Amazon’s 1998 upsell tactic that still works today (and how you can steal it) 🤫

Amazon’s upselling and cross-selling activities are reported to have driven 35% of their total sales.

You don’t need Amazon’s budget to do the same. You just need to copy their timing.

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🧠 Shoppers Expect Amazon-Level Personalization

If your store still jumps straight from “Add to Cart” to checkout, you’re skipping the most profitable part of the funnel.

Here’s what modern shoppers actually want:

✅ 69% expect an Amazon-like experience
✅ 59% prefer stores that recommend what to buy next
✅ 40% have bought more because of personalization

That’s why adding a personalized page right after someone adds to cart is one of the fastest ways to boost your revenue.

💸 Real Profit Lives in the Second and Third Items

The first item in the cart usually just covers your costs—ads, shipping, support, storage.

The second or third item? That’s where the margin kicks in.

Here’s why:

• Shipping stays the same (same box)
• Customer support doesn’t change
• Add-ons and accessories rarely get returned

One small page, one big jump in AOV.

🧩 This Is the Page Amazon's Been Using Since 1998

When someone adds to cart on Amazon, they don’t just sit on the product page. They’re taken to a dedicated upsell page that does three things:

1. Confirms the product was added ✅
   Offers a fast-track to checkout 🏁
2. Shows personalized recommendations 🎯

It’s not pushy—it’s helpful. And it gets results.

⚡ Clerk.io Makes It Easy to Copy That Flow

With Clerk.io, you can build your own Amazon-style upsell page in minutes. No dev team. No stress.

Here’s what to include:

🧲 Slider 1: Based on the product just added
Great for accessories or bundles (e.g. a bike lock with a new bike).

🛍 Slider 2: Based on the full cart
Ideal for multi-item orders (e.g. add a tie when someone buys a suit and shoes).

📦 Slider 3: Based on past purchases
Perfect for logged-in customers who reorder or want something similar.

🔥 Slider 4: Trending or discounted items
Catches attention and keeps the page feeling fresh.

Even anonymous visitors get relevant suggestions—without cookies.

🧪 Brands Are Already Using This to Drive Results

Here’s what happens when you add that one extra step:

📈 EP Sports: Boosted basket size with relevant product rows (socks, bags, gear)
📈 Watery.dk: 22% increase in AOV
📈 No extra ad spend needed

Just smarter timing, and better product discovery.

🎥 Watch It in Action

We put together a short video that breaks how Amazon upsells —and how you can too. 

If you're eager to improve your AOVs, this is where to start.