eCommerce apps in iPhone

Question

I have seen the in-app purchrasing programming guide for apple. But it is mandatory to pay a 30% for any e-commerce? e-commerce is different than "in-app content" -it is not an additional feature for the application-

For example, if I want to sell potatoes, this is not an app feature, it is a physical product... if I have to give a 30% of that sell to Apple... those potatoes will be VERY expensive to the consumer...

By the other way, I've seen apps that do not use apple's system, like:

unicef zara magento amazon amazon kindle

So do they have a special contract with apple or there are other ways to do so, isn't it?

Thanks and best regards

Answer 1

The 30% Apple takes only applies to:

1. Cost of your actual app, if it's not free
2. Any in-app purchases that use Apple's in-app purchase machanism

As you've noted, there are apps that facilitate the exchange of money without using Apple's in-app purchase mechanism. Apple doesn't make a claim on any such exchange, only on the two items I listed above.

Btw, the apparent Apple take is something between 30% and 40% depending on which country you're in and where the purchase was made. For example, apps sold in the UK are liable to different taxation laws/systems and you can see less than 70% of your app sale price. This isn't Apple being devious; it's just how the tax situation works out.