My Checkout Without Account Mod

[ronwong]

I see the query builder has the lines in it. So all the sql should be in.
The step seems like to check whether the email entered is a COWOA or not checking against the customer table. Where could the problem lie?

[KGZotU]

Alright, we figured this one out over PM.

Apparently, the windows server didn't like equating true and false with 1 and 0.

I'll repackage and upload this fix shortly. If you're getting a similar error you can fix it by going to the offending line and replacing TRUE with 1 or FALSE with 0.

Thanks for the lesson. (;

--Joe

[ronwong]

I cant help it, I have to come and post it:

COWOA ROCKS!!

I just implemented on 2 live carts and orders start pouring in. Its only 12 hours. I have 3000 pdts on the site, and relatively good reach and local marketing... apparently I have seen a lot of potential orders gone to waste, those where you see them add to cart, then the cart time out...

All my new orders today are COWOA orders!

A few notes though.

1. I see that you can use differnt names and address with the same email, so looking at the customer table, I see duplicated emails, ie:

Simon - [email protected]
Simon A. - [email protected]

The customer may not use the same name or address every time, so there maybe a lot of entries. Even if they use the same name, will there be a new 'customer' created?

2. From the biz point of view, COWOA is good and bad. BEcuase people no longer want to register when they have COWOA. THey just want to get your stuff and get out. So I think my 'fixed customer base' will basically stall. While COWOA accounts will flood in.
Advertising would probably have to be targetted to get the COWOAs to convert to fixed customers, via refferal benefits or incentive coupons, loyalty programs or lucky draws etc. That would be a whole new field to look into, my next step.

Regarding the COWOA accounts, I am not sure if we should at all, be allowed to email marketing stuff to them to get them to convert. Becuase I beleive they did not need to agree to terms or stuff when they check out and order. That may be something to look into. Also things like warranty and returns.

3. Lastly, if we look at it, the information they need to enter is no less than registering an account as people previously pointed out. But we conquered the psychology of the buyers, they will enter 10 pages of info COWOA over 5 page of info to register an account. But it would be good to make it cleaner though. I will tweak mine slowly to take in the minimum necessary for COWOA.

Again, COWOA ROCKS!

[bean_2k1]

I have just installed this mod on my 1.3.6 store and also installed both addons too, but when i come to checkout now the payment screen is just blank and nothing is showing up, but when i change my template to the default template everything works fine, the template which i made my self worked fine before i install this mod can anyone help me ?

also im using the worldpay contrib

[ronwong]

I am using all base classic template so I dont have problem. I also use worldpay. I dont think anything got to do with wp. Did you get all the files into your templete directories? its blank? no error message?

[bean_2k1]

found the problems now it was the tpl_checkout_payment_default.php, so i just got the orginal file and just added the code from the order steps so it will display the different steps table at the top.

Everything seems to be working now

[bean_2k1]

does this contrib only work with MYSQL 5.0.22 or higher, because i just installed it on my test server which is running 4.1.21-standard-log and it wont show any of the order at all, it creates the customer but when you click on orders to view the customers order nothing is there. Even tho is says they have made 1 order on the right hand side.

Anyone else has this problem ?

[Boggled]

Joe -- I know you're starting to hate seeing me post in this thread!

I just thought of something which may or may not be a problem...since I don't know how this stuff works.

I mainly use DHL shipping. The DHL shipping mod does not show estimates unless you are logged in (wish someone could find a fix for this!).

Does this mean it will not offer DHL as a choice to my COWOA buyers or will it still show up once they hit the SSL page?

[KGZotU]

Boggled: For all intents and purposes, the user is logged in once they pass the "Billing" page. So, it sounds like they should be able to use it once they get to the shipping menu.

Regarding your SQL issues, bean_2k1, we've identified only one so far. Apparently, at least one server configuration does not like my use of trues and falses for 0 and 1. I've uploaded a fix, but I haven't had an opportunity to test it yet, and probably won't until Friday.

If you're interested in trying it: This is the link. This link will expire once I can give this package a test and replace the main one with it.

In case anyone has my links bookmarked, they'll likely be changing this weekend as I move them under a different domain.

Ron: *nods* There will be a new customer created for every COWOA transaction regardless of whether they use the same info or not. The only thing that need be unique about a customer is their id. Permanent customer accounts must have unique e-mail addresses as well, otherwise login would be hit and miss.

You bring up some good points as well regarding the business aspects of this mod.

As you point out, visitors are more inclined to use COWOA and less likely to abandon their carts. Customers who use COWOA, however, feel less committed to your store and are more likely than regular account holders to buy elsewhere. In my case, I think there's a net boon. Namely, I have a content and community site along with my store which gives people a reason to come back.

If you use COWOA and don't have something similar, you might not get a particular boon in giving people a reason to come back. I agree with you, Ron, if I buy something without an account I expect the company not to hound after me with e-mail. Depending on your product and market, though, you might do well to include a nice color printout with a little personal backstory about your store, as well as the benefits of shopping with you. Maybe a nice coupon as well. Give the COWOA customers a reason to come back one more time and it might become a habit. Just some thoughts. (;

You also reference filling out a lot of pages. In the end, I decided to include checkout success as a page in the 'Page x of y' display. It has been shown that to label checkout confirmation as the last page can result in abandoned carts and customer confusion because people think they're finished. I had to balance this against the fact that people are more likely to be intimidated out of checkout by 5 pages than by 4. I think I made the right decision, but it's another factor that you have to weigh against your market.

One last thing of note. For a few reasons, I've decided to go ahead and drop the handle. There doesn't appear to be a way to change your forum name, so I'll probably just create a new account. I'll reference this in my signature.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement,
Joe

[IntelCos]

Can some point to the latest download please,,,thk you

is it in your sig or is there another link as above