Are online countdown timers real?
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The Trick: What's often true about "Offer ends in 09:59" timers on shopping sites?
Some reset or restart when you reload. Regulators have documented fake countdown timers that restart. The urgency is the product, not the deadline. Source: FTC – Bringing Dark Patterns to Light (2022)
Why It Works: Why does a ticking clock make us buy?
Fear of missing out cuts our deliberation short. Scarcity in time triggers loss aversion: the pain of missing the deal feels bigger than the gain of thinking it over. Source: Wikipedia – Scarcity (social psychology)
How to Spot It: How can you test a countdown timer?
Reload the page or open it in a private window. If the clock restarts, it was never a deadline. Real sales have a fixed date you can see elsewhere. Source: FTC – Bringing Dark Patterns to Light