Why SERIF delete the V1 from App Store?

[Chang ZhiPing]

I have purchased `Affinity Designer` and `Affinity Photo`, but I cannot found them but others App I can found. 

I asked App Store customer services and upgrade this question to specialist focus on this question. After double check my purchase records, they told me that SERIF removed all of the V1 of `Affinity Designer` and `Affinity Photo` from App Store.

Why you do this operation?

Please DO something useful, don't be busy on deleting bad rates on App Store all day long! 

IF you want to delete all of these negative impact, please review what you have done and listen from users!

[v_kyr]

Didn't you already had some thread about this theme?

Quote

I asked App Store customer services and upgrade this question to specialist focus on this question. After double check my purchase records, they told me that SERIF removed all of the V1 of `Affinity Designer` and `Affinity Photo` from App Store.

Do you mean that they deleted the apps, or any bad critics/comments from people there?

[R C-R]

8 hours ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

I asked App Store customer services and upgrade this question to specialist focus on this question. After double check my purchase records, they told me that SERIF removed all of the V1 of `Affinity Designer` and `Affinity Photo` from App Store.

Why you do this operation?

Serif no longer sells the V1 apps, so they are not offered for sale (in either the Mac or Affinity stores) but they are still available for downloading by people who have already bought them from the Mac App Store if they can sigh in with the same Apple ID used when they bought them.

If they can't do that, there is nothing Serif can do about it because -- as been mentioned many times in many different topics -- Apple does not share individual purchase info with developers selling apps through Apple's store so there is no way for Serif to verify that the app was bought in that store.

As for what your screenshots show, it looks like these are showing the prices for the V2 apps, which apparently you have not purchased.

[Leigh]

Just spotted this thread and wanted to confirm that if you've purchased V1 app from the Mac App Store or App Store in the past you can still download the from your app store account. The apps have only been removed from sale.

If you can't find them, make sure you've not hidden them from your purchased list. You can unhide hidden apps by following this Apple article:

https://support.apple.com/HT201322

 

[Chang ZhiPing]

Thanks to all reply, and @Leigh advice for Unhide Purchased Item on macOS.

I have tried several time of these, but it fail to found out the purchased App of V1 `Affinity Designer` and `Affinity Photo`.

I believe that this situation is not just happening to me, but many users have encountered a similar situation: Affinity Deisigner and Affinity Photo that have been purchased can no longer be downloaded from the purchase record. 

I don't know how the Apple AppStore treats users in China and other countries differently, but the China Store I bought the Apps, where are full of at least 200 abusive comments, and I think there must be reasonable for this (Of course, SERIF contacted the Apple AppStore and asked deleted these negative comments from these angry users like me, these rates under V2 App - everyone downloaded V2 and obtained the right to comment).

Even now, I published my email address and the receipts, but there is NO any response from SERIF. I think, I will never logon to these forum and will never use ANY app from SERIF, Would not recommend Affinity to any friends.

Until SERIF Apologized.

[Chang ZhiPing]

Here is the Comments from angry China AppStore users, like me, they all cannot download the purchased V1 Affinity. 

I think this video can proven. Even similar comments deleted, then appear again quickly. 

 

 

[Chang ZhiPing]

AS an Apple App developer and 8 years experience on macOS, I think I know where to download the App I have purchased from AppStore.

And I have double checked with Apple's senior support engineers more than three times.

There is only one truth: SERIF removed the V1 version, forcing users to buy V2 (it seems this action they DO on China AppStore). 

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

I think this video can proven.

Sorry I can't read Chinese and thus it is not clear to me from your video … So just an idea / hint:

At 0:36 min the video shows a hint in English "go to your account in AppStore…".

Although I don't have purchased Affinity apps via Apple's App Store I can try to download another old, legacy app. For instance "iPhoto": It has been quit by Apple some years ago and was replaced by "Photos".

Accordingly it does not appear in the regular list any more and if I use the "Search" field it will not show up. But it gets displayed when I switch to "My Account": then it is still available and offered for download to me in my old macOS. Then the window title is "Account" (~ 帐户).

[Ron P.]

1 hour ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

There is only one truth: SERIF removed the V1 version, forcing users to buy V2 (it seems this action they DO on China AppStore). 

You can no longer purchase V1. However Serif does not control what the MAS does or does not offer. So you statement is incorrect. You need to try what thomaso posted.

[Hilltop]

2 hours ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

There is only one truth: SERIF removed the V1 version, forcing users to buy V2 (it seems this action they DO on China AppStore). 

This is not true and it's definitely not Serif's intention to force v. 1 users to purchase v. 2: 

 

[Leigh]

I've just logged into my personal Mac App Store account and the V1 apps are there to be downloaded.

I will double check with our developers to make sure they've not made any changes specifically for users in China but I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

[Chang ZhiPing]

Thanks to @Leigh, as you purchased item all shown that V1 exist. But for my account, the V1 doesn't exist.

It is clear: 

• Only China AppStore, V1 (Affinity Designer & Affinity Photo) disappeared from the purchased record. 

• Except China AppStore, V1 (Affinity Designer & Affinity Photo) still available to download from purchased records. (That's the reason why I receive so many reply that they all can download the V1 from purchased records.)

 

And It is proven:

1. Today I recovery the V1 Affinity Designer (still NO Affinity Photo V1) from my external HDD to my new macOS, I can verify it with my Apple ID, and login with my register email account to SERIF and download the extensions. 

2.  This can prove that SERIF still provide service to V1 users (may be only in NOT China users, because I am now live in China, this is the reason why I can access this forum .... most Chinese cannot access this forum because the Great FireWall.)

Thanks for you all's help & assistant & remind. but I tried to these question. I am not willing try to recovery the V1 Affinity Photo. 

 

[thomaso]

3 hours ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

But for my account, the V1 doesn't exist.

Possibly you can show a screen-video, scrolling through your AppStore -> Account, … when the window title bar shows "account" (probably in Chinese) ?

How do you understand the Chinese post in your previous AppStore video that mentions you "can still download V1" if you "go to your account"?

[Chang ZhiPing]

10 hours ago, thomaso said:

Possibly you can show a screen-video, scrolling through your AppStore -> Account, … when the window title bar shows "account" (probably in Chinese) ?

How do you understand the Chinese post in your previous AppStore video that mentions you "can still download V1" if you "go to your account"?

This the plug-in of Affinity Designer V1, still available.

After I copy the backup Affinity Designer to my macOS -> 'Application', and run it, the pop remind me to input my Apple ID and pwd, then I can use the Affinity Designer V1, and the plug-in / extension can download from SERIF. This prove that SERIF can still provide service to V1 users. 

[Chang ZhiPing]

From few website content which mentioned the Apple iCloud, the China regional iCloud service provided by `云上贵州`， it is monitored by China government.

I guess mostly because the iCloud in China `云上贵州` have collapsed, for some users mentioned their backup lost after December 2022. Maybe this is the reason why China AppStore cannot find Purchase History. 

There is a high probability that this will happen. For I have checked all my AppStore purchase records, most app disappeared. Only a few Apps I can find from the purchased list. Another App I have purchased name `Music Tag Editor Pro` disappeared. Any many 0 cost Apps disappeared too.......

[R C-R]

23 minutes ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

I guess mostly because the iCloud in China `云上贵州` have collapsed, for some users mentioned their backup lost after December 2022. Maybe this is the reason why China AppStore cannot find Purchase History. 

There is a high probability that this will happen. For I have checked all my AppStore purchase records, most app disappeared. Only a few Apps I can find from the purchased list. Another App I have purchased name `Music Tag Editor Pro` disappeared. Any many 0 cost Apps disappeared too.......

That sounds like something Serif nor any other affected company has any control over. What do you expect Serif to do about that?

[Chang ZhiPing]

20 minutes ago, R C-R said:

That sounds like something Serif nor any other affected company has any control over. What do you expect Serif to do about that?

I believe China users including me have misunderstood SERIF company, they have post many angry rates on the V2 AppStore. 

SERIF should do something to save his reputation, he cannot do nothing by China AppStore but reply these users why they cannot download the old version.

I do not know it is necessary to verify Apple ID when recovery V1 (I verified the pop window and login with my China Apple ID).

If it is possible to avoid abuse of V1 and appease the user's anger, may be SERIS should reply these angry rates and told them to download V1 from an official web url. 

[R C-R]

28 minutes ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

If it is possible to avoid abuse of V1 and appease the user's anger, may be SERIS should reply these angry rates and told them to download V1 from an official web url. 

What URL could Serif provide to download & use the V1 apps that would prevent people who never bought them from doing that? Apple does not share personalized purchase info with developers selling through its store, & bogus store receipts are trivially easy to forge, so how could Serif be sure only previous purchasers were using that URL?

[Chang ZhiPing]

Maybe SERIF maintain the user database who purchased V1, they can email to these users.

On the other hands, Maybe SERIF can contact with AppStore for the V1 users list. I think previous SERIF can delete all negative rates, certainly they can contact Apple to do  something better

>> When I post another topic on this forum. I cannot provided any screenshoot of the negative rates by angry users on V2 AppStore, because someone deleted them all.

>> About 1~2 weeks later, I post this topic on this forum. I can taken the video of angry rates on the V2 AppStore, only a few weeks these negative rates full of V2, so I can take the screenshoot video. 

So, I can sure, that should be Apple / SERIF know the business. 

 

[PaulEC]

Serif DO NOT know who has purchased their software from the Apple/Mac/Windows stores. Apple/Mac/Windows WILL NOT share personal customer information with Serif. Serif sends emails both to customers and to anyone else who is interested in Affinity products. Receiving general emails from them is not proof that any particular purchases have been made! The only people that Serif know have purchased their software are those who purchased directly from the Serif store. Going on what has been said, it would seem highly likely that any problems you, and, apparently, other people in China, are experiencing are caused by decisions made by the (Chinese) Apple Store (possibly due to actions by the Chinese government!), not  by Serif/Affinity. 

 

[thomaso]

Just in case: There appears to be a known, global problem with missing but purchased apps and the Apple App Store, which affects users who switched their country in their Apple ID setting or use a new / different Apple ID.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/86349/re-downloading-apps-purchased-in-a-different-country

https://support.apple.com/HT204088

So, if this …

7 hours ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

(I verified the pop window and login with my China Apple ID).

… would mean you have a separate China + another Apple ID: Try to login with the other. If you switched the country but for 1 ID then re-switch to see the according purchases.

[R C-R]

6 hours ago, Chang ZhiPing said:

Maybe SERIF maintain the user database who purchased V1, they can email to these users.

On the other hands, Maybe SERIF can contact with AppStore for the V1 users list. I think previous SERIF can delete all negative rates, certainly they can contact Apple to do  something better

Again, Apple will not share any purchase-related personal info with any company selling apps through its store. This is done for security & privacy reasons.

[Ron P.]

1 hour ago, R C-R said:

This is done for security & privacy reasons.

Perhaps this is why Chang ZhiPing is not understanding/comprehending why Serif can do nothing. There's no such thing as privacy and security in China. Growing up in that culture, there would be no fundamental understanding of these.

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, Ron P. said:

Perhaps this is why Chang ZhiPing is not understanding/comprehending why Serif can do nothing.

The only thing @Chang ZhiPing needs to understand is what has been said in several posts now; that being that Apple will not share personal customer information with Serif or with any other outside vendor selling apps through its stores. This is true for all countries, not just China.

[Ron P.]

37 minutes ago, R C-R said:

The only thing @Chang ZhiPing needs to understand is what has been said in several posts now; that being that Apple will not share personal customer information with Serif or with any other outside vendor selling apps through its stores. This is true for all countries, not just China.

You must think I'm an idiot. I fully understand that, so don't need anyone, especially you trying to single me out, making it appear as if I don't. It seems that you're not understanding how he can not comprehend the reason why, privacy and security. That does not exist in China.