At checkout the customer is at the peak of purchase intent: the decision is made, the wallet is in hand. This very moment is an excellent opportunity for a small, sensible additional offer that raises the order value with little effort. The key is that the offer is small, relevant, and unobtrusive - upselling may only complement the main purchase, never threaten it. Below is how to offer an add-on at checkout so it increases the order and does not disrupt the purchase.
A small additional offer right before payment (order bump)
Right before payment, offer the customer a small complementary offer they can add with a single confirmation, for example a checkbox. Since the customer is already decided on the purchase, they accept such offers surprisingly often - according to data, around a third of customers accept them, which noticeably raises the average order value.
It is important that adding it requires no extra effort: one click, without re-entering details or going back for the product. The simpler the add-on is to accept, the greater the chance the customer adds it.
What to offer and at what price
Offer an add-on that sensibly suits what the customer is already buying. Common and well-received examples are package insurance, gift wrapping, fast delivery, an extended warranty, or a small complementary product; an unrelated add-on the customer simply skips.
The price of the add-on should be low compared with the main product - usually between ten and twenty-five percent of its price, and even less for expensive products. The goal is to trigger an impulsive "why not", not a new, difficult decision. A small discount that applies only with this offer often helps too.
Upselling after payment
You can also show an additional offer immediately after payment, before the thank-you page. Since the customer has already entered their payment and delivery details, they can accept an additional product with a single click, without completing checkout again. Such an offer usually works better than one before the purchase and at the same time does not threaten the payment already made.
Implementing an after-payment upsell is technically more demanding than an order bump before payment, since it touches an order that has already been placed. The system must either add the extra product to the existing order or create a new, separate order for it. Each solution has its consequences: adding to the existing order means arranging an additional charge and consolidating delivery, while a new order means the customer gets two separate confirmations and possibly a double delivery. So with this feature it matters how the chosen module handles the order flow.
After payment is, however, a suitable place for a slightly larger or complementary offer, for example an extra item at a reduced price or an upgrade. Since the main purchase is already secure, the customer makes the decision more relaxedly.
Unobtrusiveness and protecting the main purchase
Upselling must never overshadow the main goal - completing the purchase. There should be few offers, one or two, and they must not push aside the payment button or confuse the customer right before completion.
Too many or too pushy offers can even put the customer off a purchase they were already going to make. The add-on should be a friendly offer, not an obstacle; if the customer does not want it, they should simply skip it and continue smoothly.
How to set it up in Magento
Magento does not offer order bumps or one-click after-payment upselling by default, so a dedicated module is usually required for this feature. Such a module lets you show an additional offer at checkout or right after payment, which the customer accepts without re-entering their details.
When choosing, make sure the module shows the offer unobtrusively and allows you to measure how many customers accept it. With after-payment upselling it also matters how the module handles the order - whether it adds the extra product to the existing order or creates a new one - since this affects payment, delivery, and later order management.
How to measure whether it works
The main indicators are the share of customers who accept the additional offer (the attach rate) and the average order value. If both rise, upselling is doing its job.
At the same time, keep a close eye on the checkout abandonment rate not rising. If more customers leave after introducing the offers, the offer is too intrusive or misplaced. The goal is a higher order value without a lower rate of completed purchases.
Frequently asked questions
What is an order bump and why does it work?
An order bump is a small complementary offer shown right before payment, which the customer adds with a single confirmation, for example a checkbox. Since the customer is at the peak of purchase intent and already decided to buy, they accept such offers surprisingly often: according to data, around a third of customers accept them, which noticeably raises the average order value. The key is that adding it requires no extra effort, just one click without re-entering details.
What add-on should I offer and at what price?
An add-on that sensibly suits what the customer is already buying: package insurance, gift wrapping, fast delivery, an extended warranty, or a small complementary product; an unrelated one the customer simply skips. The price should be low compared with the main product, usually between ten and twenty-five percent of its price, and even less for expensive items. The goal is an impulsive "why not", not a new difficult decision; a small discount that applies only with this offer often helps.
Is it better to offer the add-on before or after payment?
Both work, but after payment often even better: the details are already entered, acceptance is one click, and the main purchase is not threatened. Before payment a small order bump is suitable, after payment a slightly larger or complementary offer. Implementing it after payment is technically more demanding, since the system must add the extra product to the existing order or create a new one, which affects payment and delivery. Since the main purchase is already secure, the customer decides more relaxedly.
How do I keep upselling from threatening the main purchase?
Upselling must never overshadow the main goal, completing the purchase. There should be few offers, one or two, and they must not push aside the payment button or confuse the customer right before completion. Too many or too pushy offers can even put the customer off a purchase they were already going to make. The add-on should be a friendly offer, not an obstacle; if the customer does not want it, they should simply skip it and continue.
How do I set it up in Magento and do I need a module?
Magento does not offer order bumps or one-click after-payment upselling by default, so a dedicated module is usually required, one that shows an additional offer at checkout or right after payment, which the customer accepts without re-entering their details. With after-payment upselling it also matters how the module handles the order: whether it adds the extra product to the existing order or creates a new one, since this affects payment, delivery, and later order management.