Hello!

I am a newbie to zencart, (not so much to php or mysql) but have been asked to add the ability to collect a deposit/fee from a new customer for a delivery service-type business. The product is delivered only on specific days (by zip code) in a special bag/container. The customer should leave the prior delivery container out for the next delivery so they can be reused. Sort of like the old milk-bottle delivery (dating myself). The other concept at work here, is "free delivery".

Other kickers: customers can pay by check at delivery and they do not want to store credit card numbers in the database.

I can't imagine this is the first time anyone has had need of something like this, but I haven't found a good match anywhere either, hence the post.

The idea is that when a customer signs up or, preferably, places a first order, they are charged a one time fee of $10 as a deposit on the container. However, if the container is not returned on subsequent orders, they should be able to re-charge this customer this "deposit/fee". It is known that this could be a tracking nightmare.

I can see down the road, having to add some custom stuff in the admin, but that's later, when, hopefully, they are very busy. I also know that some people may never order again, etc. The idea is that there should be some fee/deposit that we can enforce, at least on a customer's inital order. Deposit is probably a bad word to use, because we also don't want to imply that they'll ever get the amount back.

I am kind of at a loss as to the best way to do this and am open to any and all suggestions, including, just raise the prices on everything to accomodate it; set up a gift cert/coupon, whatever. Maybe there is already something there to do this and I just don't recognize it.

Bad part is, this was kind of sprung on me AFTER the mailers for the service went out. So, now, we're visible, live on the Internet for people to look around, but clearly not processing orders yet. Yikes.

While I'm at it, we'd also like to enforce a minimum $25 order on all orders. What is the best way to do that?

Any and all suggestions for handling this will be appreciated!

Mike