Watch out for those "90% off" flash sale sites with countdown timers

I saw a deal for a name brand air fryer listed at $29.99, original price $299, with a 3 minute countdown. I checked the manufacturer's site and that exact model hasn't cost more than $80 anywhere in the last year. The timer reset every time I refreshed the page. Has anyone else seen these fake urgency tricks from stores like DailySteals or similar?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_martin12d ago

Has anyone else felt personally attacked by a countdown timer that just keeps giving you second chances? I swear my brain sees a ticking clock and immediately forgets how to do basic math, like somehow $29.99 is a steal when I've literally walked past that same air fryer at Target for $35. Maybe it's just me but I'm pretty sure those timers are designed by the same people who make slot machines.

corah7512d ago

Oh sure, absolutely nothing screams "legitimate business" like a timer that magically resets when you breathe on it. I swear those countdown clocks are powered by pure imagination and desperation.

lucast8112d ago

Had a buddy who ordered a "discounted" air fryer from one of those sites. Timer said 3 minutes left, so he rushed to checkout. Then it reset to 15 minutes. He sat there watching it reset three more times before giving up and closing the laptop. Next morning he gets an email saying "HURRY, ONLY 2 HOURS LEFT!" for the same air fryer. He still laughs about it but also admits he almost fell for it twice.