Abstract
<jats:p>This study examines how the habit of monitoring vehicle listings on Sahibinden.com, Turkey's largest classifieds platform, transforms into a digital compulsion. Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with male users who regularly browse automobile ads. Findings reveal that browsing is often used as a tool for escaping daily stress, daydreaming, and leisure, rather than a concrete purchase intent. Specifically, Turkey's inflationary environment and market fluctuations drive users to monitor the platform like a stock market ticker due to the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). The study demonstrates that platform mechanisms, such as infinite scrolling and notifications, shift users away from rational information-seeking toward a cyclical digital dependency. Ultimately, the act of browsing evolves into a hedonic ritual that surpasses the original goal of purchasing, turning the marketplace into a site of habitual psychological engagement.</jats:p>