Where are the smaller orders?

Real comments from a client.

[pageoneresults]

Client: "This time last year we had quite a few smaller orders. What's going on?"

Me: "What, you mean to tell me that the dollar volume generated through the store last year was more than this year?"

Client: "No, I meant that we had more smaller orders this time last year. Don't get me wrong, the dollar value this year is far greater than last year, thank you."

Me: "Hmmm, let me see what I can do to bring in some of those smaller orders that you are looking for."

Okay, my client is a bit old fashioned and not real Internet savvy. He'll send me comments sometimes and I just have to wonder. So, what do you think happens? The last 10+ orders have all been smaller dollar values, I swear. The activity hasn't been like this since I took over.

I sent him an email just now with a little bit of humor. Knowing him, he'll respond back and ask me to turn it off.

Me: "Good morning. Ask and ye shall receive. I know you were complaining about not getting any smaller dollar value orders so I turned on the "Small Order Value" function. Works pretty good too, doesn't it?"

I of course attached the last 10 "small dollar value" orders so he could see. That should start his week off with a smile. :)

[akmac]

Has he added inventory in the last year that may have skewed his numbers downward?

I've noticed that our average ticket sale has decreased in the last year-largely due to the fact that we've added many less expensive items.

Now that you remind me, I think I'll turn up the sales dial again for the remainder of the year ;-).

[King_Fisher]

Typical merchant, he wants all the orders big and small. He's not looking at

the volume, he is looking for the action!...KF

[pageoneresults]

Hehehe, the client has a sense of humor too. In response to my above email...

Client: "Funny, now can you turn on the smaller order function that chooses the ones I have in stock. 9 out of 10 of those items I don't have and had to order."

The trials and tribulations of a small local ecommerce client. :)

[LifeinAsia]

Client: "Funny, now can you turn on the smaller order function that chooses the ones I have in stock. 9 out of 10 of those items I don't have and had to order."

Unfortunately, the way the code is written, turning that switch on will force the small order switch to be turned back off, negating the previous fix. :)

[jsinger]

You can shape average order size by the way you charge for shipping.

We use flat rate shipping which penalizes small orders and acts as a discount to large buyers. Graduated shipping rates SHOULD get you more small orders which not every site wants to encourage.