Consumers Trapped by Subscription Dark Patterns - Cancellation Traps

I tried to cancel my subscription to Everyday Dose. I discovered not just friction, but planned entrapment. I wrote Customer Service twice asking to cancel. Was told to do it myself. Clicked the link. Hit cancel. Up pops a video about why I should keep buying from them. No way to end the video. I wait it out, because i know if I leave I won’t know for sure they will honor my cancellation. I strongly doubt it, because they’ve taught me not to trust them. And, I’m right. I get another cancel button. Clicked it. System demands a “why”. I select Other because their choices don’t include my reason. Text box won't let me type. Cancel button greyed out. I'm stuck. I had to threaten legal action to cancel. From the company whose website promises "Happiness Guaranteed." Here's what I realized: This company doesn't want to keep me. They want to trap me. This isn't a UX problem. This is a business strategy problem. Because Everyday Dose has made a clear decision to make leaving as hard as they can. They want to wear me out so I don’t leave. And I know it works, I’ve fallen for the trap with other sites. But this time, I’m mad enough to hang in. And I learned a lot in the process. I’m not being treated as a customer, I’m being held hostage. Every company that makes joining easy and leaving impossible is making the same trade-off: friction keeps short-term revenue. It destroys long-term trust. And trust is what actually drives lifetime value. If your business model requires trapping customers to keep their money, your product doesn't deliver value. It delivers a habit people would abandon if they could leave. Companies that compete on value win. Companies that compete on traps spend their time fighting regulatory battles and managing reputational damage. I'm collecting these stories. If you've been trapped like this — Everyday Dose or anywhere else — comment below or reach out. I'm writing about this because someone needs to name what's happening. The more consumers understand the game, the intentional roadblocks, the psychological manipulation, the better equipped they are to protect themselves. Because business leaders deserve to understand the cost of choosing traps over trust. That cost is higher than it appears. Because after spending 40 years iin sales and marketing and helping businesses connect with customers authentically, I can’t unsee the pattern I now recognize. And I’m offended that anyone finds it acceptable. This insidious practice needs to be called out and I’m mad enough to play a part in doing that. Check out the full story in LinkedIn articles at https://lnkd.in/gXE3RENA