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Posted 09 March 2007 - 02:15 PM #1
Quote/Invoicing Manager
I'd like a quote manager where through the customer front-end a customer can submit a ticket for a quote on a custom product, something that has to be custom ordered or custom made. Then through the admin backend-end we can use the Quote manager to put together a very detailed and specific quote and then submit the quote to the customer. The customer will then be able to accept the quote and view the quote online where they can add the quote to cart and place the order online just as if it were a product...it will be alot more detailed then I explained but I'm keeping it short for right now...post your ideas and thoughts ect...
I just realized after placing the order for the Dynamic Tabs mods through the CS helpdesk that it works in similar fashion to what I would like to see in a Quote/Invoicing mod, so CS already has something similar coded which means they may just have to make a few simple improvements for us and it's done...do you know how professional it would look if you did work for a customer and you have the ability to create an invoice to be paid online...
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 09 March 2007 - 04:14 PM #2
Some thoughts about the QM:
Tie it into the group membership function.
Come up with a way to page to display the cumulative quote. (Sort of a wish list on steroids).
Be sure we can set a time limit on the quote.
Have a field where default T&C's can be entered by the admin, or at least included on the page.
That's it for now.
Thanks to everyone for your contributions.
Mike
Mike@NVone.com
(800) 764-7469
(775) 857-3800
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Authorized CS-Cart Reseller • Web Hosting • Merchant Services
256 Bit SSL Certificates • Custom Computers • AT&T Mobility
Check out the CSCModClub website at
www.CSCModClub.com
1.3.5 SP3
Posted 09 March 2007 - 04:14 PM #3
Brandon
Posted 09 March 2007 - 04:33 PM #4
yea alot of people have been wanting something like http://www.shippingk...ship-xcart.htmlshipped together or shipped seperately.Brandon
what I would like to have is
http://www.shippingk...ates-xcart.html
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 09 March 2007 - 04:33 PM #5
There should be an Awaiting payment (I can create this I know), but have the ability to input the payment once it has arrived. Right now the cart "assumes" that the payment has been made and closes out the order. There is no where to put in Check info or an amount.
This would be a great mod.
EagleRose
Posted 09 March 2007 - 04:47 PM #6
Thank you for you order, if you would like online tracking etc choose a username and password..
Along with this, I think its related.. the "membership level" should be definable such as "by spending over 200 auto set a new membership" or something along those lines.
Posted 09 March 2007 - 05:33 PM #7
I really think CS-Cart needs a better checkout process more than any mod. But it seems to be neglected by most carts and users who don't understand the importance of it.
Did you know a targeted e-mail marketing campaign can bring conversion rates up to 3.9%? By using reliable e-mail marketing software you can upsell to existing customers on a tight budget. If you are not using e-mail marketing you are missing out big time. I recommend and use Aweber.
Posted 09 March 2007 - 06:41 PM #8
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 09 March 2007 - 08:56 PM #9
I really prefer the ideas that makes store web pages physically smaller (dynamic tabs) and the utilities to make running the store easier. Like implementing a basic cash register screen to allow physical store owners to checkout customers in person and have the online inventory database adjusted accordingly.
Posted 09 March 2007 - 09:11 PM #10
From the begining I've seen nothing but problems with exporting data to quickbooks and yea there are the ones who have peachtree and others...I myself have always done my accounting the old fashioned way. A mod I have been working on and would be nice to have CS professionally code the more advanced features is a Profit Loss Manager (PLM) where you would input the cost of goods sold for each product, the PLM would have the capabilities to run daily, weekly, monthly, yearly reports that would be printed and/or saved/exported into cvs format. The benefit of a PLM system is that you could very quickly run reports on how much profit, loss you have in a given period and this data could be quickly entered manually into an accountant application like quickbooks or peachtree. The importantce of such a PLM system is that it leaves footprints and the IRS loves to see footprints on anything and everything you do...you would have the ability to attach orders and invoices to the PLM system and leave a detailed report on why there was a loss on an order or invoice. Everyone has a nasty customer and if you have a nasty customer that causes you to lose $100 then you should have detailed documentation about this event and that's where the PLM come into play. Other simple events is if you did'nt charge enough for shipping and you eat the extra shipping costs this can be documented into the PLM system which would automatically deduct the loss from profit during report generation. If you report $2000 in losses on your business taxes and you are questioned about the losses imagine how easy it would be to run a report and you'd have a list of 60+ orders/invoices that recorded a loss that totaled $2000 in a very detailed report. It's a little more advanced then this but this is the basic concept of a PLM system, your thoughts...
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 10 March 2007 - 12:16 AM #11
Not all of our sales are from our CS store, so however it is in the backend, we manually input it into sage..
I dont think I would even use an export facility, theres always something bound to go wrong when importing, and the chances are.. if you import, you will never check what was imported until its too late.
I like the sound of the "quote system" probably not something I would use, or maybe I could think of a way...
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I would also like to see "automated related products" using some kind of search function based on the product being viewed, this is a pain to add especially if you have thousands of items..
Randomised featured products per catgeory - probably easily achievable but still linked to above
And keeping along the same lines, this has been mentioned before... before completing checkout some kind of "have you got everything you need" showing a few more "custom set related products"
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Posted 10 March 2007 - 01:42 AM #12
Quote System: It would be nice for the quote system to automatically create a locked PDF file. A buddy of mine was burnt when a customer modified an email quote amount and paid the accountant directly.
Posted 10 March 2007 - 02:25 AM #13
As far as outputting to a PDF, I crack open pdf files every day and edit them. The only way to beat someone from changing the numbers would be to output to an image? I dunno about that though. Might be impractical.
Whatever the case, I just want to emphasize that whatever we decide to have CS-C develop, it has to be included in future versions of the cart. Working up a couple zillion related products and having them all go away in an upgrade would really suck.
Mike
Mike@NVone.com
(800) 764-7469
(775) 857-3800
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Authorized CS-Cart Reseller • Web Hosting • Merchant Services
256 Bit SSL Certificates • Custom Computers • AT&T Mobility
Check out the CSCModClub website at
www.CSCModClub.com
1.3.5 SP3
Posted 12 March 2007 - 04:48 AM #14
CS definately needs a better chechout system. The one now is about 4 pages or so? Something along the lines of Volusion.com, which features a 1 page checkout, would be awesome. I also agree that when people enter all there information at checkout when they do not have an account that they should have the option of having it saved into a profile. Taking out the account level option, and making it an automatic feature, would be good also.
I would also like to see an "Accessories" tab, which could go along with the Dynamic Tabs Mod. The tab would be similar to related products, but you would have the ability to add the accessories right on the product page. For example, if you are selling a bike you could have Fix-a-Flat in the accessories and the customer(s) could add both the Bike and Fix-a-flat right there on 1 page. Without having to chase anything down. To see a live example of what I am reffering too, go to PlasmaConcepts.com. They have a accessories tab on al of there products.
Theres my 2 cents,
Brandon
CS Cart 1.3.4 SP2
Current Mods installed:
Thickbox (with e-menu) : Tabbed product details : Previous & Next Navigation (with SEO mod by SWS) : Manufacturer META tags[/SIZE]
Posted 12 March 2007 - 06:08 AM #15
Cheers,
Mike
Mike@NVone.com
(800) 764-7469
(775) 857-3800
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Authorized CS-Cart Reseller • Web Hosting • Merchant Services
256 Bit SSL Certificates • Custom Computers • AT&T Mobility
Check out the CSCModClub website at
www.CSCModClub.com
1.3.5 SP3
Posted 12 March 2007 - 08:31 AM #16
Anything that could increase sales is definatly top on my list and should be on anybody elses..
as with plasmaconcepts, look at their checkout
On the cart page, they have the "do you have everything"
On the checkout page they have a summary of the order along with customer details on the same page, where you could also put the selection for payment method... I see no problem with this being done.. infact it could even be quite easy to modify
Posted 12 March 2007 - 11:35 AM #17
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 12 March 2007 - 12:40 PM #18
Mike do you mean have a detailed breakdown of the associated costs like simple example:Come up with a way to page to display the cumulative quote.
Material: $50
Labor: $100
Shipping: $25
--------------
Total: $175
Customer Service (Helpdesk) Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Quote and Invoicing Addon for CS-Cart v4.3.1
Posted 12 March 2007 - 09:45 PM #19
A streamlined checkout could mean more sales, especially with impulse buyers... this is also where the accessories as you say or "have you got everything you ordered" comes into place
Anything that could increase sales is definatly top on my list and should be on anybody elses..
as with plasmaconcepts, look at their checkout
On the cart page, they have the "do you have everything"
On the checkout page they have a summary of the order along with customer details on the same page, where you could also put the selection for payment method... I see no problem with this being done.. infact it could even be quite easy to modify
Yeah, that feature would be nice also. But the way crutchfield.com has the "Make sure you get everything you need" page should also be considered.
See an example here: http://www.crutchfie...05242HP66&wm=cl
Snorocket:
You have a point about not paying CS to do something they should have already done. But I think if they were going to change the checkout they would have done something about it by now. And we're not just talking about making the checkout one page, but also adding things like "Be sure you get everything you need" to the checkout.
Your suggestion about the quote/inventory manager would be cool also, but I think the checkout mod would prove more usefull to more people since - correct me if I'm wrong - most people sell stock items rather than custom made products.
Regards,
Brandon
CS Cart 1.3.4 SP2
Current Mods installed:
Thickbox (with e-menu) : Tabbed product details : Previous & Next Navigation (with SEO mod by SWS) : Manufacturer META tags[/SIZE]
Posted 12 March 2007 - 10:24 PM #20
Did you know a targeted e-mail marketing campaign can bring conversion rates up to 3.9%? By using reliable e-mail marketing software you can upsell to existing customers on a tight budget. If you are not using e-mail marketing you are missing out big time. I recommend and use Aweber.