posted on February 6, 2005 11:37:45 AM new
One necessary feature should be that the checkout summary is emailed to us. I could use that copy for accounting and then use the invoice for a packing slip... will also then know what checks or money orders to be waiting for. I am surprised this is not already an option since the WBN can be copied to myself(I don't know what use that is though... there is no information in it, a completed checkout email would be much more useful and save me having to login all the time to get customers information for entries into quickbooks).
posted on February 6, 2005 11:51:36 AM new
Most of the new Checkout looks great, but like many others have said, most of the important information, like shipping costs and options, is located too far down the page, and a lot of buyers just won't scroll down to look for it. And also, I think that the payment options should be available to be selected sometime earlier int he process.
One other thing that I was wondering about: A lot of my buyers fill out their shipping information and opt to use PayPal, but they don't want to pay at the time that they fill the form out. Is there any way, if they select PayPal as a payment option, that they can fill in the shipping info and their address and confirm the order, without having to pay right away?
posted on February 6, 2005 05:23:19 PM new
I sell out-of-print and rare books that can't be sent via Global Priority because the envelopes aren't big enough. Here's what I need for my customers:
two international shipping options: USPS Airmail Letter Post and Surface Mail. There is a big difference in cost and delivery time. I add the cost for my shipping materials to the rates. Eventhough it's only .65 cents, I don't want my buyers to see that mark up.
To eliminate customer confusion, the options have to be minimal. Also, some buyers don't know that you have to click on the option to set it. If they scroll down the page, the option changes without them knowing it.
posted on February 6, 2005 08:10:39 PM new
I noticed on the sample checkout that, when a customer clicks on another store item to look at it, there doesn't seem to be a quick link back to checkout. As many customers seem to be easily confused by checkout anyway, I'd like to make it as easy as possible for them.
[ edited by tperry7121 on Feb 6, 2005 08:12 PM ]
Here are some thoughts on the various pages, options, etc...
International calculation needs to be added for sure. Without this it is like taking a half step toward fullfiling needs.
There needs to be a way of forcing residential as the shipping method for UPS as the cost back on the shipper if the customer makes a mistake is a pain and exspensive.
Also I did not see where the handling/packaging costs is added to the order. For the most part this should be added to the shipping that they sellect and not a line item.
When offering combined discounts for shiping is there a way to say that a certain item is not eligable for combined (such as to large, drop shipped, etc.)
A method for not allowing insurance to some countrys is required or if the calculator will do this automaticly preferably. Most South american and some european countrys do not allow insurance.
The page that talks about "eBay Shipping and Payment Details". Can this be ignored if you wish to only use vendio checkout?
Upsell items needs to be very obvious otherwise it is a pointless thing to setup. I have seen where other web storefronts put the upsell items on the left or right side in such a way that they can not be missed.
I like the fact that the store index is on the left.
If posible to put the upsell items along the right or above the checkout button. Maybe make it an option that the store owner can sellect where they want the items to be?
The insurance options on the checkout page are confusing (it shows one item with required and the other with optional). This should have a note for why or leave it blank and have insurance at the bottom for the to sellect for the whole order.
The payment via credit card needs to have an option where the ship to needs to be the same as the billing address to cut down fraud.
I am unsure if that will work with the timiing of when they enter the credit card information and have allready typed a ship to address 3 pages before.
The final screen needs to show my biz name with the address and the name of the person who is purchasing. Seems silly to not have it.
Will there be an option for the shipping calculator to be added to the auctions automaticly so that the customers can click a button to see costs? With the new calculators this hopefully will be an option otherwise we will still have to deal with customers wanting to know what costs will be.
My customers hate having to fill out information if thier address is in paypal. Are you saying that the customer does not have to enter data and if so how is the shipping calculated?
Its nice to see that these long overdue options are finaly coming. I may be able to bring more business thru vendio now.
posted on February 7, 2005 11:40:00 AM new
Apparently this still hasn't occured to you all at Vendio, but not all of us are located in the US. Nearly all of the improvements are completely useless to us. Actually the Sales Tax "improvement" will mean that our store can no longer use it. How about an Ontario sales tax option?? Whatever, we're moving in May anyway. Vendio is far too international unfriendly. Still don't even have Australian states listed for checkout, let alone shipping options like: Canadian Lettermail, or Xpresspost, or Purolator etc. etc.
posted on February 7, 2005 11:53:54 AM new
LOL Hey, Vendio. Did you think you'd open such a big can of worms as this? Now I know why it's taken so long to make changes. Come on, folks! Let's do this a little at a time, and sorry to International sellers, but give them a break!!! Vendio, you are absolutely not going to make everyone happy here, so just do your best to do the things that seem to be popping up the most. I actually liked the idea of receiving an email once the buyer goes through the check-out. That would be a great addition. It will alert me to comments that I might miss otherwise, as I don't always go into the check-out to see what my buyers are saying, if anything. Most are paying with paypal and I just deal with the payment as it comes in. A lot of times they do make a comment that I really need to know about, but time constraints do not allow me to go back and forth and check. Somtimes they want me to ship to a different address and don't bother to show it in the paypal payment itself and don't say anything in the comments section of the payment, so I end up sending to the wrong address. Doesn't happen too often, but has in the past. Anyway, that would be a really good addition to the process, so I hope you will consider that.
posted on February 7, 2005 12:19:09 PM new
Yes, once again... please add email copy of checkout summary... the customer is already getting this so it should not be too difficult to cc the email to the seller as well. Would be welcome in place of the wbn copy, which I have yet to find a use for.
posted on February 8, 2005 07:15:13 AM new
Thanks all for taking part in this discussion. While we are reading and considering all the suggestions you have made, I will comment below only on some of the points. Your replies, and more feedback, are welcomed!
List of shipping services
We can definitely add more shipping services to the drop-down fields, if many sellers are using them. You can always use the 3 free form fields for your preferred services; these choices there are a valuable indicator of what services should move into the list.
International shipping
- We will consider adding calculated shipping services for international shipping.
- For sellers shipping from outside the US, please consider using the free form fields. There are 3 fields for shipping to US, and 3 for shipping outside the US. Agreed, this is less than optimal for shipping to your home country.
Insurance required and optional
You will be able to set the Insurance option (optional, required, not offered, even price) per individual item. The case shown in the sample checkout is that of a 2-item order: for one of them, the seller requires insurance, for the other it is optional. While we assume that such a case will not be frequent, we will look into ways of rendering it in a more obvious manner in the buyer checkout.
Checkout
The checkout flow is based on these (and other) considerations:
- Shipping Options are a function of the buyer's Shipping Address
- The shipping address is needed to calculate shipping costs, whatever the payment method the buyer intends to use
- The payment method is chosen after the Grand Total was computed
- The checkout should work for as many browsers as possible.
- If a page does not need any buyer action it will be skipped: repeat buyers will not see the Shipping Address page; if there is only 1 shipping option the Shipping Options page is skipped; and of course the cart page will not be shown if the seller has not activated it and is not using cross-selling or a Vendio Store.
We will add a "business" vs. "commercial" indicator to the checkout page, though the concern that some buyers might choose "business" in error is valid.
We will also look into all your suggestions about the positioning of sections and controls on the page.
Direct credit card payments only work with Verisign. If you use other processors, or do offline processing, please let us know.
mandaray3: you can set credits on the Fulfillment Checklist page. This feature exsts already and no changes are planned; we just illustrated where credits (if they exist) are shown in the checkout flow.
anteaks4you: buyers are redirected to PayPal, but they are not required to pay at once. Their order is still marked as complete and they can return for payment later.
talkntel: the system of discounts for additional items is just an extension of the existing system. The global discount settings will apply by default, but you will also have the option to override them for specific items and carriers (ffering free shipping for some, not discounting others etc.).
evadsales: sure, you can ignore "eBay Shipping and Payment Details"; the shipping calculator can already be attached automatically if you are using USPS calculated services; handling cost (markup) are added to the shipping cost.
rpm757: for registered mail, would simply adding the Insurance (required) option work?
posted on February 8, 2005 08:36:52 AM new
I have looked over the checkout process and I am very pleased. You have made some great improvements. The sales tax calculation is the most useful for me.
I also like that the payment type is chosen at the end. It is consistent with the eBay checkout which will not confuse the customers. And we all know that is not hard to do.
I hope that you will go live with it soon and not make us wait for all the changes suggested above. I think adding too much at once would cause a lot of confusion on the part of the sellers. You can't please everyone and some of us have been patiently waiting for the changes you have made for a long time.
Debbie
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on February 8, 2005 12:09:09 PM new
Hi, since I am new at this, the features that are shown here are answers to alot of my questions. The changes that are proposed, should be advantagous for both buyers and sellers.
posted on February 8, 2005 07:20:22 PM new
Just a different opinion on receiving a copy of the wbn. I would prefer to get one.
I get a few bidders every week who claim they never received any notice from me. I find that it is very convenient to forward my copy from my email, along with a pasted "...here is a copy of the email I sent yesterday..." note. I know I could copy the wbn from the program, but without the headers in the forwarding process, they would probably think I never sent it to begin with. (It would also be more tedious a process.)
posted on February 8, 2005 07:57:36 PM new
I like the new checkout,[less pages possibly? like 2-3 ]
anything to make it SIMPLE EASY FAST is basicly what my customers want.
I've had lots of complains,mainly repeats of what I've read in this post.
Unsure if vendio's checkout is safe-
am I collecting personal info to sell/use later? etc.
I LOVE THE IDEA of 'what is vendio's' link right at the TOP of page to explain SSL etc.
THAT'S A WINNER.
Other thing I hear;direct to paypal is so much faster/easier....so they bypass checkout completely to pay instantly at close...
A few ideas;
one would be a FREE SHIP BUTTON
on two or more wins,I do one time flat rate of $3.00 for jewelry first class,any additional wins ship free-so a
ship choice of *FREE*
would be a godsent,I have to combine these wins manually now..UGH~!
Other idea: is same as posted here,a location for internationals...same as mentioned here, the rate VARY WIDELY by location,.
I LOVE THE IDEA of not showing internationals USA SHIP RATE they ALWAYS choose the lower USA ship fee,incorrectly
and then I have to refund,the payment..send a updated correct international ship rate paypal invoice.....nightmares.
I've used your service for 5 years for a reason,you always update,tweak,get it right-a VERY HAPPY CUSTOMER,
posted on February 9, 2005 07:59:03 PM new
Your changes may fit the needs of wheeler dealers but for me they only complicate my life. Can I still sell using vendio and still send my old fashion personal emails, figure my own postage, give my own address and request theirs, in other words do I have to use automatic checkouts or can I continue the way I have been selling the past 4 years as I empty out my barn and sheds. I am not a business I am a senior just enjoying communicating with my buyers and offering good customer 1 on 1 service. Check my 100% positive feedback, my customers love it. Can I opt out of check out?
Can I not choose either help plan for help.
It is cheaper for me to just eat the insertion ebay fees if a customer doesn't pay than to pay $4.95 a month as I don't need to ask that many questions, no two calls a year much less a month. Can I still sell if I don't choose either plan. Sounds to me like you folks are getting as greedy as ebay. Your changes may be great for big business and wheeler dealers but not us senior peddlers emptying out our treasures and making it so dam difficult you have to pay for help. If I want to sell internationally I do so and communicate 1 on 1 and don't want someone telling me how I will ship or anything else. I don't give discounts either I give the stuff away as it is. Thanks
posted on February 10, 2005 02:38:19 PM new
I like the new checkout, but there are a couple of things I don't understand. Why do we ask for their email address??? That should be the easiest thing to capture from eBay, unless I'm missing something. And did you say in your announcement that you will be capturing buyer's address? THAT would be really handy. It looks like they STILL have to input their address, even if paying with PayPal--who DOES have their address. Since you are capturing info from PayPal, maybe the address could come from there. Or is there a way to bypass the address thing when checking out using PayPal? I know it seems insignificant, to type your address for each purchase, but it isn't to my buyers.
Thanks for all the efforts, though. It does look better. Luann
posted on February 10, 2005 05:34:54 PM new
I like the current automation of managing the notifications and responses to my buyers and your efforts to simplify their checkout activities would be very helpful.
I get a large number of people who have had problems trying to make the checkout system work, give-up, and then end-up sending me another email or two requesting assistance or totals. They then bypass the checkout system entirely and either send a check / money order or go directly to PayPal to do a manual payment.
They also like to pay immediately after the items closes and not 15 - 20 minutes later. When they do combine several items with individual shipping costs, I have to issue refunds for the cost of postage for their entire order. This does add more work for me trying to match-up their payments to the correct items and refund the excess shipping.
The proposed changes are a start, but more simplification is what the buyers really want.
posted on February 11, 2005 09:22:46 PM new
Checkout looks good. I would like to see fewer pages to click through to complete the checkout. One page is ideal!
posted on February 11, 2005 09:39:00 PM new
I work with Linkpoint for my gateway through Cardservice International. Being able to intergrate listing, management with my gateway would be Perfect! And, you would be the only ones offering it in conjuction with management, hosting, listing ect. Adding Linkpoint to your management would be a strong addition, not only I would use this, but many others would use as well. Hope to see this soon!!
posted on February 11, 2005 11:30:28 PM new
Even under the " International Carrier " option, all the Carrier are from the US itself, so how could I do a simple in-put for a first-class service carrier or even the basic Post Office Register Airmail option from my country which is out the USA for my customer ?
There are thousands & thousands of Vendio user in many other countries outside USA using their own countries shipping carrier, but they can't even in-put a simple Post Office service in the check-out. So how do the Vendio's team expect people like me and the rest who are not from the US benifits from the checkout enhancements ? Impossible, I will still use eBay checkout directly.
posted on February 13, 2005 01:31:06 PM new
THE NEW SHIPPING FEATURES SEEM TO BE OK.BUT I AM MISSING AN OPTION FOR USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION.I ONLY SHIP WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION AND NEED TO ADD THE 55 CENT ( OR 45 CENT WITH PRIORITY MAIL) TO THE CALCULATED SHIPPING.I WANT MY BUYERS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING CHARGED FOR THE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION AND NOT FOR HANDLING.MABAY YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.EBAY DOESN`T OFFER THIS FEATURE AND I REALLY THINK IT`S TIME TO LET THE BUYERS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BEING CHARGED FOR.
posted on February 14, 2005 09:09:34 AM new
Thank you Vendio, for the response to comments thus far. However, there have been numerous requests for FedEx shipping integration. Is that a possibility? If I could ask for one single improvement, it would be that. (Though not forcing the customer to input shipping each time is a very welcome change!)
posted on February 14, 2005 09:42:28 AM new
I started selling thru the store and I noticed that I get an order summary emailed to me if ebay customers add a store item during checkout. That is the type of summary I would like to get for every checkout, not just ones that include store items.
posted on February 15, 2005 07:41:20 PM new
Looks very good overall, only MAJOR concern is that Vendio is still asking us to pay for printing shipping labels when Ebay/Paypal or just straight Clik-n-Ship is free. Does ANYONE actually use this? I would really like it integrated so that the whole end of deal works seamlessly and smoothly.
posted on February 16, 2005 06:23:24 AM new
Hopefully, the international shipping calculator will be great! But, I took a quick look at it, and I hope it's not to confusing for my customers. If they can get thier international shipping rates, it will save me a TON of email. I hope it won't cause more emails.
posted on February 16, 2005 06:57:11 AM new
It would be nice if you offered USPS international Surface and Airmail options in addition to USPS priority/parcel/media on checkout - so many times I have had a person checkout and when they entered in their country they were given USA mailing rates - the new checkout is nice - but if you sell internationally it doesnt help you at all
posted on February 16, 2005 08:31:08 PM new
Have I made this up, or have some of the sellers overlooked that Vendio has included blank spaces in the shipping option areas (3 in US options and 3 in international) where you can fill in the name of WHATEVER shipper you want, then insert the cost of that method. For example, couldn't you just fill in "Uncle Fred" as the shipper in the blank box under "carrier," then fill in that he charges $50 for delivery, and this is what your buyers would see as an option during checkout?...Or am I crazy? If I'm right, it seems that this would be a step toward helping out those using Vendio outside the US (I think they may not have noticed this feature had been added) .
2 more comments:
I realize that buyers can click "Pay at Paypal" and DO NOT have to pay right then, but it would be nice if there was a note explaining they can pay later even if they click the "Pay now at Paypal" button. I would think if they didn't want to pay right then, they'd quit the checkout process at that point, thinking they might be forced to pay immediately if they clicked the button.
Lastly, I would love it if on the final page there was a reminder for buyers to include the item # if they are sending a check or money order. I'm always amazed that buyers fail to do this...Apparently they assume I only sell one thing at a time!
THANKS SO MUCH, VENDIO! I think these improvements are fabulous and I truly, truly appreciate all the hard work that has gone into everything. I love that Vendio listens so much to its users!..The same cannot be said for most companies out there.
[ edited by mandaray3 on Feb 16, 2005 08:32 PM ]
[ edited by mandaray3 on Feb 16, 2005 08:33 PM ]
posted on February 19, 2005 04:53:03 PM new
I think it's an excellent step in the right direction. Question I have is that if you put a mark-up in here, but there is not one in Paypal, people go around the system and pay on Paypal directly. It's then impossible to tell them they owe you $1.00 more for "handling" - ha! Any good way around this. I pack lots of glass and things that need extra attention. Thanks!
posted on February 20, 2005 10:39:01 PM new
A few comments on your new system. First, I do alot of international shipping of small items (stamps and coins), in which I use USPS Global Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes. Any way you could add Global Priority Mail to the system? I do like the USP and FedEx calculated shipping, cheer's. Also like the combined shipping feature, cheer's again. As the system is currently, when I provide a fixed shipping charge with lets say USPS First Class Mail, when a international buyer check's out they can and in my experience do check out with my US shipping charges. I then have to request more money from them because they have not payed for international shipping, very frustrating and time consuming. Hope the checkout system is easier for them also as I do get quite a few complaints about it being so complicated when compared to ebay's checkout, especially that they have to enter all of their shipping address info, where if they used ebay it is already there. Is there some way that Vendio's system can import shipping information from either paypal or ebay? I hope the changes come soon, I can't wait!
posted on February 23, 2005 02:30:34 AM new
In australia we have paymate. we can accept payments by credit cards from most countries. except places like nigeria and indonesia. and i personally can accept credit cards direct without going thru anyone like paypal or any of those american companies. i do the clearance thru my bank. also in your shipping section we have to click on links for america. this does not suit us here in australia, and a lot of other countries. as it really is not relevant.
vendio, dont forget the rest of the world and dont just concentrate on things for america. a lot of your customers do not reside in america. the outside world is a big place. a lot bigger then america. so please consider all of us in new ideas.
posted on February 26, 2005 10:47:42 AM new
One nagging problem is that people do not notice the payment type box and accidentally go thru checkout with money order selected. And then I need to reset checkout and send payment link again. Could you change the default setting to paypal or at least make the default setting something that the seller can set.
