Google has shortened the refund time period of applications purchased from the Android marketplace from 24 hours to just 15 minutes. Also, there would not be a refund at all if you are buying a particular App for the second time.
“You have 15 minutes from the time of download to return an application purchased through Android Market for a full refund. You may only return a given application once; if you subsequently purchase the same app again, you may not return it a second time,” a posting on the Android Market read.
It comes as a warning for the users who do not go into the details while buying and installing a particular application.
Purchasing apps blindly is a practice which is common even with other app stores. Take iTunes for example, where all sales are considered final. But whenever the users provide genuine reasons about why they are seeking a refund, the Apple team has responded positively in the past.
The Amazon app store is different in the sense that it allows the users to try the app on a virtual Android handset first. Hence, the chances of users becoming unsatisfied reduce greatly in this case.
Even those who are well versed with apps on different platforms would agree that 15 minutes is too short a time to understand the application and its performance. Since the refund window is short, users will quickly look for a flaw and the moment they find even a trace of weakness, they’ll request for a refund just because they are hard pressed for time.