Comments on: Stop asking users to register before checking out http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out Advice on web design and digital strategy from Paul Boag Tue, 21 May 2013 11:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: J. Ky Marsh http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9648 J. Ky Marsh Thu, 03 May 2012 15:50:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9648 People saying that it “doesn’t take much more effort to enter a password” in addition to regular ordering information are missing the point.

It’s not about effort required. It’s about creating an account for a user that is very likely will never be used again.

I make a lot of one-off purchases on websites that I know I won’t be buying from again in the near future. I don’t want an account lying around for a website I never intend on buying something from again. It’s e-clutter, and it’s absolutely unnecessary.

If you want my money, you won’t force me to take steps that will result in something that’s unneeded, and that’s going to piss me off. Otherwise, I’ll buy somewhere else.

]]> By: J. Ky Marsh http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9647 J. Ky Marsh Thu, 03 May 2012 15:43:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9647 I disgree with you. I really DO think the numbers are that high.

I literally will leave a site if any form of registration is required anywhere during the purchasing process. I could be asked identical information between ordering and registration, and even so, I will leave the site.

It’s not about the EFFORT of entering information. It’s about having a myriad of accounts lying around that I’ll likely never use again, and won’t be able to remember the login information for. It’s irritating, and it’s unnecessary.

]]> By: Danny Halarewich http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9646 Danny Halarewich Wed, 02 May 2012 18:08:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9646 What we’ve done at LemonStand is provide a mechanism to combine checkout/registration. You are already asking the same questions during checkout. Why separate the two? Why not just make it a seamless experience for the customer not get in their way, but give them the benefit of having an account after?

What our customers have done is:

1) Generate a password, and send it to the customer via email. This then becomes their account “welcome” email.

2) Include a password + pass confirm field in the checkout somewhere, and use this as their new account password. You can include a small chunk of text explaining why you’re asking for it, and even make it optional. It normally results in customers signing up.

This seems to have been working great for merchants using LemonStand.

]]> By: Leonard Peris http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9645 Leonard Peris Wed, 02 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9645 It’s even more annoying when you have go to your email, to “authorize” the newly created account.

]]> By: Leonard Peris http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-10195 Leonard Peris Wed, 02 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-10195 It’s even more annoying when you have go to your email, to “authorize” the newly created account.

]]> By: CoffeeKing http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9644 CoffeeKing Wed, 02 May 2012 13:54:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9644 We ask customer to register at the beginning of the checkout process and outline the benefits of registration, but we don’t require it. While registration after checkout would appear less intrusive, many of the benefits of registration – for example, loyalty points, shipping discounts, etc., – could not be applied to a customer’s first order if it was already processed before registration.

]]> By: Ben Graves http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9643 Ben Graves Wed, 02 May 2012 12:36:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9643 How do you stop a customer registering with someone else’s email address and then getting access to the previously created virtual account?

]]> By: Ian Turner http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9642 Ian Turner Wed, 02 May 2012 12:21:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9642 To me it’s like dating, no-one really wants to make a lasting commitment on a first date. (Unless its not really a first date but rather just a first purchase after they have had extended interaction with your site previously) You should probably ask nicely if you can call them again. Then you could always ask them if they want to have an extended relationship by creating an account but be gracious if they say no. If they have a good experience the first time they will probably come back. If they have a difficult time purchasing from your site they won’t. Negative impressions are far more lasting than positive ones.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-9641 Ian Turner Wed, 02 May 2012 12:07:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-9641 Do Amazon allow you to overwrite an account with a new email address even if the address is different? I can understand why they would allow you overwrite it but it seems to somewhat defeat the object of creating the account in the firstplace.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://boagworld.com/usability/stop-asking-users-to-register-before-checking-out/#comment-10194 Ian Turner Wed, 02 May 2012 12:07:00 +0000 http://boagworld.com/?p=7823#comment-10194 Do Amazon allow you to overwrite an account with a new email address even if the address is different? I can understand why they would allow you overwrite it but it seems to somewhat defeat the object of creating the account in the firstplace.

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