Let me share a really well written post with a bit of a disclaimer: as the great Bob Sugar said in Jerry Maguire, “It’s not show friends, it’s show business.”

Unfortunately for Simon Dawlat and his employees at AppGratis, he learned he’s not truly friends with his Apple reps.

Apple is known for it’s great service to users of all kind. As someone who’s been through the account and app approval process (in addition to being a regular customer) with Cupertino, I have always been treated very well. In fact, for the most part of the above post by Dawlat on their own website shares that same sentiment. 

As I have shared before, sometimes apps just get pulled. Terms of service, feature sets, and industry standards all change. Apple itself even changes. For a variety of reasons, an app that once was in good standing could now be out of compliance. 

Regardless, it doesn’t make what happened to AppGratis any less painful.

While reading the recounting of details by Dawlat, I found myself placed in his shoes mentally and emotionally. His post did not scream as a political play for the emotion of the Internet. The comments were rational and logical. He didn’t mince words, but he also was very measured. It’s the response I would want my CEO to give.

What this story shouldn’t turn into is an iOS vs. Android argument, but it’s a bit late for that. It should be an argument for the understanding that success can be just as fleeting as its arrival.

If Apple decided it was no longer a fan of Twitter and removed all of the integration from iOS, I honestly think the company would be in a bit of trouble. I’m not saying the company would die, but I would not be on the social media platform very often (if at all) if it was removed from my iPhone. The same could be said for Flipboard, or any other platform that grew in prominence just because of the iWhatever.

Point being, this happens with businesses sometimes.

I hope Dawlat gets the ship righted. His service was one I used a few times, plus I hate to see anyone get kicked out of the walled garden who was trying to play nice. If things don’t work out, I’m sure he will be back with a new idea. That’s what successful people do. Still doesn’t change the facts.

Success built on the back of one approval can change when that approval turns into a rejection.