Academics working with StubHub carried out a huge test on hidden fees vs vs upfront fees. Users who weren’t shown fees upfront spent ≈21% more and were 14% more likely to complete a purchase. This research involved several million participants.
News article summarising the findings from the research paper "Price Salience and Product Choice". "StubHub concluded that so-called “drip pricing” [...] resulted in people spending about 21% more."
In August 2024, the Washington, D.C. attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing StubHub of deceptive practices. The lawsuit highlights how StubHub uses hidden fees and manipulative design tactics to mislead consumers. These practices, which include countdown timers and fake scarcity tactics, are designed to pressure customers into making quick decisions.