Examples of application fees where you pay a fee without any guarantee of acceptance off the top of my head are college applications and applications for renting an apartment. I'm sure there are others.
Sure, as an individual you can often cash out an "investment" but this is not the case for a business. If you invest in developing and/or producing a product and no one buys it you can't just "cash out".
Point taken about "gambling" being more descriptive of the effect, I don't necessarily disagree.
This is obviously a cultural thing. In England we do not pay to apply for things, especially universities whereby they are charging you to go there.
Very true, however I don't see the analogous link here.
I'd prefer to see a deposit that was returned if you weren't successful, if you are then it is burned to Null.
Thanks again for your time in answering my questions. Much appreciated!
Cg
Okay here is another example from your own culture. UK charges a non-refundable application fee for visa applications.
Aha touche! You got me there :-) Kind of... lol
The difference with a Visa app, is that it is an official document pertaining to immigration, and as such all countries charge for those.
As far as I'm aware in the UK there is no comparable example whereby you have to pay to apply for something within the private or even public sector. If you apply for a job, grant, loan, university it is all free, any fees you may incur come after your successful application.
I look forward to you proving me wrong again though! :-)
Cg
I'm not going to search for it. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. I'm sure your original point about it varying in different cultures is true. I do know that if I were volunteering to evaluate potentially-complicated applications for something, particularly something where the applicant clearly has something of obvious value to gain, and a lot of people with low-quality applications might just take a shot because why not, I'd want some sort of fee attached to it, but that's just me.
I get it, and the last thing you want is to get multi-spammed after all those delegations have to be looked at one by one and the team is not massive...
It's been great having this little chat, and I have been somewhat swayed as to the need for an application fee, just a smaller one is all.
We've had little disagreements in the past, but I've always found you fair and unlike some in your position, you are open to debate and different points of view from your own.
Always refreshing!
...and thanks for the non-ghosting vote, I am embroiled in the #butthurtwars at the mo. Just a bit of fun, standing up to a bully :-)
Anyway thanks again and can't wait to lock horns again! :-D
Cg
I believe the team has posted smaller fees for the lower tiers, so perhaps that will help mitigate your concerns somewhat.
Likewise thank you for the discussion.