Improving User Experience Through Dishonesty: A Question Worth Exploring

In the digital age, online shopping has become a norm, but a recent wave of reports has raised concerns about transparency and ethics in the industry. Companies, including Vodafone and certain financial institutions in Germany, have been accused of deceiving customers by violating transparency rules, such as profiling customers without proper consent. AS Watson Health & Beauty Continental Europe also faced fines for tracking users on its website without clear consent.

The debate extends beyond Germany, with practices like offering free items with hidden costs coming under scrutiny. While retailers argue that these practices lead to customer satisfaction, the question of ethicality arises. The costs associated with free offers may not always be clearly displayed, with their presentation designed to be overlooked through the use of fonts, colors, shading, and other tactics.

In some cases, users may be automatically enrolled in programs with hidden costs and forced to opt out during the ordering process. Some websites offer free items during the ordering process, but the small print may reveal that the free offer is only valid for a short period, such as one month, and then the user will be invoiced or automatically charged.

The use of social proof on e-commerce websites, such as the number of items in stock, can influence purchasing decisions, even though the stock levels may not accurately represent the availability of the item. Low stock messages, like "We only have 3 of these items in stock; order now for next day delivery!", are intended to create a sense of urgency and drive sales, even though there may not be a real need to order the item immediately.

The practice of offering free items with hidden costs is a common one, although it is not typically seen with companies like Amazon, known for their strong arrangements with suppliers that allow them to rapidly restock items within less than 24 hours.

As the debate continues, the public is invited to share their opinions on these matters on the companies' Facebook and LinkedIn pages. There is a growing call for stronger legislation to protect consumers from misleading claims and deceptive practices. Users should be resistant to persuasion without all the information, even in cases where there's a direct benefit. Deception, even when the consumer benefits at no cost, is a questionable practice.