Billing integration required to publish an unlisted app?

[andrewde]

Is it really required for Shopify app developers to integrate into the Shopify Billing API - even for unlisted apps? This seems really odd to me. Wondering how others have found this request? 

[AvadaCommerce]

Hi @andrewde 

The Shopify Apps Team recently made the use of our Billing API mandatory for all apps. While all new apps are required to use our integrated billing solution, they have rolled out these changes to existing apps, and offered a three-month grace period for the developer to comply with these rules.

We are also app providers and to be honest, we think this helps to prevent scamming and protect us as a provider. For example when we process refund to our users, if we directly send the money to the user, then it might trouble us in the future if the user try to scam us.

[andrewde]

Thanks for your reply @AvadaCommerce 

I'm not entirely sure I understand your point about scamming though. We are a respected app with 1000s of existing customers, some of whom use Shopify. We dont have the internal resources to comply with the billing integration at the moment, which is why i’d have thought it’d be mutually beneficial to offer our shared customers the ability to connect the two platforms. Hence, i'd be happy to unlist the app. For customers that start on our platform, I fail to see the value (to the customer) in them having to move their billing to Shopify. 

[appbuilder1]

@andrewde I agree completely. But I don't think it matters if it's listed or unlisted. If an app is already is using its own billing, we for example use stripe and have other parts of our app that use other systems that are part of the billing. And to have Shopify force us to use their billing is monopolistic and likely illegal beyond the fact that it's just out right nasty and one sighted. This is the same kind of practices that caused Apple and others problems with their app stores. Will partners need to have a case action law suit filled for Shopify to be forced to end this unacceptable practice!? I implore other partners to stand up against this kind of abuse of power!