Hi Joe, like you I have also experienced the upsell on their website and if you call in on their 800 number. I have learned the simple way to bypass all of the time loss and frustration is very simple. Just buy the item from Walmart or Amazon. In fact, you can often save money because Walmart and Amazon will often save you the processing and delivery charge.
John

I absolutely HATE upsells!

It's as if you've been 'conned; into buying a product then the vendor says "Ah, but to use it properly" or "To get the most out of it you have to buy this and this and this".

This, of course, is AFTER you've paid for the original product. If it's from a reputable vendor or platform you can quit there and claim a refund but sometimes you can't.

I think it's an internet con. Where does anything like this happen in the offline world?

A very few vendors will tell you what the upsells are up front and I think that's acceptable.

I will NOT buy a product unless I can read an honest review (and NOT one saying it's the best thing since sliced bread and telling you to buy through their affiliate link) which explains what the upsells are.

Having said all that I can only assume that they work because marketers keep using them.

However, I think a lot of these products are aimed at newbies.

They certainly do Joe. You don't have to watch all of that video you can just close the window. I use the four-module Sales funnel so that each initial page has an upsell. However, I do declare on the first page there are three upsells Which are voluntary and not necessary to implement the first module

Anyone can opt-out and close the page at any stage by simply clicking the page closed. I also offer those up sales in the member area as well. In general, they boost my sales by 80%. We are all marketers who cannot despise marketing techniques that work!

I like Upsells when they are completely optional, skippable and relevant,

For Example, I just purchased a phone and had to go through the page of accessories and cases for the said phone before buying.

There was a simple no thanks button, but buying a case for the phone was a good idea, and being offered some good quality manufacturers products at the point of sale made sense, like having cases by the till in a shop.

It's good business sense, doesn't, overtly intrude on the buying process and I can easily just say no.

If I had had to sit through a high-pressure video trying to force me to purchase useless insurance then I would have bought elsewhere!

Like so often it's all about relevance and treating customers with respect and dignity, Good products sell themselves if a product needs high-pressure upselling tactics it is usually junk!

No to upsells. Especially under the conditions you described. Upsells are designed to be surprises. The initial sale is like a loss leader where they make their profit on the upsell.

It put me off those companies. And if they offered a money back guarantee on my original purchase I always took it never to return.

Edwin