Permanent Cart - How does this work?

[ivan23]

Hello all,

New here, new to ZenCart, new to lots of stuff. I checked the forums but did not find an answer to this question.

We don't want people to be able to "sit on" items by putting them in their cart, then logging off for hours or days before purchasing ... as most of our items are one-shots, this becomes more of a concern for us than for others.

With the permanent cart, if someone puts an item in the cart and then logs off, does the item show up as Out of Stock when someone else tries to purchase it? Or is it only after checkout that the stock levels are changed in the store?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards,
Ivan

[Kim]

Stock levels are not changed until an item is fully checked out, at least in the current version.

[ivan23]

Thanks, Kim - I appreciate it!

[cpaulson]

I am glad to hear that items remain in stock until actually purchased. However, I'd like to know if there is a way to actually disable the permanent cart function. All my items are one of a kind as I am selling off a collection. I don't want customers to think they can save the item in their cart for weeks and come back disgruntled that someone else has bought it.

Do you know of a way to disable it?

[kobra]

I don't want customers to think they can save the item in their cart for weeks and come back disgruntled that someone else has bought it.

State in Policy or where ever you prefer something like:

While shopping, and if you leave, we maintain your cart contents for your return. Please note that many items are one of a kind and though in your cart are not saved and can be purchased by another.
If you see a one of a kind and like it, we suggest that you purchase it to avoid the possibility of it not being available upon your next visit.

[cpaulson]

I like that. I'll add it to my info page. It could be a help.

I think I'm finally ready to begin adding some products during the coming week and I appreciate all the help I've gotten from experienced users.
Whew! This has been a learning curve and, with each item being an "only one" there are lots of photos to take and descriptions to write. Hope I get customers or I'll have to go to ebay.

[kobra]

Hope I get customers or I'll have to go to ebay.

Do not dupe yourself - just because your site is now available does not automatically mean that there will be an instant line to see what you have.

Liken this to a brick & mortar store and you open the doors and sit and wait. Some look in the window most just walk by and every once in a while some comes in by may not buy.

Online business is no different, and in some ways more difficult as you are open to the whole world and many competitors. If you have interesting sought after articles, priced right, on an easy to navigate site, you will begin to receive what is similar to "word of mouth" visitors. It is not instant nor easy but your overhead is far different than a regular shop

[DrByte]

I am glad to hear that items remain in stock until actually purchased. However, I'd like to know if there is a way to actually disable the permanent cart function. All my items are one of a kind as I am selling off a collection. I don't want customers to think they can save the item in their cart for weeks and come back disgruntled that someone else has bought it.

Do you know of a way to disable it?

You can do that in v2.0.0:

Handling Stored Shopping Cart on Login
When a customer logs in and has a previously stored shopping cart, do you want to Restore the cart contents, or Erase it?

restore = retrieve previous abandoned shopping cart
erase = delete any prior shopping history

[cpaulson]

You can do that in v2.0.0:

Is that version 2.0.0 of a special mod? I can't find that option in the admin. (I'm using zen ver. 1.3.7) Do you know if there is a file I could alter in the site folder?

[DrByte]

I was referring to the upcoming v2.0.0 of Zen Cart.