I personally have never understood the anonymous checkout -- do people really think that if they checkout "anonymously" that their information isn't stored in the database?

I think if you have someone who has a problem "creating an account" -- which they are doing by checking out anyway -- then you're going to have a problem getting a valid email -- you are going to get a bogus email address that you are going to try to use to contact them and it's going to bounce back (if you don't recognize it's bogus). It's just like forcing a phone number -- now I get customers who just put 3 digits in just to satisfy the field -- then FedEx ShipManager throws and error because the phone number isn't valid.

Mitch on the promos site we've had no problems with anon with email. Forcing accounts didn't work so well though. :smhair:


The only gripe is that the email sent out by the admin doesn't send you the email by default (Justin) which would be nice. I'd say require email but obviously track your results.



I wish accounts were automatically created for people upon checkout and an email mailed to them AFTER their order with a temporary password so they could track their order.

Mitch, true but for many b2b sites it's not an issue. JMHO it should be an option in admin which can be enabled or disabled. Not having accounts created is goofy.

Obviously this is another feature that needs an on/off switch so all of us are happy. We're primarly B2B so it's a no brainer for us, we'd like customers to have an account auto-created with a temp password sent on all new orders. Checking the competitors in the promo items business and most other online stores dealing B2B this seemst obe the norm.

I think everybody is making this all too hard. Its not this hard.

Stop using the word "account", stop using the word "anon" and also stop using "express checkout". All very universal words. kinda like saying "expedite" come on what does that really mean? I can RUN the box to my shipping dock and ship it ground...oh yea, I just expedited it for ya. The word "account" scares people, but it means different things to different people. The phrase "express checkout", think about it....is it express because its streamlined and quick? or is it express because they must have an account already, so they can log in and their info is pre-filled into the forms? geesh!

Just have "CHECKOUT". (customers only want to get through it quick and easy and not have to be wondering something or have any questions). Think of your local grocery store, how many questions do you ask them when you buy food each week? Not many right? You pay, you leave.

Heres my opinion on solution......offer a form for email address and show a note like this.... *IF* you want to receive a receipt. If you leave this form blank, you will not receive a receipt by email nor any confirmations of shipment or problems. Like someone said earlier, if they're gonna give you some fake email address, they're going to do it anyway, so dont rely on a dang email address from customer.

no need for a temp password to be created but that is one way to do it (in my opinion), maybe, probably best to not do this.

but really, just make a checkout, dont call it express, dont call it anon, dont call it anything. Just call it CHECKOUT. crap, you got their billing /shipping/ phone/ and payment info....isnt that enough?

If customer wants to find order status, have form on a page just for this reason (order_status.aspx) , ask for 2 of 3 things....order number and/or email address and/or shipping zip code....any of the 2 opens the door and gives you your order status.

I've seen this on a few sites, couple of the big names. I ordered some products, no mention of creating an account, I just had to include my email address.


Checkbox: Save For Future Orders?



left if unchecked, ordered as usual. everything is fine, email sent when ordered, email sent when shipped, clicked the tracking info and there i was on the site reviewing the order.



I ordered again week or two later, same process, asked me to save for future orders, left it unchecked, business as usual.



Third time (yes.... they like me now...LOL), same thing, business as usual.



no password, no account creation. in and out.



perfect.

oh, almost forgot.....if you think a password is to protect your account from other ppl online and their prying eyes, nosey butt, ...provide me your email address and then , okay, let me GUESS where you shop online, then try to find a webstore that you are in their database and try to get to something, an order status....let me GUESS your order number......I bet you could even give me your email address and password, okay, now I gotta go and GUESS where you shopped online if I want to snoop.

I'd say "create a password if you want to have ability to log back into our webstore and view your order status and/or history" with a blank form and state OPTIONAL.

Email address, also optional but dont say optional....just have form for email address and state "Provide your email address and we'll email a receipt for your order to your inbox instantly!".