
Browser session/caching issue, or scam attempt
Hi everyone, I’ve encountered a strange (and possibly misleading) behavior when purchasing a Surfshark VPN subscription, and I’d like to check whether it’s a browser/session issue or how their site is designed.
Here’s what happens: I received an email from Surfshark offering me $15 off using code COMEBACK_89DYE. Clicking the link in the email opens a pricing page where the Starter plan shows €1.43/mo (Screenshot 2). If I open new tabs or windows in the same session, the lower prices stay. If I close the browser completely, reopen, and visit the pricing page directly, the prices go up to €1.99/mo for the same plan (Screenshot 3). I believed €1.43/mo was the original base price and that an extra $15 discount would be applied at checkout. However, when I completed the purchase, I was charged €1.43/mo + VAT — but no additional $15 discount was applied
What I discovered after some testing: The link from the email directly loads a “discounted view” of their pricing page, but there is no indication that the prices shown already include the $15 discount. After opening this link once, every new tab or window in the same browser shows the reduced price, even if I try searching for Surfshark normally. The only way to see the “real” original pricing is to completely close the browser (all windows) or clear cookies/local storage, then visit their site without using the email link.
Is this a known browser session/caching issue, or could this be a deliberate site design (e.g., tracking parameters & persistent cookies)? Has anyone seen similar pricing behavior with Surfshark or other sites?