Providing a registration option during checkout

What are you thoughts on this now?

[spica42]

Hi,

I'm in the mist of building a new commence site using wpsc and I noticed that there's an option to allow my buyers to register for an account on my ecommence site.

Naturally even if I choose this option, I'll NOT make it mandatory for the customers to register. They will still have the option of a quick checkout.

I have never felt the need to provide this option, but after looking around I noticed that almost 90% of the ecommence sites nowadays have the option to allow their buyers to register on their site.

What is the purpose of creating accounts for my customers? My customers are still able to track their purchases using an email link I'll send to them once I send out their parcel so I don't think this is for tracking purposes.

I'll like to hear your thoughts on this as whatever I can find from this forum was from years ago. :)

[topr8]

... i think this is one of those situations where just because everyone else is doing it - it doesn't make it right.

the way i look at it from my own personal experience is that i can never remember my password and log in info at a later date, so it is a waste of time - sure i can for amazon, but i shop there a lot, am i going to shop from you a lot or not?

in several years of ecommerce where i do get repeat customers i've only ever had one person message me a bit annoyed that i didn't have a log in system that remembered all her personal info.

i also think that there is a privacy timebomb waiting to explode - especially if you track peoples movements through your site and associate those movements with personal details (not tommorow, but one day)

[morehawes]

I would say it depends on the type of customers you are hoping to get - if they will mostly be one-off customers then it's probably not worth it but repeat ones may like being able to checkout quickly which may in turn help you to build up good customer relations and more repeat business. Just think about easy it is to buy from Amazon - a few clicks and you just parted with your hard earned cash!

[jsinger]

Good Question:

Personally I never register when I shop online. But we offer registration for our customers who are often businesses who buy repeatedly from us.

Maybe 1/4 of our business is done with people/companies who register. We don't store CC info but our cart could do that. We save only product order info and ship/bill addresses. I know some customers would be irritated if we didn't offer registration.

One thing is for sure. Let customers clearly know they don't HAVE to register to shop and buy.

[morehawes]

One thing is for sure. Let customers clearly know they don't HAVE to register to shop and buy.

Good point - and also let them clearly know if you are storing their details.

[ssgumby]

We have the option to register or not, a large percentage of our checkouts do in fact register .. probably around 80%. These are frequent repeat customers who like the fact they can come back and checkout literally withing 1 minute on a return visit.

[mattb]

We give them the option to register on the receipt page. That way there is no barrier to order.

[jwolthuis]

... and also let them clearly know if you are storing their details.

Isn't it necessary to store the details of an order? First name, last name, phone number, address where they probably sleep at night... I store it all in order to fulfill an order. Seems a little over the top to disclose that to them.

[ssgumby]

We give them the option to register on the receipt page. That way there is no barrier to order.

Ive seen this method before and liked it. Basically I placed an order (I think it was 1800flowers) and after I was completed it sent me to a page where I could register. Also, in my receipt I got it had a link explaining the benefits of registering and when I clicked the link it took me to a page where I could then register with my email.

[rocknbil]

My customers are still able to track their purchases using an email link I'll send to them once I send out their parcel so I don't think this is for tracking purposes.

So if I know your scheme, I can throw some numbers at it and pull up someone else's order, be there waiting to steal it? Sounds insecure to me.

Back to the Q., registration optional for the purpose of

- Speedy checkout on return, log in to pre-populate most info (not CC info, of course.) Customers do use this, filling out forms really is tiresome.

- Check on order status, I wouldn't think of using the method above for checking an order.

The entire registration process is transparent and optional.

[samc]

-check on previous ordered products=easy reorder. Always should be an option, not required.