In the first step of checking out as guest, customers are asked to fill in their first name, last name and phone number. Then they click “Continue” and lo and behold, they are asked to fill out their first name and last name AGAIN!
Flow mentioned in one of his threads that he modified a file that eliminated this needless repetition. I contacted Flow to see if he could do this for me or tell me how to do it, but unfortunately, he is still on version 2.x and I’m on version 3.0.6.
So, does anyone know how to eliminate this needless repetition at checkout?
Hello kingsleypress,
Thank you for your message.
In this case you should go to Customers > Profile Fields in your CS-Cart admin panel and clear check boxes next to the unnecessary fields (for example, First name, Last name, Phone) in the Contact information section. After this click the Save button. Please check it.
Thank you.
—
Pavel Zyukin
CS-Cart Support team
You're missing the point Pavel…the point being the First/Last Name provided for login/registration should be used as default for step two (billing information). Unchecking those fields will not help rectify the real problem. The less work the customer has to do = higher conversions.
With all due respect Pavel, I think you are misunderstanding me. I want those fields in the checkout process, I just don't see why they should go to step one, fill them out, and then in step two those fields appear blank and they have to fill them out a second time. Why can't the first name, last name, and phone number carry over from step one to step two. Why does there even need to be a step one if they are going to have to fill those three fields out again in step two?
It's annoying for me too, because I take orders over the phone and do this by placing an order on my site. I ask the customer over the phone for their first and last name and phone number, click continue, then they have to wait while I re-type their first and last name. And if it's a hard to remember name, I'm in trouble. Much easier if it would just carry over…the phone number DOES carry over I think. Why can't the names?
Edward, the reason being is Step 1 fills the Customer account details (ie. those you see in the admin Customers>Users list) and Step 2 and 3 complete the Billing and Shipping names/delivery addresses.
I looked into fixing this exact problem in V3 a couple of months back but as Step 1 and Step 2 (and 3) use different forms to capture the info, the fix I created (which did on first appearances actually work), caused other unexpected problems with the cart so I removed the changes and haven't yet looked at it since.
Well, as Flow says, this has been a problem for a long time in CS-Cart and I wish they would fix it. Most of the customers whose orders I take over the phone use the same first and last name for billing address, shipping address, and credit card name so it would be really nice if the first name and last name in step one could just be carried over (with the option to edit them at any point) for all steps instead of having to enter them three times (on the credit card name step the cart should automatically combine first and last name into one field). I'm not a programmer but I would assume that one of CS-Cart's programmers should be able to do this in a half a day or so. It would be a very good investment of their time.
I have 2.2.4 Pro. When someone signs out as a guest, they just enter their email address, click next and go to step two and fill out billing and shipping address ( or check use billing address).
In my set-up under Profile Fields, Customer Information, nothing is checked. Email is checked by default and grayed out.
Bob
Bob, I can uncheck first name and last name in the Contact Information section, but how is that going to affect the way customer information is stored in my database? With those unchecked, the only thing they have to fill in on step one is phone number. Presumably if I unchecked that they would go straight to step 2. However, I need the phone number in case I have problems with their order, and that's the only place to collect it.
Hi,
I get all the formation I need in step 2. Step one for guest checkout is just the email address only. I have an image, but don't see how to attach. I pasted it below.
Bob
[quote name='kingsleypress' timestamp='1369664408' post='162500']
Well, as Flow says, this has been a problem for a long time in CS-Cart and I wish they would fix it. Most of the customers whose orders I take over the phone use the same first and last name for billing address, shipping address, and credit card name so it would be really nice if the first name and last name in step one could just be carried over (with the option to edit them at any point) for all steps instead of having to enter them three times (on the credit card name step the cart should automatically combine first and last name into one field). I'm not a programmer but I would assume that one of CS-Cart's programmers should be able to do this in a half a day or so. It would be a very good investment of their time.
[/quote]
I have this fixed in 2.25 and remember it took just 2 or 3 lines of code.
Unless someone has a strong argument, I am with Bob on this one. In my opinion, there really is no reason to collect the customers info, aside from email address, in step one. So clear them and move on or explain why they are needed.
Hmm, I didn't even know this was possible. cs-cart seems to take the name from the billing address as customers name this way.
But the problem is there not only for guest checkout, it's also for new customers registering during checkout. So I don't think it's a perfect solution to turn them off though. First off, it could be that the actual person on your website is somebody else than should be on the billing / shipping address.
Second, I think it looks a bit strange when a new customer registers on your website, it starts by JUST asking for password, no name. So I'm still convinced porting the name is the best solution. It also makes step 2 look less daunting because the first 2 fields are already filled out.
Strange, never noticed till viewing this thread but I have 2 email fields showing on step 1 , even though in profile fields I only have 1 email field in contact section which cannot be un ticked
[attachment=6873:checkout.JPG]
I had that too once with other fields John. I had to remove them from the database, there was no other way.
I still think that the first and last name should be carried forward from step 1 to step 2. Like I said, I'm no programmer but with all the other magic that happens inside CS-Cart I find it hard to believe that this would be difficult to code. I'm sure Alt-Team or someone would custom code this for me, but why can't it be part of the default CS-Cart installation?
[quote name='Flow' timestamp='1369725529' post='162545']First off, it could be that the actual person on your website is somebody else than should be on the billing / shipping address.[/quote]
I certainly do not want their business then because these types of transactions are generally fraudulent.
[quote name='Flow' timestamp='1369725529' post='162545']Second, I think it looks a bit strange when a new customer registers on your website, it starts by JUST asking for password, no name. [/quote]
What password? Just a simple email.
[quote name=‘The Tool’ timestamp=‘1369744963’ post=‘162567’]
I certainly do not want their business then because these types of transactions are generally fraudulent.
What password? Just a simple email.
[/quote]
- I order a lot for my mom. I have quite some customers who do the same. Their business is just fine
- When not checking out as guest but registering as a new customer.
The Tool,
Each business is different, what works for some won't work for others.
I never had a fraudulent sale.
All guests are the bill to. So far, the set up I am using works fine with no issues. They just enter their email first instead of in another step.
Obviously, this is a problem for some and should be addressed, I guess its now version 4.x.
Bob
[quote name='pbannette' timestamp='1369745898' post='162576']
Each business is different, what works for some won't work for others.[/quote]
I think in this case, some like to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
For example, if Flow wants to order for his mom and the info is all his mom's, why the hell does the system need his info?