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