Yesterday I purchased a program for converting some video files I had to flash video so I could embed them on my QuickIMVideos blog. The program works great, not the reason for this post.

The problem was the ordering process for the program itself. On the first page there was a checkbox for a add on of the program on CD, shipped to my house. It was pre-checked. I get to the next step and sure enough there was $8 tacked on to my bill. Okay, not cool, but I go back and uncheck the box. Hit the next page and no extra charges, looking good…

I click to the next page, just looked like another step in the process to me, click to next page and gee, another extra charge, another $3.95 to “archive” my receipt. Funny thing is, I didn’t realize it was the last step, I had paid. Most any other sales system gives you a summary, to make sure all is right before you pay the bill.

Smart me goes back to uncheck that last one, thinking I can finish the order and it would be correct this time. Course as I said, that last one was the end, so gee, I was charged a second time.

Okay, I am at fault here, it was my responsibility to check over every step of the order. I should have noticed the two checked boxes. My Bad. Or was it really?

Am I the only one that doesn’t expect to get tricked? That doesn’t expect pre-checked boxes? Amazon doesn’t do it to me, neither does Barnes and Noble. Nor do many of the other sites I buy from.

To be honest it ticked me off, I was actually pretty upset.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for upsells and cross sells, I do it every chance I can. But I have yet to try and slide it by the customer. My problem is not that the addons and check boxes were there, my problem was the fact that they were pre-checked.

As I said I should have noticed them, buyer beware right? Then again, will all of your customers notice? Or will they see you as shady? How many customers are going to get to the last stop, see the extra charges and just be happy about it? hhmm..

Pre-checked upsells and cross sales, even pre-checked forced continuity have brought around some strong debate of late. I was stung by it first hand the other day, though my fault.

I should say though, that I was refunded the extra charges. But what if the processor was less than ethical?

Am I the only one that has a problem with this?



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