I need some help please. I don't even know where to categorize my topic.
My business is creating and manufacturing stencils. I offer my customers the option for me to design custom stencils for them. They have a choice of 102 different fonts OR they can leave the font choice up to me.
I then send a sample in the email for them to review.
It is becoming a real task because they are not giving me an idea of the font style they want.
They are just leaving it up to me and then when I send them a sample in a FANCY font they reply back saying I don't want a fancy font I want a plain font.
Since I didn't pass the MIND READING CLASS I had no way of knowing that customer wanted a plain font.
What I would like to see happen is…
If they choose for me to pick the font for them, I would like for a new set of choices to pop up for them with font styles (i.e. plain, fancy, curly, box, etc…) these choices will give me an idea of what it is they are looking for rather then me aimlessly searching through my over 7000 fonts collection.
I don't want them to see those style choices unless they actually choose the option for me to choose the font for their custom stencil.
What I believe is happening is, they don't want to take the time out to go through my 102 fonts that they can view on my website. They just choose for me to pick a font for them and go on with their day. However, it is a HUGE problem for me because I am stuck redoing samples over and over again. I have requested that they tell me the style they want in the text box but they just wont do it. My customers are way too spoiled and I have created SEVERAL monsters by allowing it. I had a very simple DIY website for 7 years in which there was no way to offer the nice options CS-Cart can offer. Just hoping CS-Cart is SUPER FANCY and can allow me to do what I am thinking in my mind lol. ANY HELP OR IDEAS is greatly appreciated
Below is a link to my product on my site. Maybe if you can view what I am trying to explain, some ideas will come to mind that can help me fight this beast lol
[url=“http://www.stencilmein.com/stencil-me-in-custom-stencils.html”]http://www.stencilmein.com/stencil-me-in-custom-stencils.html[/url]
Depends how fancy you want to get. Personally I'd just put the font names in a drop-down options list and make it mandatory that they select one.
Associate each one with a picture of the font so that when they select it they see it. You've got them all there but you're not displaying the selected one. Set it all up as a global option set and it's a few second work to link with each new product.
I'd take away the option to allow for approval as well. If you're displaying the font and they've selected it then that should be good enough. They can return it either way and you're just making extra work for yourself.
The other way is to use one of the third party configurators which would let you do all sorts of previews. They don't come cheap though.
Here is how we do it… Just to give you some ideas…
http://www.carstickersdecals.com/custom-text-decal.html
Not sure if this really helps, but I wanted to do dynamic dropdowns too based on option values too, but CS core does not have this capability, so my setup is similar to car stickers site for some products. I think that is the best without buying some 3rd party add-ons. It works fairly well for me. If people don't like the 'default' design, then I charge more for custom design services. Limiting the options is the best for your scenario though… it saves production time and cost.
I'm personally looking at a few 3rd party ad-ons to make this semi-automated and easier, but my only concern is the supportability with new releases of CS. I got burned previously in prior versions.
Thank you so much guys for all your help. I sooooo appreciate all the input. Please if anyone thinks of anymore ideas please let me know!
the alt team product designer is the way to go
[url=“New Product designer HTML 5 +JS. Who is interested? - Third-Party Add-ons - CS-Cart Community Forums”]New Product designer HTML 5 +JS. Who is interested? - Third-Party Add-ons - CS-Cart Community Forums
let them design it and save your time…export to vector
I have found out there is a way to do what I am asking for. To put conditions based on customer choices. Here is a link if anyone might be interested. Hope it helps. I am going to give it a try very soon. I will post back how it worked out when I get to it 
[quote name='carterj' timestamp='1389128342' post='174673']
Not sure if this really helps, but I wanted to do dynamic dropdowns too based on option values too, but CS core does not have this capability,
[/quote]
What do you mean by a dynamic dropdown based on option values?
OH MY GOSH GUYS!!! I did it!!! Woo Hoo…took half a day to get it understood but I did it! Take a look!
http://www.stencilmein.com/627-custom-stencil.html
[quote name='StencilMeIn' timestamp='1390163687' post='175507']
OH MY GOSH GUYS!!! I did it!!! Woo Hoo…took half a day to get it understood but I did it! Take a look!
http://www.stencilme…om-stencil.html
[/quote]
Looks good. Glad it got it worked out…
Thank you so much! I have caught onto “how to” pretty good but it can be a little tricky. I am realllllly happy with it though. If anyone needs help doing something like this feel free to contact me.