Benjamin Balder Bach

I was buying something in a webshop and noticed a "1 item left in stock" message, which turned out to be fake.

At first, I was suspicious that the notification might be fake. I took screenshots before and after buying the item. Afterwards, I sent the evidence to the consumer agency.

This deceptive pattern @deceptivepatterns is called "fake scarcity" and is described here: https://www.deceptive.design/types/fake-scarcity #DeceptivePatterns

Edit: Updated with image caption text + minor edits.

Deceptive Patterns - Types - Fake scarcity

The user is pressured into completing an action because they are presented with a fake indication of limited supply or popularity.

Jul 5, 2023 at 1:46pmWeb
Show threadRoel NieskensJul 5, 2023
@benjaoming @deceptivepatterns Heh. I've suspected this often as well, never thought to test and report. Thanks for the suggestion!
Show threadPeter Skov Larsen ★Jul 5, 2023

@benjaoming @deceptivepatterns

First time I fell for this con must've been around 1972.

It was at a school dance, and I guess I was in the 7th grade or so. Back then, soda came in bottles, and when the guy selling drinks yelled out that there were only two Cokes left, I bought them both.

As I stood there drinking one and holding on to the other, I watched him do it again. Served me right for being greedy.
Lesson learned.

Show threadMichael KnudsenJul 6, 2023
@benjaoming fedt. God stil!
Show threadIan TindaleJul 8, 2023
@benjaoming @deceptivepatterns I remember long ago a Mad Magazine back issues page which announced in headline:
NONE LEFT!
And went on to explain in the body copy
“Yes indeed – last month absolutely none of our back issues left our warehouse…”