The Great Big Register User Question

[claireg]

If you only want logins for a few regular customer Claire, the easiest way to create the account is to open up one of their orders, go to the customer tab and use the create account button to create the account based on the details in there.

Yeah, we just needed away for them to give their own password, rather than us make one up for them, but I will take all the info I've got here and see what we can come up with

Thanks everyone for your suggestions

(And keep them coming if there are anymore!)

[leehack]

Well on our site it doesn't have to be mandatory just handy for regular customers to not to have to enter their details each time.

I've never had to enter my details a second time on an actinic site (which is the ballache part) as cookies remember it for me.

[leehack]

If it was optional and you got a discount for doing so would you login?

If i could remember the password and the discount was significant then yes undoubtedly. I have a couple of logins to actinic sites where i can get a 30-50% discount, so i would always use that. But if i was going to save 5% and was ordering £50-60 worth of goods, i wouldn't bother if i couldn't recall the password. As i think of something, i like to get it done there and then or i forget and i am annoyed next week when i need it. Saving a few quid is far outweighed by paying a bit more and getting it done now for me.

2.5% or 5% discounts never cease to amaze me to be honest, i can't think of anything less appealing as an apparent positive for me. 10% is absolute minimum in my eyes, realistically i am looking for a genuine 15-25% to catch my attention.

[ackerman]

I also hate logins, as I can never remember them.
I would not normally put one on a site, but I currently am working on a site which will be for account customers only, so no card details will be collected.
I don't know whether to have a simple login, or just accept that we may have to vet the orders to check they do have an account.
I prefer a simple login, as I can then prevent other people from seeing the prices.
Any views appreciated?

[leehack]

If you are running an exclusive club Brian, then make people feel exclusive and get them to login IMO. I'm talking general everyday websites, not specialist or hidden ones.

Have a look at your login page too and think about how you can make it more interesting, make peoples eyes light up not roll would be my best bit of advice. Get creative with this page and you can solve almost 99% of the negativity attached to logging in.

[ackerman]

Thanks for the advice Lee. Still in thought mode for this site at the mo.
It would be a specialized site though, only to be used for schools and teachers who have credit accounts with us (hence no cards taken). I don't want others to see any special prices really, but also want it easy to login.

[RuralWeb]

2.5% or 5% discounts never cease to amaze me

But they do work and people use them all the time when buying. Setting it at 5% also allows you to up the discount from time to time. But it depends on margins etc IMO at 40 - 50% discount you are loosing if you give it all the time

[Fairyglass]

I set up a trade site (using Actinic) where buyers have to log in to see prices. Over the year it's been running, I've had one order from it- everyone just phones or e-mails instead. I've had numerous problems with retailers trying to log in and passwords not being accepted, and I've certainly lost orders as a result. I'll be changing the site in the near future as IMO this system does NOT work.

If you're wanting a log in just so the customer doesn't have to enter their details each time, then the customer already has the option in checkout to tick the box marked "remember me" which will store their details anyway. On my retail sites I have many repeat customers, none of whom have ever complained about having to add their details each time.

As Lee says, if I am obliged to register for a site before making a purchase, I usually won't do it either- it's fine if it's my choice, but I don't like divulging information needlessly just so they can set their marketing machine on me!

Ben

[RuralWeb]

which will store their details anyway

If you set your cookie expiry times well then they will never have to enter thier details again and this system worke better than having to login.

There are also lots of other things you can do with the cookies like it remembering thier shipping location so it automatically shows thier delivery costs