显示404元需付515元，平台买票套路何时休？

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the increasing prevalence of hidden fees and misleading practices in third-party ticket purchasing platforms, particularly during the upcoming Spring Festival travel season, raising concerns about consumer rights and transparency in pricing [1][15]. Group 1: Consumer Experiences - A consumer from Guangxi reported purchasing a train ticket for 404 yuan, only to find the final price was 515 yuan due to undisclosed service fees, raising questions about transparency [3]. - Another consumer from Sichuan experienced a "speed trap," where the ticket price jumped from 50 yuan to 72 yuan without clear notification, leading to an automatic payment due to a pre-enabled feature [4]. - Consumers have expressed frustration over being charged for services they did not knowingly select, indicating a lack of clarity in the purchasing process [4][5]. Group 2: Regulatory Context - Current regulations prohibit default selections for add-on services like insurance and expedited packages, yet many platforms still employ tactics that obscure true costs [5][16]. - Despite the 2019 e-commerce law aimed at protecting consumers, platforms continue to exploit loopholes by using visually misleading designs to promote paid options [16][17]. Group 3: Common Tactics - Platforms utilize "price sorting traps" to mislead consumers into selecting packages that include additional fees, often without clear disclosure [9][10]. - Visual design strategies are employed to create the illusion of separate pricing for add-on services, leading consumers to believe they are optional when they are not [13][14]. - The prevalence of these tactics has been confirmed by consumer surveys, with over 90% of respondents indicating they have encountered hidden fees on third-party platforms [8]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The article suggests that the pursuit of profit by platforms leads to practices that infringe on consumer rights, emphasizing the need for better transparency and ethical practices in the industry [15][17]. - Experts call for stricter regulations and enforcement to address the evolving tactics used by platforms, which often skirt existing laws [17].