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Adding a third, less attractive 'decoy' option to a choice set can dramatically shift consumer preference towards a higher-priced target option by making it seem superior by comparison. This choice architecture trick can significantly boost revenue even if the decoy itself is never chosen.
People gravitate toward the middle option when given three choices, a bias known as extremeness aversion. To sell more of a specific product, frame it as the middle choice by introducing a more expensive, super-premium 'decoy' option. Its role is not to sell, but to make the target option look like a reasonable compromise.
Introduce a significantly more expensive, highly customized version of your service alongside your main offering. This price anchor makes the actual product you want to sell appear like a fantastic deal, even if it has a high price point, thereby increasing conversion rates.
To sell more of a $300 package instead of a $200 one, introduce a $500 option. Most won't buy the decoy, but its presence shifts the customer's reference point, making the $300 package appear more reasonable and valuable by comparison.
To increase average deal size, introduce a new, much higher-priced package (e.g., $100k) and pitch it as your primary offer. Commit to selling it hard. For clients who object, you can then downsell to your original core offer (now priced at $35k), which appears incredibly reasonable by comparison. This captures whales and boosts conversions on your main offer.
Affluent buyers use price as a filter for quality. If your product is priced too low for the value it claims to provide, they won't believe it works and will choose a more expensive competitor. Raising prices can counterintuitively increase conversion rates by signaling confidence and quality.
Instead of showing two final prices (e.g., $99 vs $169), frame the premium option as the base price plus a small add-on ("$99, or get everything for $70 more"). This 'differential price framing' focuses on the small extra cost, not the total, and can double premium sales.
Even if rarely purchased, a premium one-on-one offer serves as a powerful value anchor. Its high price tag transfers a degree of perceived value to your more accessible, scalable products. To work, you must confront the high price directly with prospects before offering a downsell.
Your product might feel expensive in a vacuum. To combat this, introduce a VIP or high-end option priced 3-5x higher than your main offering. This use of price anchoring makes the standard option appear much more reasonable and approachable by comparison, similar to how a $200 steak makes a $30 steak look like a bargain.
By introducing a third, strategically priced but less appealing option (the "decoy"), you can manipulate how customers perceive value. A medium popcorn priced close to the large makes the large seem like a much better deal. This proves that value is relative and can be shaped by deliberate choice architecture.
A decoy offer is a strategically priced option designed to be ignored. Its purpose is to make your primary, more expensive offer seem more attractive and reasonably priced in comparison. This psychological trick shifts customer preference towards higher-ticket items, increasing average order value.