Cross Sales on Adult Sites: What They Are, How to Spot Them, and How to Avoid Extra Charges

Cross sales are optional add-on offers shown during sign-up that can result in additional memberships (and additional charges) on top of the site you intended to buy. They commonly appear at checkout—often right where you enter your payment details, and sometimes they’re pre-ticked so you’re opted in unless you notice and untick them.

This page breaks down how cross sales work, why they catch people out, and exactly what to do if you’re not sure whether you agreed to one.

What “cross sales” means (in plain English)

A cross-sale is an offer to buy one or more extra products during checkout. In adult, that usually means:

• An extra porn site (or multiple sites)
• A “bundle” or “network” upgrade
• A discounted trial for a second brand
• A separate membership that renews on a different schedule

Sometimes the add-on is genuinely good value. The problem is presentation: cross sales can be easy to miss when you’re clicking fast, and they can be pre-selected so you’re opted in unless you untick them.

Where cross sales usually appear

Most cross sales show up in the final steps of checkout, such as:

• The payment details page (card entry / final confirmation step)
• A “one last step” screen right before you reach the confirmation page
• Inside the terms section or small print at the bottom of checkout
• An “upgrade your access” panel on the same page as the main price

If you see multiple product names, multiple prices, or extra checkboxes, assume you’re looking at an add-on decision point.

Why you should care

Cross sales matter because they can change what you’re actually paying for:

• Higher total cost than you expected
• Multiple renewals (sometimes on different dates)
• Different billing descriptors on your bank statement
• Multiple logins and separate cancellation steps
• More chances to forget something is active and renewing

If you only intended to buy one trial, a cross-sale can turn one small charge into two, three, or more.

How to spot a cross-sale in 10 seconds

Before you click “Join” or “Submit Payment”, scan the page for any of these signals:

• Extra checkboxes mentioning “special offer”, “bonus”, “add-on”, “partner”, “bundle”, “recommended”, or “upgrade”
• Pre-selected options (anything already ticked is something you need to actively review)
• More than one price or a “today you pay…” plus a second charge
• More than one renewal schedule (e.g., “renews every 30 days” plus “renews every 14 days”)
• Multiple product names listed in the same order summary
• Fine print that references a second product you didn’t come for

Quick rule

If you see more than one product name or more than one price, slow down and read it.

How cross sales actually work (what’s happening behind the scenes)

Cross sales are usually powered by the same billing flow that’s selling the main membership. During checkout, the system offers an additional product that can be added to your purchase with a checkbox click.

That extra product can be:

• Billed immediately (a second charge right now)
• Bundled into the “today” total (one combined amount)
• Added as a separate subscription that renews independently
• Included as a short trial that later turns into a higher renewal fee

This is why people get caught out: you can end up with an extra membership you didn’t intend, plus a renewal date you weren’t expecting.

Cross-sale vs bundle vs upsell: what’s the difference?

• Cross-sale: a different product offered alongside your main purchase (often a partner site or add-on).
• Bundle: multiple products sold together as a package (sometimes presented as an “upgrade”).
• Upsell: a higher tier of the same product (HD vs 4K, downloads, extended access, etc.).

They can look similar on checkout pages. The key is whether you’re adding a separate product/subscription.

Best practice: how to avoid cross sales completely

If you want to avoid accidental add-ons, use this routine every time:

1. Pause on the payment screen. Don’t rush the final step.
2. Hunt for checkboxes. Untick anything you didn’t ask for.
3. Confirm the total. Make sure the “today” amount matches your expectation.
4. Read renewal terms. Check what it renews at, and when.
5. Screenshot the final checkout screen (price + what you’re buying).
6. Save the confirmation email right after purchase.

That screenshot is the single best “receipt” you can have if you need support later, because it shows what was selected at the moment you paid.

“I’m not sure if I agreed to one” — what to do

If you’re unsure whether a cross-sale was added, do this in order:

1) Check your confirmation email(s)

Search your inbox for:

• The site name you joined
• “Welcome”, “Receipt”, “Invoice”, “Membership”, “Confirmation”
• Any billing company name shown at checkout

If you received more than one welcome/receipt email, that can indicate more than one product was activated.

2) Check the member area / account page

Log in and look for:

• “My Account”, “Billing”, “Subscriptions”, “Membership”, “Order History”
• Any “Active add-ons”, “Bundles”, or “Partner access” section

3) Check your bank statement for multiple charges

Look for:

• More than one charge on the same day
• Similar amounts but different merchant descriptors
• A second charge shortly after the first

4) If still unclear: contact billing support (not the studio)

In adult, payments are often handled by a billing processor. The processor can usually tell you exactly what’s active, what will renew, and how to cancel each item.

“I got charged and I didn’t expect it” — damage control steps

If you think a cross-sale caused an unwanted extra charge, handle it like this:

Step 1: Cancel first (stop future renewals)

• Cancel the extra add-on(s) as soon as possible.
• Take screenshots of the cancellation confirmation.

Step 2: Gather proof

• Confirmation emails
• Screenshots (if you have them)
• Bank statement line(s)
• Date/time you joined

Step 3: Ask billing support what the charge is for

Be direct. Here’s a message you can copy:

Hi, I signed up on [date/time]. I’m seeing an additional charge for [amount] that I didn’t expect. Please confirm what active subscriptions are on my account, what will renew and when, and cancel any add-ons I did not intend to purchase.

Step 4: If you still believe it was accidental, request a refund review

Some processors will review refund requests depending on timing and usage. Keep it factual and provide the details you collected.

Step 5: If you’re stuck, speak to your card provider

If you genuinely can’t resolve it through billing support, your card provider can explain dispute options and next steps. This isn’t legal advice—just the practical escalation route if you hit a wall.

Common myths (that cause people to get burned)

• “It’s one login, so it’s one subscription.” Not always. Bundles and add-ons can still be separate billing items.
• “If it was on the page, it must be obvious.” Checkout design can hide important details, and pre-ticked boxes do exist.
• “Canceling the main site cancels everything.” Often false. Add-ons may have separate cancellation steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom line

Cross sales aren’t automatically “bad”, but they’re easy to accept by accident if you rush checkout. Take 10 seconds to scan for extra checkboxes, confirm the final total, and keep proof of what you agreed to.