Checkout Amazon Style -- Support Thread

I've just released a new mod for Zen Cart. It changes the initial steps of Zen Cart's checkout to be similar in style to the one use by Amazon.

You can download from the Zen Cart downloads section here...
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&cPath=40_47&products_id=773

It creates two new pages, checkout_login and checkout_account. These allow the pages used for logging in and creating an account during checkout to be styled separately from the stardard ones. Additionally the checkout login page now asks only for the customers email address and if they are a new or returning customer (returning customers can also enter their password on this screen). A picture of the new first page is attached.

The second page, checkout_account is similar to the standard create account page but styled to fit better with the checkout process.

I've been using this style of checkout with Zen Cart for a few months now and have found it to greatly reduce checkout abandonment. It works especially well with order steps.

I hope you find it useful. If you have any comments, suggestions or need help then let me know on this thread.

Regards,
Christian.

hey

Just tried to install it and nuthins happened.

The log in/register screen is the same

I have the "Fast and Easy Checkout" mod installed wud that make a difference?

Chris x

After looking at your thumbnail, I think this is somewhat of an improvement over most Zen cart setups I've seen so far, but it doesn't solve the basic problem that pages like this are still an obstacle to a sell.

The Zensters can argue all they want about how all shopping carts to some effect create a customer "account" at the point of sale. The big difference here (and this is a really big difference) is that absolutely any kind of language that includes words lke "register" "login" "account" appearing immediately after someone clicks the add-to-cart button can and will deter a sale.

Maybe this is not an issue with some websites, like Amazon, where customers return over and over again. But for many, many websites, like the ones I manage, 90 percent of our customers buy once and only once. Making customers "login" before they can buy something is, well, silly.

This is all a sore subject with me now, because I was pretty much ready to set up Zen cart, had already bought the $50 book, lined up payment processing to work with Linux, etc., etc. Now I'm ready to chuck it all and head back to Yahoo store. All because of a clunky little piece of Zen cart that apparently can't be changed. Argh.

sywp:

Just tried to install it and nuthins happened.
The log in/register screen is the same
I have the "Fast and Easy Checkout" mod installed wud that make a difference?

The Amazon style checkout and the 'Fast and Easy Checkout' cannot be used together. They both modify the checkout process in order to attain different goals. You would use either one or the other.

Regards,
Christian.

keyon:

After looking at your thumbnail, I think this is somewhat of an improvement over most Zen cart setups I've seen so far, but it doesn't solve the basic problem that pages like this are still an obstacle to a sell.

I've managed to get checkout abandonment below 1% and when it does happen it is usually because the customer has a problem with their card or something rather than the initial screen. I've found the best practice is to have a number of easy steps in the checkout and guide the customer through the process.

keyon:

The big difference here (and this is a really big difference) is that absolutely any kind of language that includes words lke "register" "login" "account" appearing immediately after someone clicks the add-to-cart button can and will deter a sale.

If you check the attached picture again you will notice that words like "register" "login" "account" are not used anywhere on what the customer sees. The message it gives is that checking out is quick and easy and if they are a new customer all they have to enter is their email address.

keyon:

Maybe this is not an issue with some websites, like Amazon, where customers return over and over again. But for many, many websites, like the ones I manage, 90 percent of our customers buy once and only once. Making customers "login" before they can buy something is, well, silly.

With this mod a new customer only has to enter their email address on the first page. On the second screen they are asked to enter their billing information, which you will always need. They do get asked to choose a password but it is done in a low key way. Most people have a standard password they enter for this kind of thing so it doesn't usually require much thought.

The other advantage of using a similar process to Amazon is that lots of people are familiar with it and so feel comfortable using it.

keyon:

This is all a sore subject with me now, because I was pretty much ready to set up Zen cart, had already bought the $50 book, lined up payment processing to work with Linux, etc., etc. Now I'm ready to chuck it all and head back to Yahoo store. All because of a clunky little piece of Zen cart that apparently can't be changed. Argh.

I understand your frustration but you do have options. There is no one single solution that fits everyone's requirements and there are a number of different mods for Zen Cart's checkout. Have you looked at the Integrated Checkout Without Account (COWOA) mod? It is not perfect but it may do what you require.

Regards,
Christian.

Does this work on older version of zencart? 1.3?

voltage:

Does this work on older version of zencart? 1.3?

I can't say for certain as I have not tested it with versions prior to v1.3.7. However, I think it should work with earlier v1.3.x releases. The only change that I can see being necessary is to remove the PayPal Checkout Express code at the end of the includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_checkout_login_default.php file.

The bit that would need removing is...
[php]
<?php // ** BEGIN PAYPAL EXPRESS CHECKOUT ** ?>
<?php if ($ec_button_enabled) { ?>
<div id="checkoutLoginDefaultPPEC">
<?php echo TEXT_CHECKOUT_LOGIN_PPEC; ?>
<div><?php require(DIR_FS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_MODULES . 'payment/paypal/tpl_ec_button.php'); ?></div>
</div>
<?php } ?>
<?php // ** END PAYPAL EXPRESS CHECKOUT ** ?>
[/php]Regards,
Christian.

keyon:

After looking at your thumbnail, I think this is somewhat of an improvement over most Zen cart setups I've seen so far, but it doesn't solve the basic problem that pages like this are still an obstacle to a sell.

The Zensters can argue all they want about how all shopping carts to some effect create a customer "account" at the point of sale. The big difference here (and this is a really big difference) is that absolutely any kind of language that includes words lke "register" "login" "account" appearing immediately after someone clicks the add-to-cart button can and will deter a sale.

Maybe this is not an issue with some websites, like Amazon, where customers return over and over again. But for many, many websites, like the ones I manage, 90 percent of our customers buy once and only once. Making customers "login" before they can buy something is, well, silly.

This is all a sore subject with me now, because I was pretty much ready to set up Zen cart, had already bought the $50 book, lined up payment processing to work with Linux, etc., etc. Now I'm ready to chuck it all and head back to Yahoo store. All because of a clunky little piece of Zen cart that apparently can't be changed. Argh.

Actually, with some adjustments, Zen Cart does very well for selling. In fact extremely well. But you have to customize it to make it happen.

You bring up some good points about "language" to use in order to help users complete a sale. Many of these points and more were already addressed in my 20 Ways book and template pack released a while back (seen in my signature line below).

I have worked with more than a handful of Zen Cart sites, and each is converting very well with the proper testing, marketing and customizations.

I have also worked with Yahoo stores for people, and due to their extreme limited flexibility, they traditionally convert at a much lower rate. Just my two cents from past experience.

Does anyone have a url where I can take a look at how this work? Does this work with Google Checkout and Paypal Express Checkout as well?

Thanks!

BlessIsaacola:

Does anyone have a url where I can take a look at how this work?

I'm in the process of setting up a demonstration store you can try it out with. The URL is...
http://www.glintsystems.co.uk/demoshop/
...the store is a work in progress but the checkout mod is in place.

BlessIsaacola:

Does this work with Google Checkout and Paypal Express Checkout as well?

It should work with PPEC but it hasn't been extensively tested with it. I have not done any testing with Google Checkout.

Regards,
Christian.

Hi

I'm trying to install this checkout on my site but am a little confused with the instructions. I've tried looking everywhere on the forum but can't see this mentioned anywhere - so it must be me being thick.

It appears that the tpl_checkout_account_default.php and tpl_checkout_login_default.php files should be added to ..../template_default/templates folder and not .../CUSTOM/templates. Is that correct? I was under the impression that all amendments should go in the CUSTOM folder.:huh:

I've tried installing them in my custom folder, but the cart doesn't appear to be working. I don't have a problem with the other files - I've installed them in the right folders (hopefully)!!

Also, has anyone installed it so that I can see what it looks like please.


Many thanks in advance.

Stone10:

It appears that the tpl_checkout_account_default.php and tpl_checkout_login_default.php files should be added to ..../template_default/templates folder and not .../CUSTOM/templates. Is that correct? I was under the impression that all amendments should go in the CUSTOM folder.:huh:

The tpl_checkout_account_default.php and tpl_checkout_login_default.php that come in the zip file should be placed in the includes/templates/template_default/templates directory. If you wish to customise them then copy them to your template override directory and modify the copies same as you would any other template file.

Regards,
Christian.

Thanks Christian - it works just fine now.

The only thing that's niggling me is that none of the files (apart from css) have been put in the custom folders. What will happen to the files when we come to upgrade?

Thanks once again

Stone10:

Thanks Christian - it works just fine now.

Cool :clap:

Stone10:

The only thing that's niggling me is that none of the files (apart from css) have been put in the custom folders. What will happen to the files when we come to upgrade?

None of the files overwrite any of the Zen Cart core files or make any changes to them so upgrading will not be affected. A couple of files are placed in the template_default folder because two new pages are created, checkout_login and checkout_account. Each page needs a default template file. Without a default template file for these pages the checkout would break if you changed template, e.g. switched to the Classic template to check something.

If you wish to change the layout of either checkout_login or checkout_account then you follow the normal procedure of copying their template files from template_default to your custom folder and making the changes to the copy.

Same thing goes with the language files used by the new pages. A default is supplied in case of template switching and if you wish to change them then copy them to your custom template folder first.

Regards,
Christian.

I see... it's starting to make sense now (slowly but surely :frusty:).

If you don't mind, I have one other question....

How do I change the checkout login page to look like the one Beyond Euphoria (:blush:)
I had a look at the code but it's a bit over my head.

Thanks once again for your help.

Sorry, forgot to add that I tried setting Admin > Configuration > Layout Settings --- Use split-login page = true

Stone10:

How do I change the checkout login page to look like the one Beyond Euphoria (:blush:)

Erm... that is the split login page that comes as standard with Zen Cart. If you want to use that then you need to uninstall the Amazon Style Checkout mod (just delete the files you uploaded).

Regards,
Christian.

:oops::blush::blush: thanks so much for your help. Really appreciate it.

I've installed the download on my test site, and I have a couple of issues.

The first issue is that the page I see after clicking on the "Check Out" box is blank, except for two unlabeled data entry boxes and a link labeled, "Forgotten your password? Click here." We really can't have the page blank - I'm perfectly willing to make my own field labels, but: which file do I edit to modify this to have some user instructions??

The second issue is that the billing information page still requires a password. I've read this entire thread; I've seen the argument that it's "very low key" and that "most people don't mind" - but nobody here seems to understand our business model. Our site sells alcohol and drug addiction recovery materials. If our process is not as anonymous as it can possibly be (and still get the credit card information right!), we will lose sales, because people buying our materials don't, frankly, want to leave a trail. Any trail. Even a harmless password.

If I can't make the password optional, or better, make the fields go away, we're going to have to consider paying for a commercial shopping cart, because we will lose sales, big time, if we require the password. I strongly hope you can advise me how to make the password requirement go away, because I've put weeks of work into ZenCart; and we're a small non-profit which would rather not have to pay for this.

In fact, if you can't help me with the password issue, there isn't much point in your addressing the blank page issue, because we may not be using ZenCart at all. I'm going back to my business partner in this and ask him about this development, but I'm pretty sure what he'll say.

hedera:

The first issue is that the page I see after clicking on the "Check Out" box is blank, except for two unlabeled data entry boxes and a link labeled, "Forgotten your password? Click here."

The page should not look like that. The most likely cause is that one of the files in the mod has not been uploaded properly.

hedera:

The second issue is that the billing information page still requires a password.

Yes it does. If you need the ability to checkout without a password then this is not the mod for you. I would suggest uninstalling it (just remove the files you have uploaded) and looking at the Checkout Without Account mod...
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59189

Regards,
Christian.