It's not ethical to offer UPSELLS?

The only time I would label it as unethical is when someone is selling a technique or course and you need to purchase one of the upsells in order to actually do what it is they are teaching. Unless that is clearly mentioned on the sales page, it seems like a dick move to me.

I don't see Upsells as something unethical at all. Yes, you're right, some people will complain but if the upsell will bring your customer more value and help you make you even more money, definitely go for it!

I think it would be unethical if for example in your sales page you say something like: You will get the exact landing pages and email swipes that have made me $100 in 7 days and after people buy your main offer you try to upsell them the "email swipes" or the "landing pages" for $47. That was not a great example but hopefully you get the idea.

I've noticed people who complain the most about upsells are people who never got what they paid for on the first place.

But again this is my opinion,

Leon.

Upsells in and of themselves are neutral as a concept. It boils down to implementation. For example, if someone offers an upsell to a main product as "optional" but it turns out that one HAS to have to make the original product (or service) work, then that's unethical.

But let's say you offer a product for $97 bucks and you have an upsell for a piece of software that would make that product more efficient to use (i.e. more automated), then that's perfectly ethical because it's adding value to the original product and the upsell is NOT necessary to have.

Buyer and consumer psychology has always fascinated me. Some people will balk at an online upsell, yet won't blink twice when they're offered an upsell at a restaurant or while buying a car or a piece of jewelry or even a smart phone.

Upsells are everywhere and they aren't ethical or not ethical as a general concept, it's in how it's implemented.

RoD

I think it is definitely ethical. The only way I would consider it to be unethical is if the upsell was necessary to make the product work. However, as long as you are offering a complete product on the front end that does not require the upsell to work then it's completely ethical.

I make the majority of my online income as an affiliate, and in my experience it is standard practice to have at least 2 products in your sales funnel, and often times 3 or more. Many sales funnels also contain downsells.

I can't see why an affiliate ( a successful one at least), would object to upsells and downsells, since it only means more chances to earn commission. I have had dozens of instances (maybe hundreds by now) where a buyer has gone through and purchased every product in a funnel, resulting in commissions into the hundreds of dollars from one buyer.

As I said, as long as you don't do what I refer to as "stringing," which would be getting someone to make a front end purchase and then dropping it on them that they need to buy the upsell too or the product will be useless, then it is totally ethical.

In other words, as long as your upsells are related products which only act to enhance the value of the front end product, you are certainly being 100% ethical.

"Would you like fries with that?"

As others have mentioned, if the upsell is required to make the original product work, then yes it is unethical.

If someone is overly sensitive to upsells and gets offended by them, you have to seriously consider if they are the type of customer you really want anyway.

Nothing wrong upsells as long as they build up the value of the original product.

However, as Mike Friedman mentioned, an upsell must not be used as the "final part" of the initial product. The whole point of it is to offer something valuable on top, but with the option to leave it, rather than having to purchase it, because otherwise the main product is useless.

I'm guessing you've never been to a fast food restaurant.

Would you like to Biggie Size that?

talfighel...let em starve.

They even griped about Jesus.

Why is this even a thread?

Of course its not un-ethical...

Just don't make the up-sells the only way to have a "complete" form of the core product...

That's basically it...

Here's something from another recent post I wrote:

Mark

It is not unethical, but many internet marketers have done a very poor job of implementing them.

In many OTO's it seems they are necessary to get the initial product to work correctly. When that occurs it is unethical.

I personally find them annoying and refuse to add them to any product I sell. I am willing to give up short-term money to keep customers happy.

For me, it voice down to what the upsell is all about. If the upsell is required for the initial product to work or function effectively, it as good as saying, you can't eat the cheeseburger without getting the fries. Then, it sucks. "Here's my email marketing course BUT you need my autoresponder to work"

How, about getting this extra spicy curry sauce for your nuggets, it tastes great.. well, then this is ethical..

Cheers

It is unethical to sell anything to anyone that they don't need, but we all have to make a living.

Upsells are OK if they are something that compliments the product you are selling rather than something that is necessary to make it work. If the upsell is the later than you are dealing with an unethical seller in my book.

Every product in the chain should deliver what it says and be standalone. Up selling is about offering greater value than before. Say you are some sort of expert coach, the following may apply.

Give a free report. Offer book or course from the report. (up sell 1)
People who buy book you offer them the course again (up sell 2)
People who attend or follow the course, you offer 1 on 1 mentoring (up sell 3)

You move from stranger, to supplier, to trusted advisor.

What is the meaning of upsell ? Please tell me the answer.

That depends, if you are giving me a free product I do not mind an up sell as you need to make some money. However, if I am paying for a report, I do not want to have to swim in a spammy sea. Put yourself in the shoes of your consumer. Do you want to have to click page after page. Often I get lost with all the up sells when I paid seven dollar for a report - why is the number always seven. Like that is suppose to be magic.

I do not like up sells any. People who stuff a report full of links at the end to sell me stuff is OK as that is considered a resource. However, I expect to get what I ordered not nag ware asking me for more money. If you want the features you thought you ordered, you must up grade to our premium pro version.

How many people here actually split what they really thing.

I know this whole complimentary thing makes sense and that an upsell to make the front end work is just plain stupid... But you guys do realize that it comes down to "Problems --> Solution". Regardless of what you're selling, as long as it solves their problem. Sell it.

Front End: YouTube Marketing
OTO1: Facebook Marketing
OTO2: Ebay & Amazon
OTO3: Product Creation
OTO4: Blogging...

Stupid funnel? Tested & Proven!

Nothing compliments anything!

IN OTHER WORDS! THE ONLY BLARDY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IS JUST TO TEST THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR FUNNEL. TWEAK IT UNTIL YOU ROI! TADA!!! ONLINE MARKETING 101

IMO, it's definitely not unethical at all.

However, if a product is crippled without the OTO and it is not stated on the sales page then you will never buy from that seller again. There is one seller here on the WF that I know did/does that with their Wordpress plugins - never brought (or looked at) their products since.