Standard cross-sales are extra paysite subscriptions added to the join forms of a separate paysite. Typically, paysites offer one or two extra paysites, while giving the user the choice to either check or uncheck a box next to the offer. Sometimes one or both of the boxes is already checked.
But some paysite operators and affiliate companies arrange these extra cross-sales in such a way to conceal their appearance or confuse the consumer about how they should proceed, with the confusion resulting in additional subscriptions.
Q Boyer of TopBucks.com told XBIZ that a typical hidden cross-sale is when the extra checkboxes are located underneath the "submit" button on a join page. Sometimes a consumer's monitor isn't large enough to show these extra checkboxes, and surfers wind up subscribing to more sites than they wanted.
Other webmasters also described a typical hidden cross-sale in this way. Boyer described even more nefarious practices that went on in the past.
"In the old days, before the transaction processors cracked down on the practice, some people used to have cross-sales on the 'success' page of their join process that said 'click here to complete you transaction' or something similar, and the result was yet another cross-sale," he said.
FreeOnes' Petra Milam said in a statement today that its listings will now tell surfers if a site engages in any of these kinds of practices.
"With today’s changing economy, businesses are changing their practices in order to turn a profit," Milam said. "Some businesses are doing whatever it takes to make a buck, even if it means hurting the consumer."
FreeOnes will identify what they deem threatening sites by placing descriptive icons next to outgoing links. If a user clicks on the icon, they'll go to a page filled with more information about the site's specific threat level.
Milam added that she and her colleagues hope to encourage better business practices by adding these protective measures.