Best osC Contributions

[kzod]

Sorry for cross posting, but on reflection I realized this might belong in general support. If it becomes popular maybe this or an offshoot could be used as a sticky somewhere. It's definitely must have info for anyone considering a new osC site.

 

Hey guys, I'm new and realize this has probably been done to death already, but after a few searches I couldn't find what I'm looking for, so please don't blast me.

 

In any case, I'm launching a new e-store and having it designed for me (I have minimal tech know how). While CRE & Zen have many added mods included, after much research I decided that osC was best for someone who can easily tweak the design and add in the needed mods. I've picked up on some of the key mods, but it's hard to tell if some may already be included in the 2.2 osC realease.

 

My question is there a list of the most popular mods? most effective?

 

So far I'm interested in

Ultimate SEO

X-Sell (is this in the new release?)

Store Pickup

Affiliate & affiliate branding (Do I need both? or is there one complete mod?)

Discount coupons (so many, which is the best/ most crash proof)

Check order status

Add Multiple Products Checkbox (Have one category where this type of functionality is needed)

Meta tags (I know I need one, don't know which).

 

It's for a party/loot bag/ halloween store, so mostly selling costumes, toys, and tableware (party plates, cups, etc...) So, can anyone help point me in the right direction while I scour these other posts tryiong to figure out the functionality of all these listed mods?

[Guest]

Anyone starting a new store needs to add some updates to the customer experience. osC MS2 is now several years out of date in terms of the amount of information required, the number of pages involved in purchase, the need to register, the process of adding to the cart, etc. All the SEO in the world won't "open up the bottom of the funnel" and improve conversion. Some to consider:

Purchase Without Account

Fast Easy Checkout

More Logical Checkout

Happily, I believe most of my issues above will be history on the next release. However, at the current pace, a working version of MS3 may be years away (someone correct me on this, please!)

[osCommerce4you.com]

The most of those mods are not necessary for a toy store. I think you should add mods when you need them ;)

[kzod]

Thanks Brush,

So your 'More Logical Checkout' can work in conjunction with the Fast Easy checkout mod? I had seen that one when searching through mods, but besides the "I don't use it" warning (smart idea), there wasn't much info on how it actually works / what it does.

 

Also, I just wanted to thank everyone over here for all the great work you've done in putting together an incredibly valuable development tool.

[Guest]

The most of those mods are not necessary for a toy store. I think you should add mods when you need them ;)

Is that a joke? The product line isn't relevant to this post at all. Everyone wants their business to be successful and an optimized cart will be better than stock by leaps and bounds. It amazes me that someone supposedly in the business of modifying and optimizing osC and forks of it would actually say something like this!

[Guest]

Thanks Brush,

So your 'More Logical Checkout' can work in conjunction with the Fast Easy checkout mod? I had seen that one when searching through mods, but besides the "I don't use it" warning (smart idea), there wasn't much info on how it actually works / what it does.

Some of these have seen development since i last used them. MLC just drops some of the pointless pages. PWA is an essential concept for stores. Folks no longer want to be forced to register. Spam, cross marketing and the sale of mailing lists has done that in. I believe the latest version of FEC now drops the registration requirement. It probably addresses the same steps as MLC and eliminates the need for both. I know Frank (nana) is a tireless coder and has done some very good things.

[osCommerce4you.com]

You must have a need of the contribution to install it. Otherwise the osCommerce will be too overloaded. More of that, some contributions are still rather buggy. So it will be hard for newbies to debug all.

 

Beware of contributions :devil: (Joke :lol: )

[kzod]

The most of those mods are not necessary for a toy store. I think you should add mods when you need them ;)

 

I agree that there is no point in overdoing things. But as a specialty party store with our own line of pre made loot bags, we have several co-vendors of our products that would find the affiliate mod very valuable, while helping us to attract a few more partners.

 

x-sell seems like a needed mod for virtually anyone with a large catalog store. In our case if you're buying superman party tableware, it allows us to recommend a superman costume, and a superman themed lootbag, etc...

 

Implementing the SEO mods seems like a no brainer as well...

 

so most of these mentioned mods add significant functionality, and will be used. Or is the problem that even with a knowledgable designer/programmer adding these contributions hurt stability? And if so, am I better off going to a more modded out cart like zen or x or cre?

[Guest]

I have dozens of Contribs as well as lots of hand butchering of the code and it has not been a problem with stability or load times. If you're on a weak host with limited bandwidth, you might consider avoiding it. Go with a good host and it won't be an issue. Backup your work regularly into files with the date as names. Document your contribution work compulsively. Research them to make sure they aren't buggy (yes, that's true, some are buggy).

After you think you're done, take your store out and drive it hard on bumpy roads. Try hard to break it. Let some others test drive it, too.

[kzod]

PWA is an essential concept for stores. Folks no longer want to be forced to register. Spam, cross marketing and the sale of mailing lists has done that in.

 

So how many pages does checkout take with the new contribs? And if I understand PWA correctly the standard osC cart required registration before allowing you to put items in the cart right? they still end up registering in checkout. But, I agree you need to make things as easy and non-invasive as possible to gain consumer confidence. The standard checkout was asking ridiculous questions like age. wth? Why should I care about my customers age? Guys who stuck with the original cart must have had terrible conversion stats, or a truly unique selling proposition. These are areas that I would have my designer take care of if they haven't already been done.

[osCommerce4you.com]

I made the toy store long ago, you can surf it to saw handy contribs

http://storkgifts.com/

[Guest]

So how many pages does checkout take with the new contribs? And if I understand PWA correctly the standard osC cart required registration before allowing you to put items in the cart right? they still end up registering in checkout. But, I agree you need to make things as easy and non-invasive as possible to gain consumer confidence. The standard checkout was asking ridiculous questions like age. wth? Why should I care about my customers age? Guys who stuck with the original cart must have had terrible conversion stats, or a truly unique selling proposition. These are areas that I would have my designer take care of if they haven't already been done.

You'll have to look into them. I haven't looked since last November, I think. PWA unregisters the info at the end of the shopping experience. That gets all of the payment and order data done, then eliminates the customer data. If they return, they have to start fresh. I think FEC gives the opportunity in the end to save the customer info or not (customer choice).

BTW: some folks do care about the age of their customers. That's easy to drop, though.

[kzod]

I made the toy store long ago, you can surf it to saw handy contribs

http://storkgifts.com/

 

Looks good to me. So what contribs did you include in there? Don't forget I'm still an osC noob, so I can't pick them all out.

 

Oh, and if my host offers shared SSL is that of any real value? Or will I still get warning pop-ups? If I need my own cerificate who's the best provider? My main concern is having those pop=up warnings that the certificate might not be right. I know that would scare me right off.

[osCommerce4you.com]

So what contribs did you include in there?

 

It was long ago so I don't remember them all now

 

 

My main concern is having those pop=up warnings that the certificate might not be right.

 

No concerns here. It is commonly used

[kzod]

Hmmmm, not sure I completely understand the point of no account, I mean they need to put in their e-mail for confirmation purposes, so it's just adding a password field and an opt in for future specials. I see that process as relatively invisible. Requiring registration before shopping would be terrible.

 

Have any of you experienced great conversion improvements due to not taking in a password? I figure that offering them the opportunity to not input email & password would make them think about your credibility, since that's a given at 99.9% of other web sites. It also is creating an extra step in the checkout process, which could create some extra though /hesitation from the consumer. But, this is just my initial reaction, from a guy who's never launched a proper online store before. If most people swear by the new PWA process, who am I to say otherwise?

[Guest]

Hmmmm, not sure I completely understand the point of no account, I mean they need to put in their e-mail for confirmation purposes, so it's just adding a password field and an opt in for future specials. I see that process as relatively invisible. Requiring registration before shopping would be terrible.

 

Yes, that's true and a huge difference can be had by simply changing the wording on your site. Definitely drop the Register part of the front page and never use that word again! Phrases like "My Info" or no title at all are better.

[Guest]

Since we are on the subject of checking out ...

 

My store is recently "live". I have the standard setup for checking out:

Create Account / Log into Account

Choose shipping

Choose Payment (via PayPal)

Return to site (hopefully) for confirmation.

 

I agree that the majority of 'seasoned' online shoppers are tired of registering for accounts all over the place just to buy something.

 

THis is what I'm looking for:

Give the customer the option to create an account while checking out.

Still need their e-mail and standard personal information for obvious reasons.

Would like logging into account (page refreshes after doing so) OR enter all pertinent personal information, shipping options and payment options to be on one page.

Still need to go to PayPal for actual payment.

And then the return confirmation page.

 

But that only cuts out one page really. Is that good enough?

 

If I do something like Fast Easy Checkout, how does that affect my current customer base. Will there be any conflicts?

[kzod]

Barbara, I don't know if you have the skill set to do it or not, but I just mentioned this in another thread, and am hoping thet my designer can make it work.

 

But, first and foremost you can't ask customers to register, then leave and check back in and continue. That is a HUGE pain in the arse. Unless you're giving away plasma tv's you're going to turn people off. My feeling is that you have them register, without naming it.

 

1)Just ask for name, billing address, shipping address (if different), e-mail (for confirmation,) an opt in box for future specials, and password. This will require some modding, but it requires no additional steps, is seamless, and relatively unobtrusive. You don't confirm their registration, just have the system log it somehow.

2) Payment option screen

3( Confirmation

 

That's what I'm used to dealing with from the stores I deal with, and I wouldn't appreciate any other jumping of hoops. For those in the states, I assume that Google checkout will be significantly better, and I would push all US Customers to go that route. I'm sure the initial order is fast, and subsequent orders painfully easy. Just what all of us should be looking for. I'm in Canada, so no such luck over here. Hopefully my designer can help clean up this checkout mess.

[kzod]

Anyone else looking for checkout discussions? See this thread http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129597

[Guest]

1)Just ask for name, billing address, shipping address (if different), e-mail (for confirmation,) an opt in box for future specials, and password. This will require some modding, but it requires no additional steps, is seamless, and relatively unobtrusive. You don't confirm their registration, just have the system log it somehow.

2) Payment option screen

3) Confirmation

 

Point #1 is exactly what I am looking for...I believe...if I'm visualizing that you said correctly. *grins* I do have the create account page setup exactly like that - very basic. Just name, address, phone, email, password, and newsletter option (though currently active). No: age, fax number, company name, etc.

 

I am kind of torn though - I like the confirmation of registering email (Welcome email) because it gives the customer their login details for safe keeping. Whereas, your solution above, doesn't give that opportunity and relies on the customer to scribble down their email login and password.

 

I wouldn't mind combining the shipping and payment screens, but with using Multi Vendor Shipping due to inventory supplied via drop shippers, I am not sure how feasible this would be ... With just 4 or so products, the shipping page can be long, then to add in payment afterwards???? Might make the page too long...although PayPal is the only available payment method.

 

See, with people having to leave the payment screen to go to paypal, they have to log into PP, do what they need to do there, and then come back for the checkout success page. We're talking 8 or so pages grand total??? I definately would like to stream it down to 5 or less if at all possible.

 

I just wish I was psychic and can predict if adding something like FEC or PWA would be what I'm looking for and functional with what I have going on or not. :blink: I HATE not knowing LOL. :rolleyes:

[Guest]

1)Just ask for name, billing address, shipping address (if different), e-mail (for confirmation,) an opt in box for future specials, and password. This will require some modding, but it requires no additional steps, is seamless, and relatively unobtrusive. You don't confirm their registration, just have the system log it somehow.

fast easy checkout does specifically this and sends them a registration link in their order confirmation if they wish to register at a later date

 

you will still encounter problems with users that don't fully checkout when using paypal, but i just use master password and do it for them, without them ever knowing :)

 

 

fec also doesn't touch your current customer base; aside from inserting a table into each customer profile that's invisible to them.

 

 

what fec basically does is create a silent account and blocks them from using it until they click the activation link. if they never click it, it appears to them as though they never registered before. if they decide to come back one day and buy again, you can either generate their registration link or just by going through the normal checkout process a duplicate account will be created and nullifying the old one(s)

[Guest]

HMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

ewww - I think you just sold me on this contribution. I downloaded it last night for safe keeping just in case.

 

Does anyone have a screen shot of their checkout screens using this contribution? I just want to make sure that the page that the customer fills out with their personal details is what I'm looking for. Are the e-mail and passwords field set as *required?

 

I have the Master Password contribution downloaded also, was recommended to me for the same reason as ewww mentioned concerning PayPal....just have to install that one also....just hate doing anything in myPHPAdmin cause I have no clue what I'm doing in there LOL.

[Guest]

the creator of fec (nana) has a test shop here: http://www.seelily.com/fec/ there's three different options you can use, so what he has as default isn't necessarily the end all of the contribution.. he's linked the 3 different options on the front page for easy finding to test all options

[Guest]

ewww - thank you!

 

The 3rd link's page seems messed up, but I got the gist of it.

 

The first one looks nearly identical in layout as to mine. I love the "click here to sign in" and the sign in box drops down... and the create account at the end. I think I'm gonna go with that one since it's just really adding those two aspects to my current page.

 

Thank you for pointing that out!

[kzod]

Hey, I'm glad this thread was put back in place. FEC is definitely the right idea. The third screen has no login capability apparently or the means to create an account, so I'd rule that one out.

 

The 1st one is nearly perfect, but I'd like the ability to include a seperate shipping address on the initial screen (you need to wait til the last screen to get that opportunity). That seems flawed, and may cause concern for those who have a wor billing address and home shipping...

 

The 2nd one does this perfectly, but needs to have the headers cleaned up. The existing customer login looks like it's part of a new customer login. If it's possible to change the headers yourself, I'd take this one but relabel the top box "Existing Customer login"

 

Then have a clear seperation to a new headline with "New Customer login".

 

Assuming that's doable, I'd go on to change the create an account box? with "Password", leaving no options, or things to think about. Again leaving a password isn't personal, it's the e-mail, home address and payment data that people should be nervous about handing over. I can't imagine that this would lower conversions, but again I haven't done this before. I'm just talking from a business and psychological standpoint, I don't see cause for concern.

 

Ok, one possible problem with this scenario... does checkout 2 work? When I clicked check to use billing info, nothing happened and it didn't accept.