guest checkout

[RodG]

Sure if you are using PayPal Express as a payment option, and assuming customer UNDERSTAND this, and assuming the client WANTS to offer PayPal Express as a payment option..

I did stay 'assuming'. (just as you did, I suppose).

I used to think the same way until I discoverd there are reasons to use a guest checkout module..

I realise that I tend to run against the grain with many things, and this is no exception.

I've done a LOT of online buying over the years, and I tend to avoid the guest checkouts even when available.

Why?
1) If I'm willing to buy from a store I'm willing to provide my name and address details (the 'privacy' defence)
2) If I buy from a store once, the chances are I'll be back again. I get frustrated if I need to repeatedly enter my details with each order. (I like to make things easy for myself).
3) Guest checkouts generally provide no way of tracking or checking the status of orders placed. I like to watch for these status changes to help ensure the order is being correctly processed.
4) Less chance of making 'silly' addressing mistakes when placing subsequent orders.
5) Creating an account on a store will generally place me on a mailing list for the store (optional). I've only rarely gotten 'real spam' from such signups, but I do often get notified of specials, etc, which I'll often take advantage of.
6) Guest accounts generally aren't any quicker to place an order than creating a user account. Nearly all the same details need to be provided, wich makes things like "FEC" a bit of a misnomer. Not really faster, or easier.

Simply put, I tend to see login accounts as being far more productive than a guest account (from both the merchants and the buyers perspective).

I'll use PayPal Express wherever possible because I don't need to enter any details at all (ok, this negates some of the account creation benefits, but the bottom line is I like making the checkout process as fast and painless as possible. PPE achieves this aim perfectly.

As for the benefits of FEC/COWOA, I *personally* don't see any. The exception being for ###### toys, drugs, or some other not quite above board purchase. Not that I've ever done this of course. ;)

Just my opinion. Nothing worth 'arguing' about.

Cheers
Rod