Checkout without login - possible?

I have had a couple of customers contact me to say that they would like to be able to checkout without creating an account. I am fine with this, but could not find the option in admin, and could not find an answer in the wiki, tutorials, or forums. Is this possible? I have SSL, Paypal Express, Google Checkout, and credit card processing, if that extra info helps. Site is goinggear.com.

That is not currently an option in standard Zen Cart. There are a couple of different "checkout without account" mods available in Free Addons and by searching the forum.

Actually, I've had that working on my site for months. Here are the instructions from my main page:

If you do not want to create an account, you don't have to! Browse to your heart's content and put desired items in your shopping cart. When you are ready to check out, click on "shopping cart" NOT "checkout" to enter your zip code and select your delivery method. Then click on the "checkout with PayPal" button. If you have a PayPal account, you can login there; if not, click on the "Don't Have a Paypal Account?" continue checkout link. I hope you will create an account here so I can let you know about sales, but I made sure you can purchase without one.

It might need regular Paypal vs. Paypal Express, but I have both enabled anyway.

gjh42:

That is not currently an option in standard Zen Cart. There are a couple of different "checkout without account" mods available in Free Addons and by searching the forum.Glen is right.. There are add-ons which serve this purpose.. The OP might wanna do a search for their support threads, and read through before jumping in and installing on of these add-ons.

I wanted to add this.. If the OP has PayPal Express installed correctly, then one of the options during the checkout process should offer your customers the option to checkout without creating an account if they have a PayPal account (hence the name of the payment module being PayPal Express)

The OP should also be aware that the current underworkings of ZenCart do not allow order records to be created without linking it to a valid customer record. So ALL of these available add-ons and options which allow your customers to shop without creating an account actually creates a customer account behind the scenes anyway..

Now while you may be saying "big deal", the issue I see is that if the customer shops with you again, there will likely be a conflict when they checkout if they use the same e-mail address they used the first time they shopped at your store. Dunno if any of the "checkout without account" add-ons address this.. Seems like these add-ons could be messy and high maintenance since they work contrary to the way ZenCart is designed.

One of my clients raised the same concern with regards to her customers. Her customers had been used to using her PayPal store. I convinced her that the "switch" would not be as big a deal as she thought (especially if she carried a product they REALLY wanted) What we discovered was that most of her customers were savvy internet shoppers, and found the account creation function was not much different than the process for shopping at much larger online stores (Amazon is the first that comes to mind). They did it without any issues whatsoever. Some signed up MONTHS before they even made their first purchase so that they could be put on the mailing list.. I think the OP may be surprised what their customers will be okay with..

The "COWOA" mod (which makes accounts optional) addresses the repeat customer issue. As long as a customer has not created an account, they can purchase as many times as they want with the same e-mail address. Once they create an account, they cannot purchase with that e-mail without logging in.

I understand the concerns about messing with the code, which is why I have not implemented anything yet. Many of my customers are NOT technology savvy and have expressed interest in being able to place a credit card order without creating an account, so the interest is coming from them, not me. Many of them also dislike Paypal because of some of Paypal's policies, so Paypal Express is not a viable alternative for them.

I will have to mull it over and figure out a way that accommodates as many people as possible. Thanks for the feedback.

One of the things you may want to consider is:
Your customers will have to enter their billing (and possible shipping) address anyway, the ONLY difference between a checkout with account and without account is the password step.

So ultimately you go all the way just to remove a single field: the password field. What we did for many clients: we re-word many fields in the registration phase, make it sound like they are actually just entering their info for checking out.

Which is truly what they are doing. You need to keep their info at least long enough to complete the order and deal with any possible complications of delivery; you could theoretically delete it after that, though destroying records of transactions is not such a good idea.

You could possibly hide the password input, too, though this would make it impossible for the customer to get back to see any info about their order.

gjh42:

Which is truly what they are doing. You need to keep their info at least long enough to complete the order and deal with any possible complications of delivery; you could theoretically delete it after that, though destroying records of transactions is not such a good idea.

That's not a bad idea, thanks for that. I'll mess with the wording and maybe install one of the single checkout page mods.

yellow1912:

One of the things you may want to consider is:
Your customers will have to enter their billing (and possible shipping) address anyway, the ONLY difference between a checkout with account and without account is the password step.

So ultimately you go all the way just to remove a single field: the password field. What we did for many clients: we re-word many fields in the registration phase, make it sound like they are actually just entering their info for checking out.Exactly! Especially if one is using PayPal to collect payments, you have to enter the SAME information into PayPal so except for the password, there really is nothing different the customer is having to enter to create an account..

As for customers not being technically savvy; how much savvy does one require to enter information into clearly labeled data fields? If customers are not having issues entering in data into PayPal forms, then ZenCart account forms is a cinch IMO..

In the case of my one client, she discovered her clients weren't as technically challenged as she thought they might be.. There will always be a few special folks, but in my experience, these special folks would have issues regardless as to HOW easy you made it for them..

gjh42:

The "COWOA" mod (which makes accounts optional) addresses the repeat customer issue. As long as a customer has not created an account, they can purchase as many times as they want with the same e-mail address. Once they create an account, they cannot purchase with that e-mail without logging in.Thanks for the clarification.. From reading the support threads, it still seems as if these add-ons are still working out some kinks.. Have you used these add-ons fairly issue free??

DivaVocals:

As for customers not being technically savvy; how much savvy does one require to enter information into clearly labeled data fields? If customers are not having issues entering in data into PayPal forms, then ZenCart account forms is a cinch IMO..

It's not that they don't understand or can't handle technology, it's more that they don't trust it. As far as comparing the checkout to Paypal, like I said, these are people that do not use Paypal because of Paypal policies and issues. Some also do not like the fact that Paypal is not FDIC insured and protects their own interests more than they protect the buyer or seller.

I understand that they are entering all of this information already. I suppose it is akin to somewhere like HH Gregg or a computer parts order at Frys, where they try to get as much information from you as possible, regardless of whether or not it is necessary. From what I understand, the customers want their credit card/address/phone/email information used for credit card processing ONLY, and not stored in tables for more than 30 days or whatever the law is for credit card data.

GoingGear:

It's not that they don't understand or can't handle technology, it's more that they don't trust it. As far as comparing the checkout to Paypal, like I said, these are people that do not use Paypal because of Paypal policies and issues. Some also do not like the fact that Paypal is not FDIC insured and protects their own interests more than they protect the buyer or seller.

I understand that they are entering all of this information already. I suppose it is akin to somewhere like HH Gregg or a computer parts order at Frys, where they try to get as much information from you as possible, regardless of whether or not it is necessary. From what I understand, the customers want their credit card/address/phone/email information used for credit card processing ONLY, and not stored in tables for more than 30 days or whatever the law is for credit card data.
The customer's credit card data is not stored in ZenCart's tables at all.

I understand what your customers are saying. I guess I am saying that the logic of it doesn't make sense to me.. Given their concerns, I wonder why they bother shopping online at all.. A good majority of the online stores customer management features are very similar to ZenCart's. So unless they are ONLY planning on shopping with your store, I can't imagine that they will be able to buy from a lot of online stores..

Anyway I digress.. I would take Glenn's suggestion about using on of the no account add-ons. If you do this and offer your customer's a payment method like check/money order you should be golden. Good luck with your new store..:smile:

DivaVocals:

So unless they are ONLY planning on shopping with your store, I can't imagine that they will be able to buy from a lot of online stores..

Well, that's the problem. They DON'T shop with many online stores. Don't get me wrong, the majority of my customers don't care about having to create an account, but there is a small subset that does not trust online shopping that I would still like to accommodate.

I understand that ZC does not store credit card information, so I worded that wrong. I was referring more to the address/email/phone type information. I guess they think I am going to send them junk mail and spam every couple of days.

I have customers who don't like creating an account, either. I put a "why create an account" message on my home page to bring up the plusses, including getting an immediate $5 coupon to use with their first order. That coupon makes it worth most people's time to go ahead and set up an account. ;)

I guess the point is:
With or without account created, they still have to enter those info anyway, what makes the difference here?

Obviously you can choose not to collect certain info such as fone number etc, but the rest are required for billing and shipping anyway.

GoingGear:

Well, that's the problem. They DON'T shop with many online stores. Don't get me wrong, the majority of my customers don't care about having to create an account, **but there is a small subset that does not trust online shopping that I would still like to accommodate.
**
I understand that ZC does not store credit card information, so I worded that wrong. I was referring more to the address/email/phone type information. I guess they think I am going to send them junk mail and spam every couple of days.And that is honorable for you to think of these customers, but IMO you build a site/online business based on the rules not the exceptions..

Folks who don't normally shop online or trust online shopping in general are the exceptions to the rules of an online business. If you were to evaluate these customers and the revenue they bring in against the cost of the effort you put into accomodating them, you'd probably find that at the end of the day there isn't enough initial or repeat business to warrant going out of your way to accommodate what you admit is a small subset of your customers.. Just my opinion..

Diva -
I haven't used any checkout mods, so can't give first-hand opinions. I did follow the COWOA thread when it was active a year or so ago.

gjh42:

Diva -
I haven't used any checkout mods, so can't give first-hand opinions. I did follow the COWOA thread when it was active a year or so ago.Got it.. I've been following that thread as well.. I think the COWOA add-on is close, but not quite "there" yet if you know what I mean.. I only have one client who has expressed an interest in COWOA, and I have convinced her to wait.. IMO there seems to be some kinks that still need to be worked out just yet before this mod can be used reliably..

Note that cowa mod development stopped long ago.