The same platform, the same service, using Apple phones to buy members is higher than Android phones?
Recently, some users reported to the surging quality report complaint platform that when they used the iPhone to purchase the Himalaya APP joint membership service, they found that Apple users were 50 yuan more expensive than Android users, believing that the platform had differentiated pricing and deceived consumers.
An investigation by The Paper Journalists found that in addition to Himalaya, there are different pricing situations on Tencent Video, iQiyi, Baidu Netdisk, NetEase Cloud and other apps.
For the same membership package, Apple users generally charge 20%-60% higher than Android users, and there is no fee notification on the membership purchase interface.
In this regard, on August 30, the staff of Himalaya and iQiyi stated that the difference in charges is because when users purchase membership packages through Apple mobile phones, Apple will charge the platform a 30% channel fee, which is added to Service price.
Differentiated fees and no clear announcement, does the platform violate consumer rights?
Lawyers believe that in accordance with the provisions of my country’s Price Law, Apple’s and platform’s actions did not violate the corresponding legal provisions, but Apple users did not know at the time of purchase. This action hurt the feelings of consumers. It is recommended to mark or mark on the charging interface. Remarks.
Different charges for members purchased on Android and Apple phones
On August 16, Ms. Peng used her Apple mobile phone to purchase the joint membership service launched by the audio sharing software Himalaya APP. The price of a one-year subscription is 268 yuan.
But after the purchase, while communicating with her friends, Ms. Peng discovered that her friends purchased the same membership service through an Android phone at only 218 yuan.
"Why treat users differently in pricing for the same APP and same service? Should I charge a higher fee if I am an Apple user?" Ms. Peng contacted the official customer service of the Himalaya APP platform and was told Apple Compared with Android users, the user's purchase of membership services is indeed more expensive. The difference of 50 yuan cannot be refunded, but Ms. Peng's three-month VIP membership can be compensated.
The solution was rejected by Ms. Peng. She believed that the platform did not clearly inform consumers when purchasing, which constituted an infringement of consumer rights. “The friends around me basically don’t know the existence of differentiated pricing, regardless of the platform’s reason. At the time of purchase, at least the obligation to inform should be fulfilled."
A survey by The Paper Journalists found that in addition to the Himalaya APP, members of major video sites such as Tencent Video, iQiyi, Youku, and Sohu also have different pricing for Apple users and Android users.
Take the iQIYI Gold VIP membership service as an example. When you purchase it on an Apple mobile phone, the annual price of a continuous package is 218 yuan, the price of a continuous season is 58 yuan, and the price of a continuous monthly package is 19 yuan.
But if you buy it in an Android phone, the annual price of a continuous package is 178 yuan, the price of a continuous season is 45 yuan, and the price of a continuous monthly package is 15 yuan.
In the video platform, Apple users who purchase membership services generally cost 4-5 yuan more per month than Android users, and 30-50 yuan more per year.
In NetEase Cloud Music, Kugou Music and other music software, there are also differentiated pricing.
Such as NetEase Cloud Music Vinyl VIP, the purchase price of continuous annual subscription service on Apple mobile phones is 158 yuan, and the continuous annual subscription service for Android users is 99 yuan. The difference between the two is 59 yuan.
The reporter found that in the above APP purchase membership service and payment interface, there is no reminder that there is a price difference between Apple users and Android users.
Platform: Because Apple charges 30% channel fee
Why do Apple users charge higher?
On August 30, The Paper reporter contacted the Himalaya APP about this matter, and its public relations staff responded that the platform did implement different charging standards for Apple users and Android users, mainly because when users purchase membership services through Apple phones, Apple will pay The platform charges a certain channel fee, which is added to the membership service fee.
The staff member said that if there are users who have questions about this fee, they can provide a transaction bill to Himalaya customer service, and the customer service staff will provide corresponding feedback based on the bill.
As for why the platform agreed to compensate Ms. Peng for three months of VIP services, the public relations staff said it was an exception.
On the same day, iQiyi staff also told The Paper that the difference exists because Apple ID is an international payment. Apple will charge the platform a 30% channel fee, which is also one of the membership service costs.
In response to this situation, the staff proposed a "solution", saying that Apple users can purchase members on the browser side of their mobile phones or other non-Apple terminals, such as Android phones and computer web pages, at a lower price, but they can also be used on Apple phones. Log in to use member services.
On August 30th, Apple’s customer service staff responded to this matter, stating that 30% of the channel fee was stipulated by the head office and could not be explained. However, if the user believes that there is an unreasonable charge when using an Apple mobile phone to recharge or subscribe, it can be within 60 days. To apply for a refund on Apple’s official website within the validity period, you can also call Apple’s manual kimono for processing.
Lawyer: does not violate the law, but hurts the feelings of users
Is the platform pricing reasonable?
On August 31, The Paper reporter asked Wang Yongkang, a partner of Shanghai Minglun Law Firm, about this.
He analyzed from the perspective of operators’ independent pricing power and stated that according to my country’s "Price Law", operators enjoy free pricing power for goods and services subject to market-adjusted prices in addition to government-guided prices or government pricing. The basis for pricing is Production and operation costs and market supply and demand conditions.
"Therefore, the channel fee that Apple charges to the platform can be regarded as the operating cost of the platform. The platform has the right to calculate the channel fee in the service price based on the increase in its operating cost, and consumers will eventually pay for it."
Wang Yongkang told The Paper that the "Price Law" does stipulate that operators must not discriminate against other operators with the same trading conditions when providing the same goods or services.
But specific to this incident, the platform charges Apple users and Android users differently because of different sales channels and does not comply with price discrimination, and is not an improper price behavior.
Consumers can choose to purchase services through Apple mobile phones or Android phones, which is not an infringement of consumer rights.
"Just like car pricing rules, the prices of vehicles sold by different regions and different agents are inconsistent, because 4S stores in different regions have different purchase prices, preferential rates, and government subsidies, which are not price discrimination behaviors." Wang Yongkang said.
In addition, Wang Yongkang believes that although Apple and the platform did not violate the law in terms of differential pricing, consumers did not know at the time of purchase, and only later learned that there was a differential treatment. This still hurts consumers’ feelings and will cause consumers to tend to Using Android phones for service consumption or seeking other alternative service products, the ultimate adverse consequences are still borne by Apple and the platform.
In order to avoid ambiguity and disputes, Wang Yongkang suggested that the platform should inform Apple users of the composition of the service price when they announce the price of member services to Apple users, or note in the interface that the service price includes channel fees.
The Paper, Journalist Li Siwen