Chances are that if you have visited a restaurant, bought a major appliance or looked to contract a service lately then you have been subject to an upsell. Upsell techniques can cause you to spend more money without realizing it. Make sure that you are purchasing what you want at the price you want to avoid the upsell.
What Is the Upsell?
The upsell is when a customer is offered a higher priced product or service when they are about to make a purchase. So, for example, if you order a chicken sandwich at a fast food place, you will be asked if you want the whole meal. If you order a meal, you will be asked if you want to supersize that meal for just a few dollars more.
Upselling also takes the form of adding on items. You might be asked if you want a glass of wine with your dinner, or a lotion to go with the perfume you are purchasing. Contracting for a lawn or pest service? You’ll be offered a discount if you buy a package or a contract.
Why the Upsell Can Be Bad
Sometimes it is good to know your options at the point of purchase, but most of the time, the upsell will cost you money. That is why pretty much every employee is taught to do it. You have already committed to a purchase, so your normal response when offered an upsell may be “why not?” When given the choice for the “better” option, we tend to take it, not fully realizing that it carries an extra cost.
The problem is that you wind up spending more than you intended, which can affect your budget. You also may wind up with more product than you want.
Plus, you will get used to that upsell and order it off of the bat on repeat purchases. So instead of going back to just a sandwich, you’ll automatically ask for the meal.
Making the Best Decisions
To make the best purchasing decisions in the face of an upsell, take the time to do your research. Decide what it is that you want to buy before you walk into the store, make the phone call or pull up to the drive through window. Knowing what you want will help you weigh the pros and cons of upgrading your purchase. If a small latte will satisfy you, do you really want the extra caffeine and sugar of the tall or grande?
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