India, Oct. 3 -- Discounts, Deception & Dilemma

The 2025 festive season is expected to generate a record $13.1 Bn in sales for Indian ecommerce giants. Yet, behind the glittering discounts and flash sales lies a troubling reality - systematically deployed dark patterns to push shoppers into spending more. So, what's blighting India's festive frenzy?

Deception By Design: From Flipkart's just-concluded Big Billion Days to Amazon's ongoing Great Indian Festival, dark patterns are clearly visible. Many customers reported that their orders were cancelled despite making payments, while others said product prices mysteriously increased at checkout. Flipkart's loyalty programme members also complained that similar discounts were being offered t...