Tied selling

Tied selling is making the supply of one product or service conditional on the mandatory purchase of another. It is an abusive practice expressly banned by Brazil's Consumer Protection Code (and similar rules in most markets).

The element that defines it

What characterizes it is not offering two items together — it is removing the choice. If the customer can buy the main item alone, it is an offer. If the only way to get the main item is to take the other one too, it is tied selling.

Common examples

• A bank that only releases a loan if the customer buys insurance.
• A venue that requires a minimum spend to allow entry.
• A store that only sells a discounted product if you also buy an accessory.
• A service that makes installation conditional on subscribing to a higher-tier plan.

What is NOT tied selling

• A bundle or kit at a promotional price, as long as the items are also sold separately.
• Upsell and cross-sell — offering the bigger plan or a complementary item, without forcing it.
• A product that only works as a set for technical reasons.

The line is simple: is there an option to buy just the main item? If there is, it is an offer. If there is not, it is an abusive practice.

Why it matters to anyone selling on WhatsApp

Because an offer made by message tends to be informal and improvised, and the proof stays recorded in the conversation. "I can only give you that price if you take both" is a sentence that establishes the practice — and it stays saved in the customer's history. A reviewed offer script prevents the problem before it exists.