How to have discount code field appear before the checkout?

**thisismyusername** · 1 May 2009, 11:31 PM

I need customers to be able to enter the "discount code field" as soon as they choose the product and not on the final checkout page.
All of them will be first time visitors so they want to see they are getting their discount right away. In current settings they have to choose the product, buy it, and when they want to checkout they need to create an account and then are asked about shipping address and on the very last page there is discount coupon code field. This is against marketing psychology. Zen cart is a very popular cart so there must be an add-on or a feature for this. I probably can't find it. Does anyone know? Thanks

**swguy** · 2 May 2009, 09:49 AM

To the best of my knowledge noone has done this.

**thisismyusername** · 11 May 2009, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the reply. WOW! I cant't believe this. So on all Zen cart powered websites
1. there is no guest checkout
2. customers can only enter the coupon code on the last page where he enters the credit card info

**dsided** · 12 May 2009, 12:21 PM

Yes this really need improving. Apparently 30% of sales are lost if you don't have guest checkout.

**ryanb4614** · 23 May 2009, 03:36 AM

I have tried many of times to try to get it to work, but have been unsuccessful I believe it should be applied in the shopping cart not at the checkout/payment page.

**Merlinpa1969** · 23 May 2009, 07:08 AM

Im Curious,
where did you get this figure?
please quote source I would love to see this report

Originally Posted by dsided

Yes this really need improving. Apparently 30% of sales are lost if you don't have guest checkout.

**Merlinpa1969** · 23 May 2009, 07:09 AM

Hello,
just food for thought, but when you go to the grocery store you ring up all the items and then scan the coupons....
Is this NOT the checkout process?

remember that you are using coupon codes or Giftcertificate codes....
these need to be added afterproducts are added to cart and in checkout at final total......

its the only logical place...

Originally Posted by ryanb4614

I have tried many of times to try to get it to work, but have been unsuccessful I believe it should be applied in the shopping cart not at the checkout/payment page.

**Tech-E** · 23 May 2009, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by dsided

Yes this really need improving. Apparently 30% of sales are lost if you don't have guest checkout.

I am also curious about this. I know that some people do not want to enter personal information on a web site. I frequently run into people using phony e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. But you still need to capture personal information for credit card processing and if you do not save the information, you have no way to screen purchases for fraud.

You do need to capture names and addresses or you cannot ship products, even with a guest account.

**ryanb4614** · 24 May 2009, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Merlinpa1969

Hello,
just food for thought, but when you go to the grocery store you ring up all the items and then scan the coupons....
Is this NOT the checkout process?

remember that you are using coupon codes or Giftcertificate codes....
these need to be added afterproducts are added to cart and in checkout at final total......

its the only logical place...

I understand what you are saying but many of the bigger companies that I have used their website to order from have it displaying the coupon codes to be applied in the cart. OR it would help having a apply button also where the coupon box currently is...

**Steven300** · 24 May 2009, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by thisismyusername

WOW! I cant't believe this. So on all Zen cart powered websites
1. there is no guest checkout

Not entirely true. Some Zen Cart site owners have installed mods to allow for guest checkout.

Originally Posted by Merlinpa1969

Im Curious,
where did you get this figure?
please quote source I would love to see this report

As all ecommerce sites are different, it's worth pointing out that no single figure is going to apply for everyone. A dvd or a card-sending website taking many repeat orders isn't likely to benefit much from a guest checkout. On the other hand, companies with no repeat business could benefit immensely, especially ones that sell very low-cost items. For example, in this case, they see a 45% increase in sales resulting in an extra $15 million a month. Granted, they probably don't sell low-cost items but that's not the point. So some people might try to determine an average figure but it's always going to be speculative.

Originally Posted by Tech-E

You do need to capture names and addresses or you cannot ship products, even with a guest account.

While it's true that the only real difference between a guest account and a normal account is that the guest account does not capture a password, it's all about perception.

1. They don't want a relationship with the company
2. It's one more account to have to keep track of
3. Chance of being spammed
4. Chance of identity theft
5. Chance of password being compromised
6. etc etc

As to discount coupons being applied prior to checkout, I don't believe it makes any difference.