Add to cart, skip the budol: This fake shopping app is here to help you resist impulse buys
Imagine filling your cart with the latest iPhone, checking out, and feeling satisfied without having to spend a single peso.
That's the experience being offered by PeykMart, a fake online shopping web-based app that allows users to enjoy the thrill of online shopping without spending real money.
Software engineer Reymark Arsenio talked about his new app on Threads last weekend and has been trending on the social media platform since. "I made a fake shopping app for people na madalas mabudol," he wrote. "Parang [siyang] Shopee, pero walang totoong order na mangyayari."
His post has garnered almost 16,000 likes, 2,500 reposts, and 3,000 shares as of writing.
How PeykMart started
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Arsenio said the concept emerged after he noticed the growing popularity of fake shopping platforms in South Korea.
"Recently kasi nag-trend 'yung dopamine sites sa South Korea, and naisip ko, what if meron din dito sa Philippines?" he shared.
"Nag-research ako kung mayroon bang same idea na nag-exist dito sa Philippines, and apparently, wala pang ganun na idea. So, doon na pumasok sa isip ko na pwede akong gumawa ng fake shopping app na tailored sa Philippine market," he added.
Arsenio began developing the app after getting positive feedback on a quick survey on Threads. Using a lean web development approach, he focused only on essential features such as product listings as well as add-to-cart and checkout buttons.
"Gumawa lang ako ng sobrang basic na MVP (Most Viable Product), which is just basic checkout," he explained. "'Yung first MVP ko is wala pa siyang search and wala pa siyang voucher kasi talagang minadali ko 'yung paggawa kasi ang purpose ko sa pag-launch is to just validate the idea."
When using the web-based app, which resembles popular shopping platforms like Shopee and Lazada, you will see real-world items with almost accurate pricing. Arsenio shared that he used AI tools to supply the information on the platform.
There is also an option to input your name and address at your own risk, though it's best to use random generation not only for fun but also for data protection and privacy.
The rise of PeykMart
The website, which was finished in less than a week, exploded in popularity in a matter of days. On Threads, Arsenio disclosed that his June 6 post about the web-based app garnered 190,000 views, while PeykMart gained 8,000 visitors on its first day on June 20.
By June 21, it reached nearly 15,000 people.
View on Threads
When asked what he thinks has made his web-based app a hit, Arsenio noted from online comments how some users have used it to teach economics, prank a boyfriend, and gain satisfaction in buying 10 iPhones.
As PeykMart continues to gain traction online, Arsenio is looking at future improvements being suggested by its users. These include virtual wallets, a seller option, and a privacy policy that should come with the increase in the number of its users.
Monetization, he said, is also down the line. "Maybe I can include a subscription model to the app para ma-maintain ko rin siya," he shared.
Despite a myriad of possibilities, Arsenio said he will remain committed to PeykMart's original purpose: to prevent impulse buying.
"Hindi ako magpapasok ng advertisements na mapupunta dun sa pag-purchase or any links outside the app na mapupunta dun sa pag-purchase, kasi it would be a conflict dun sa mismong mission ng app," he said.
You can access PeykMart here.
