Posted on 11/22/2022 7:35:51 AM PST by BenLurkin
A particularly insidious dark pattern is the inclusion of unexpected fees during the checkout process. By this time, the company knows most people will already be committed to the transaction.
Lengthy user agreements are another common dark pattern. Most people will simply click the OK button without reading the pages and pages of terms.
As long as a business can point to a disclosure anywhere on its site, it can claim customers were informed.
Consumers can try to protect themselves by always looking closely for added fees or prechecked boxes when they reach the checkout screen of an online purchase. Also, you should inspect your credit card statements for unexpected or recurring charges, and after canceling a service, make sure the billing has stopped.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
I can’r stand when I go through a whole online order, and they only tell me the shipping charges AFTER I’ve put all my info in and fought with thier site. They could tell me approximately what it is up front, ambushing me with it is a scam.
Electrical Engineering Degree, You learn to manipulate electrons.
Journalism Degree, You learn to manipulate words.
Law Degree, you learn to manipulate laws.
Business Degree, you learn to manipulate customers...............
Yup—consultants to business, non-profits, governments all teach their clients how to lie and get away with it.
These days you cannot believe anything any large institution says—their “public relations” department is nothing but paid liars.
I can’t stand when I go through a whole online order, and they only tell me the shipping charges AFTER I’ve put all my info in and fought with their site.
They could tell me approximately what it is up front. Ambushing me with it is a scam.
I signed up for a Macys card because I was infatuated with the sales lady. It was very difficult to cancel it - my wife had to email and make many phone calls to finally cancel it.
Shrinkflation. Compare prices per ounce or pound or you get ripped off. Lower quality for the same price is another ongoing problem.
I’m not sure a company like Amazon can even do that. It seemed like at least a third of the items I ordered from them this year qualified for free shipping. I have no idea how that arrangement is even done between Amazon and the shipper.
That’s coffee. Only a dollar more, but went from 16 oz to 14 oz to 12 oz to 10 oz...
The British press has coined the term “skimpflation.” It’s when companies — especially food manufacturers — substitute lower-quality ingredients in their poducts. I guess this would include the use of cricket flour . . .
All of this BS is/was completely avoidable and is deliberate.
I’ve seen snacks/candy go from typically 6 regular sized items per box to 4 small items. It has helped my weight though because I hardly buy them anymore.
Fig Newtons are BS now.
Triscuits too.
I’m leaning out via no snacks anymore.
No liquid calories would help tons of people.
It has occurred to me that at least some of this over-the-top inflation is simply retailers taking advantage of the situation, setting their prices just a bit higher than necessary to rake in a bit of extra profit. It’s a vicious circle.
Every purchase is caveat emptor again. Laws in the spirit of the Christian ethic lost years ago.
Here comes the rail strike for more increases monetarily and shortages supply wise.
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