What strategy involves selling a customer a more expensive or advanced version of a product they already own?

The strategy involving selling a customer a more expensive or advanced version of a product they already own is called upselling. Upselling is a sales technique where a seller encourages the customer to purchase a higher-end, more feature-rich, or premium version of a product or service than the one they initially intended to buy or currently possess. The primary goal of upselling is to increase the average transaction value and maximize the revenue generated from each customer by offering them a product that provides greater value, better performance, or more comprehensive features. This strategy leverages the customer’s existing interest or trust in a product category or brand to suggest an upgrade. For instance, if a customer is considering purchasing a standard car model, an upsell attempt might involve presenting a higher trim level with advanced features like a sunroof, leather seats, or a more powerful engine. Another example is a customer buying a basic software subscription being offered a premium tier with additional tools and storage. The key difference from cross-selling is that upselling focuses on enhancing the original purchase rather than adding complementary items.