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New PC add-on: Quick Order Entry

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Greg Dinger View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: New PC add-on: Quick Order Entry
    Posted: 28-January-2009 at 6:33pm
We have been working on a new feature for ProductCart  users which will facilitate Quick Order Entry from a single page.
 
It's not quite ready for release but I'd like to show it to folks in order to receive feedback and to determine the interest level in this tool.
 
Here's a good starting point, as there are notes about what test customers have been established, what validations we perform, and the supported features: 
 
From the home page, click on "quick order", then click to open the categories on the left.  You will see that the AJAX product preview is supported, that you can click on items to place them into the ordering list, then adjust your quantities and click "add to cart".
 
Functionally, this is a souped-up version of the product category "list with multiple add to cart" page format.  So if you are familiar with that page, we observe a similar set of rules and expectations.  So for example, where the "format M" version of viewcategories.asp would require visiting the product page for those items which require a product option or custom field, when clicking on such a product in this new page, we open a new browser and display the product detail page.  Once that item has been selected to the cart, just close that extra browser and return to the quick order display.
 
Presently the demo you will see builds the category/product listing dynamically.  For stores where the number of products would result in a slow page load, we are building a version that will employ a pre-generated static listing, just like PC can generate the category navigation or store map. 
 
Comments are welcomed.  Once we complete the category/product listing generator, we'll release this to interested clients.
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katharina View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote katharina Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 10:30am
Cool.  One bug.  I did manually type in sku8 and it let me checkout without the option.  It works great when you click on the left hand side.  Otherwise I love it, we can certainly use it on our site.  Keep me posted on your progress.
Katharina
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Greg Dinger View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 10:42am
Hi Katharina - I'm aware of that one.  The intent is to disallow such entries and force the user to click on it on the left so the user is sent to the product detail page.  
 
Question:  I'm debating what to do once the user clicks "add to cart" (ATC).  Would you wish to be directed to viewcart.asp, or would you prefer to be returned to this page like my ATC mod?  I would not anticipate in the latter case listing all (up to 15) products that were added to the cart on the confirmation message, and would more likely display "your selected items were added to the cart".  Which would be preferable?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote katharina Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 11:04am
Good point.  I actually like it the way you have it.  The viewcart is a good choice, since it lets you review your additions before checking out.  It also lets you continue to order the regular way.  15 lines is more then enough.  I suppose you can click on the quick order page again, if you need more after finishing the first batch.   On the cosmetic side you may like to add a line to tell users that they can tab from field to field.  Most probably know.  So not a big thing.

I actually order from one supplier that way.  I search the site for new stuff, add some, and then add with the quick order page.  The only difference they have is the usage of the tab button.  You enter the sku, tab over to the quantity, and then tab for the next line.  At that point it validates your entry and spits out an error or lets you continue with the next line.  It also displays the title of the product at that time.  So it does more validating, since it does it with each line.  Not that important, since yours does it with the add to cart button.  Just a different logic.

Something else that my be interesting is a feature I see on our packaging suppliers site.  It keeps track of your ordering habit in a section called previous ordered products (or similar in name).  It sorts all the products you have ever ordered from them by category on one page.  This comes handy when you always order the same stuff.  We sell some crafting supplies and many customers order the same over and over.  This feature has a quantity block on the end of each line.  You simply add the quantities you like to order and then click on submit.  It shows you your cart after submitting, before you checkout.
Katharina
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 11:16am
A question on how I display the price as you place them into the shopping list.  If you logged in as wholesaler 1 or 2 in the demo, you will note that there are pricing levels.  I display whatever price the customer is eligible for as items are placed in the list.
 
However, those prices are similarly displayed on the AJAX product preview and on viewcart.asp.  Is there a value in displaying prices next to the description in the shopping list?
 
I ask this because for the "static" (as opposed to the currently dynamic) version of the category/product list, it will clearly be easier to implement if I bypass dealing with pricing issues.  Is that effort worth it from the merchant's or shopper's perspective?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote katharina Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 11:32am
Depends on the perspective.  For the customer it may be beneficial to see pricing there, so they feel re ensured and the question of trying to trick them doesn't come up (the inexperience one may feel that way).  It does not show a total on that page, so what is the point of having prices there?  You will see it at the viewcart page anyway.  You can always add the line that prices will be displayed at the viewcart page.  So looking that way there is no need to have it. 

For "happy feeling" customers you should have it there.  I've seen this feature on other sites and they all display the price, before going to the viewcart page.  Lets also say it that way, if you give me the choice in the back office to choose between the two I would go for the one with the prices showing.  It reduces confusion with the customer, and possible complaint phone calls.
Katharina  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2009 at 11:45am
Danke schön!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-January-2009 at 12:57am
Originally posted by katharina katharina wrote:

Cool.  One bug.  I did manually type in sku8 and it let me checkout without the option.  It works great when you click on the left hand side.  Otherwise I love it, we can certainly use it on our site.  Keep me posted on your progress.
Katharina
 
Have a look at how we dealt with SKU8 now please.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hamish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-January-2009 at 5:32am
Hi Greg,
     I think it would be better, after clicking Add to Cart on sku8, if the window closed rather than taking you to the cart - as this would then drop back to the Quick Order pages - one downside is that it would then not be obvious that the product was successfully added.  
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Greg Dinger View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Dinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-January-2009 at 10:28am
That's an interesting point, but wouldn't we then get the message warning "an application is trying to close your browser" or some thing to that affect?  Would that be just as troubling to the user as having to remember that they need to close the window themselves?
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