December 12, 2008 | Online

Do cross-sells make you cross?

While the online adult industry is squeaky clean compared with the Wild West tactics of years ago, some scummy practices still do persist. One that we have noticed more of lately is the "pre-checked cross-sell." 

You'll see this when you go to the join page of a membership site. Above the "Submit" button there will be a check-box - already checked for you - by which you agree to get a cheap or even a free trial to an additional website, usually one you've never heard of (probably because it's absolute crap.)

It's up to you to follow the asterisk for the clincher. If you don't uncheck the box and then you don't cancel the trial for the crappy bonus site, it will rebill on you. In the example above the asterisked "offer" sits above the Submit button so it is relatively easy to spot, but once in a while it is below the button and so could be missed. Occassionally the rebill clause is even hidden on the Terms and Conditions page rather than being clearly stated on the sign-up page.

The practice is the subject of debate in the online adult industry, centering on both the legal and ethical aspects of pre-checked cross-sales. For us there is no room for debate: it's wrong, short-sighted and does nothing but alienate customers. 

What can you do? First, apply the "buyer beware" principle:  be on the lookout for pre-checked offers, and always uncheck them when you see them. Second, vote with your wallet: don't join sites that have pre-checked trial offers on the join page. There are plenty of  honest sites with great content that you can support instead.