Are Apple Intentionally not Reviewing my App?

Question

Created Jun ’15

Replies 5

Boosts 0

Participants 3

So, I've now hit 31 days in review.

I've been speaking to people from iTunes Connect - not the right people, but they are able to pass a message on - and really thought I was making progress. I was passed on to a senior person there who was very happy to give me their direct details and say they will get this sorted.

After a few minutes of them dealing with it I get the generic cookie cutter email again. When I emailed the person who had been very helpful their entire attitude had changed and I was told it's the app review team that review apps and they cannot provide any further information.

Part of me thinks this is impossible, but due to the troubles in review and the change in attitude, this is what I think is happening:

Home Remote 2.5 (my app) added support for WeMo Home Automation devices - which are shortly adding support for HomeKit. Home Remote supports voice activation of the kit as well as supports the Pebble and Apple Watch.

I think Apple are holding my release back, even through the app is very small in terms of sales, due to some marketing reason (possibly that they don't want the Pebble providing similar functionality) or perceived matching of functionality in terms of voice activation of Home Automation.

What ever it is, I am unable to speak to anyone. This is driving me mad and I'm not sure what to do.

Answered by Gary_BBGames in 19372022

Result!

The facts:

I had previously emailed appreview@apple.com many times.

I had phoned Apple Developer Program Support so many times I had the email of a senior person there.

A friend of a friend at Apple had confirmed my app was being "held" for some reason, but couldn't see the reason itself.

I sent emails to both people saying:

Hi,

I have spoken with someone from Apple (a friend of a friend) that has confirmed my app is indeed being held by Apple and I should ask for them to call me to get the issue resolved. This email address is the only contact I have. Could you please raise a ticket explaining:

1) The app has been in review for 32 days.

2) I know the app is being held and want nothing more than to get this update in to the store.

3) Please contact me so we can get this resolved.

4) Telephone number is +44 XXXX XXX XXX

5) Best times to reach me are between 8 AM and 2 PM PDT

Thanks,

Gary

Today, at 0850 their time I got a call from Apple, they thought my app did something it doesn't, I explained what it does do and they will push it through now.

So there you go, try emailing something like that.

Boost

Answer 1

rromanchuk OP

Jun ’15

related: Re: App review times unacceptable

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Answer 2

Gary_BBGames OP

Jun ’15

Indeed. I had already read that post. What can we do though, just shout in to white space and have it ignored.

😟

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Answer 3

Gary_BBGames OP

Jul ’15

So, I "know someone who knows someone" and was able to speak to someone and yes, the app is being held by Apple. Now, as they have not rejected it I am unable to open a dialogue about it, so I'm now just totally stuck.

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Answer 4

Gary_BBGames OP

Jul ’15

Accepted Answer

Result!

The facts:

I had previously emailed appreview@apple.com many times.

I had phoned Apple Developer Program Support so many times I had the email of a senior person there.

A friend of a friend at Apple had confirmed my app was being "held" for some reason, but couldn't see the reason itself.

I sent emails to both people saying:

Hi,

I have spoken with someone from Apple (a friend of a friend) that has confirmed my app is indeed being held by Apple and I should ask for them to call me to get the issue resolved. This email address is the only contact I have. Could you please raise a ticket explaining:

1) The app has been in review for 32 days.

2) I know the app is being held and want nothing more than to get this update in to the store.

3) Please contact me so we can get this resolved.

4) Telephone number is +44 XXXX XXX XXX

5) Best times to reach me are between 8 AM and 2 PM PDT

Thanks,

Gary

Today, at 0850 their time I got a call from Apple, they thought my app did something it doesn't, I explained what it does do and they will push it through now.

So there you go, try emailing something like that.

0

Answer 5

Petr Lefner OP

Dec ’16

Sometimes, I am afraid the review people quite often do not understand anything and are just afraid about loosing their job so they are afraid of discussing anything with anybody. For example, if I write why and when my app needs background audio in the NOTES FOR REVIEW, they did not to read it and reject my app becasue it wants backgorund audio but "does not play audio" (of course it does). I found out that these review people are from India. Is there a relation between this and all these review fails and misunderstandings?

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