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Sahl Sunday,23 Nov 2025

In many online stores in Saudi Arabia, we've noticed a common mistake: the store offers "alternative" products instead of "complementary" ones. What some store owners might not realize is that the difference between them isn't insignificant. On the contrary, a single decision can significantly increase your profits or cause you to lose a ready-to-buy customer.

We encountered this problem with a store owner who used the "Sahl" platform recently. He was placing alternative products at the bottom of the product page and noticed that customers were leaving the page instead of completing their purchase. After we switched to complementary products, his average cart size increased noticeably within just one week!

1) What's the difference between alternative and complementary products?

Alternative products are similar to the main product, meaning the customer can replace it. This gives them too many options, which can make them hesitant—and hesitation reduces the likelihood of a purchase.

Complementary products, on the other hand, are items that enhance the value of the main product, such as a phone case, camera lenses, or a charging case for headphones. In other words:
An alternative replaces the purchase decision… while a complement completes the purchasing experience.

2) Why might alternative products harm your sales?

Offering alternative products at an inopportune time sends the customer conflicting signals… as if the store is saying, “Maybe the product you just saw wasn’t the best… check this one out too!”

This increases hesitation, especially for customers who were already close to buying.

Moreover, having too many alternatives makes the customer think, “Let me compare these two…” and they’ll likely leave your page and go to Google, and most of the time they won’t come back.

3) How do complementary products increase the average purchase?

A customer who has decided to buy is more likely to spend more if they see products that directly serve their needs.

A simple example:
Someone who buys a laptop will often need a bag, a mouse, and a cooling pad.

These items don’t require comparison or hesitation… they are natural accessories.

This increases the value of the purchase without requiring any additional thought.

4) The Saudi customer loves the “complete package”

An important point to note: Most customers in Saudi Arabia prefer a complete experience.

For example, when they order a camera, they often want a suitable lens, a spare battery, or a protective case.

Offering complementary products gives them the feeling that you “understand their needs,” and this increases trust in the store.

5) Complementary products reduce hesitation instead of increasing it

Instead of the customer engaging in unnecessary comparisons, you offer them a direct solution that helps them enjoy the product better.

That’s why complementary products are a persuasive element, not a source of confusion.

6) How do you arrange complementary products on the product page?

To maximize your benefits, ensure complementary products:

* Appear immediately after the product description
* Are clear, specific, and understandable
* Are genuinely related to the product's use
* Are reasonably priced to encourage customers to add them to their cart
* Ideally, limit the number of complementary products to three… no more

The goal is for customers to perceive them as “nice additions,” not an over-the-top sales tactic.

7) A short story from one of the Sahl stores

One store sold skincare products and always listed alternatives on the product page.

After conducting an experiment, we added complementary products such as:

– A light serum for nighttime use
– A cleanser suitable for the same skin type
– A sunscreen that enhances the results. Within days, customers started adding multiple products to their carts… without any discounts or special offers.

The secret was simple: complementary products that simplify things, not confuse you.

8) How does this directly impact your profits?

Complementary Products:

✓ Increase cart average
✓ Reduce abandonment rate
✓ Boost customer satisfaction by providing a complete experience
✓ Increase repeat purchases because customers feel the store understands them

Alternative Products:
× Increase confusion
× Make customers compare
× And in many cases… cause them to abandon your site entirely

That's why your choice between “complementary” and “alternative” products makes a difference in your profits every month.

The Golden Rule:
Let the customer complete their experience… not change their mind.

Displaying complementary products on the product page is one of the most powerful drivers for increasing cart value and boosting store profits in Saudi Arabia. The best part is that the idea is simple and just requires proper organization.

And if you want us to identify the best complementary products for your store and professionally organize your product page—our team is ready to help you every step of the way.