My Checkout Without Account Mod

In the end, all this mod does is reduce the required amount of information by 2 items - no account, so no username, no password.

The info on your current form can be reduced by going to admin > configuration > Customer Details and turning off stuff you don't need.

Thanks,

I did turn off those things I didn't think I needed. However, I check the link again, but the form is still requesting a ton of "required" information.

Phillip

So what DON'T you need to check that you have a valid billing address and a valid shipping address?

Ryk:

So what DON'T you need to check that you have a valid billing address and a valid shipping address?

As far as if the address info is verified, doesn't that usually rest on the payment system anyway? I've never seen Zencart verify an address yet.

Let's not begin another war between those who think this mod is a good idea and those who do not.

I have no opinion either way - if you like it - use it, if you don't then don't use it. Simple as that.

betty

No-one's starting a war - we have here a noobie on his 2nd post. This mod does exactly what it says - it allows checkout without an account. philipf is concerned about the amount of data required. COWOA removes 2 items only; if he has removed all that he doesn't need via admin and STILL thinks he has too many, we need to know what he doesn't require to guide him on how to get rid of it.

Doesn't matter who verifies it - the customer still needs to enter it.

Thanks Ryk,

I am indeed a newbie ... to the best of my ability, I've turned off those features that the login is saying is "required information". After update, however, when I check the log-in page, there are those red asterisks, telling me the info is required.

For example, if you're shopping somewhere online, it's a realtively unknown site and person running it, do you really want to give your First and last name, physical address, telephone number, email address, creating yet another password? To me, that's way too many hoops to go through to buy low-end price physical products.

All I'm trying to do is make the process as simple for the end consumer.

I've set up PayPal Express, but that seemingly has nothing to do with the above.

My last desire is to stir up some sort of war or fight ... hey, if there's a tutorial entitled "how to disable the Zen Cart login process for the complete idiot storeowner", someone please point me there.

I'll be the first to admit, I need to learn more about Zen. I've looked through one tutorial http://www.siteground.com/tutorials/zencart/zencart_product_catalog.htm

but didn't quite see what I needed ... not saying it isn't there ... I just may not quite be looking close enough or in the right place.

I appreciate the feedback ... any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Phillip

phillipf:

For example, if you're shopping somewhere online, it's a realtively unknown site and person running it, do you really want to give your First and last name, physical address, telephone number, email address, creating yet another password? To me, that's way too many hoops to go through to buy low-end price physical products.

All I'm trying to do is make the process as simple for the end consumer.

As I said, installation of this mod removes the password bit - but you still need those details you've listed to make a delivery and/or contact the customer if there's any problem...like with YOU not getting the payment.

If you go to admin>configuration>minimum values and set the ones that you believe you don't need to 0, then the "requirement" goes away...but please don't complain when someone orders a couple of dozen of your "low-end" price products and you get a chargeback after you've dispatched the goods.

Don't forget, the customer is only half the equation and - assuming you want to make money - you have to take reasonable precautions to safeguard yourself.

One last thing - if you're so concerned that they may not want to give details because you're an unknown...why on earth would they give you their money?

Hound:

:unsure: I am kind of an idiot when it comes to editing PhP. I have been getting by and am satisfied with what I have done so far. Has anyone used this with Apple_Zen? If so, did you have any problems.

In my previous cart, using the sage template I had to restore backups of my Header.php file to correct the formatting after installing COWOA and Order Steps. The new Apple_Zen comes with Order steps and there are only 3 of them which I like very much. I just don't want to destroy my site by installing COWOA if it is not compatible with a 3 page order steps instead of 5.

Anyone using the Apple_Zen and COWOA?

Here's my site www.wholesomehound.com/index.php

If you are all done :bangin:on one another, I would really appreciate an answer to my question. :P Anyone??? Please.

KGZotU:

Alright, I've made the following modifications.

Fixed: IE button issues and cleaned up button code in general. Conditionally removed account/order invoice references from email. Conditionally removed product update notification and account references from checkout_success.

These are reflected in the store and the zip file.

--Joe

Hmm I´m exited about this mod - installed everything.The option "Checkout Without Account! shows BUT THEN when you click continue it says "page not found". tried on FF and Safari. Is there a way to fix this?
Where should I look for the bug?
THANK YOU!

kittycat:

Hmm I´m exited about this mod - installed everything.The option "Checkout Without Account! shows BUT THEN when you click continue it says "page not found". tried on FF and Safari. Is there a way to fix this?
Where should I look for the bug?
THANK YOU!

Try uploading all of the files again. It sounds like some are either missing or in the wrong folder. Make sure you replaced the "YOUR_TEMPLATE" with the actual name of your template.

once an e-mail has been used in the creation of a permanent account that e-mail may not be used for COWOA
I'm sure there is a good reason for this restriction, but can anyone tell me what the reason is?

I'm asking because a customer with an existing permanent account may sometimes prefer to COWOA.

cochlear:

I'm sure there is a good reason for this restriction, but can anyone tell me what the reason is?

I'm asking because a customer with an existing permanent account may sometimes prefer to COWOA.

Not sure why they would want to enter in all of their info again when this time they only need to enter email and password. I haven't seen any other sites out there where you can COWA after becoming registered. I'm not saying there aren't any or that people shouldn't be able to, just wondering why they would want to do more work especially after they were willing to register in the first place.

craftzombie:

Not sure why they would want to enter in all of their info again when this time they only need to enter email and password.
Who knows, but this mod was created to give customers more checkout options, even if we think the extra option doesn't seem to make sense.

Mine works now, thank you for your input !
There were some files missing. My ftp program seems to be faulty...
leaving a mess after I upload.

what ftp program were you using?

I've been searching the forums, etc., and it seems that Integrated Checkout Without Account is the only current mod for allowing customers to checkout without an account. I've seen conversations about one by GDOrn, with an example here, but I can't find the mod and it doesn't seem to be supported. Does anyone know if this is all the case? Because I actually like elements of that version.

Alternatively, I'm about to install ICWA, and am wondering if I could do the following (with or without ICWA). Basically, I don't want to make the customer think about 3 choices (sign up, skip, or login?). Instead, they're either new or returning. If new, they just go through checkout, entering standard info, and for the password part, it's optional with a brief explanation that if they create a password, next time will be faster, etc. So the only decision is, "do I create a password or not?".

Everything else would work the same as ICWA is set up to work.

For those using PayPal Express checkout, check out my site for a simple checkout without account. I can let everyone know what I did if interested. I've had repeat customers buy with no issues. The only thing I would want to add is someway to check on status of order, maybe with tracking info. That would be an awesome mod!

Go here: http://brainbulbrecords.com/store

chrisareas:

For those using PayPal Express checkout, check out my site for a simple checkout without account. I can let everyone know what I did if interested. I've had repeat customers buy with no issues. The only thing I would want to add is someway to check on status of order, maybe with tracking info. That would be an awesome mod!

Go here: http://brainbulbrecords.com/store

Hey chrisareas, just thought I'd let you know that when I was on the PayPal screen to login and I clicked on "return to BrainBulb Records", I received this error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '@' in ..../public_html/store/includes/modules/create_account.php on line 395

Thanks craftzombie. I never thought to click that when testing. I'll look into it.

I've run across a possible problem when a customer revisits the site to purchase another product.

When a customer is checking out with the same email address they used the last purchase, it tells them that the email address they are using is already registered with the site and to login to complete the checkout process. How can they login when they don't have a password to login with?