen or McDonalds burger first that is a duopoly and they would be way more expensive and shittier quality than regular burgers as a result.

              some smart alec would then point out that because even the cheapest, shittiest beef isnt free that this price is justified.

              1. bigstrat2003 · · focus · HN ↗
                Nobody has said what Google is doing is justified. People are (correctly) saying that "taxation" is not the correct term for what they are doing. Google is in the wrong, but that doesn't make bad arguments correct just because they are aimed at Google.
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