The Emporium Plus Tool Kit now has two methods for the EZ Basket Save and Restore functions. Both methods provide the shopper with a persistent basket which can be easily retrieved in the future. The store sets the saved basket length which can limit how many products are saved. Older items are dropped off the end if the length is exceeded. New items are added to the beginning. The saved products do not affect inventory. The items are removed from inventory only when the shopper comes back and restores the saved basket to a live basket and then completes the order. The saved basket even includes the attributes and options so that when it is restored, the shopper does not need to stop and fill in the missing attributes. The save basket method you choose for your store depends on your customer type, e.g. do they create accounts and are they likely to click a button to save the basket. Technically you can use both methods in a single store but it might be confusing to customers to do that.
1) Customers can save their basket to a custom customer field by clicking a single button, usually on the basket contents page or on their account page or both. This method requires that the customer has an account and is logged in. There is no expiration limit. This method is handy for customers who want to study their purchase options and perhaps share their choices with partners or their purchasing department. They can even discuss the basket with store personnel who are able to login as the customer with the Tool Kit override customer password routine. This save basket method allows customers or store personnel to create "development" accounts and have a different saved basket in each.
2) Basket contents are automatically saved to a cookie as items are added to the basket. Normally the token to run the automatic save is placed on the basket contents page, so the customer does need to visit that page in order for the action to occur. The store sets the expiration limit, e.g. 30 days. This method limits the basket to a single end user computer since the cookie is stored on their hard drive. Hence, the customer cannot share the basket with others unless that specific customer logs in, restores the basket, and then shares their account login with the others. If the customer uses multiple browsers or computers they can have a different saved basket within the cookies of each browser.
Both methods store the exact same information; one in a custom customer field and the other in a browser cookie. The shopper can use a single button click to restore the entire saved basket to the live basket. If some of the items are out of stock, the restore function recognizes both regular and attribute level inventory, so it displays a message for each out of stock item which could not be added to the basket. The shopper can display the saved basket contents using Miva Merchant's store morph technology in the page templates with an individual add/buy button on each item along with the button to add all at once. You can see how the display (cookie method used here) looks by visiting the test store at http://www.pinemporium.com/SFNT.html in the lower left category column. Put some products in the basket and view the basket contents page. If you select a couple software products, you will see how the attribute/options work and the inclusion of the alsobought link (++). Then click the Clear Basket button so the basket is deleted. Return to the storefront to see the display and test the restore back to basket functions.
The EZ Basket Save and Restore functions work well with other Emporium Plus programs. If you are using the Restock Shelves module to send "sale saver" emails with coupons to customers and you are using the cookie save basket method, you could include a link that would restore their basket if they return to your store with the browser they had previously visited with. If you are using the Tool Kit "alsobought" function, you can include a link in the saved baskets display for each product that has products which were also bought with the primary product. This gives you an advanced marketing strategy to increase sales for items which are often bought with the primary product. This recommendation engine presents products which are more likely to be purchased than the standard related products, as it is based on "customer" purchase patterns rather than a store employee's "I think" logic. Boost sales with the save and restore basket routines combined with other Emporium Plus programs which seamlessly integrate into that functionality.
The EZ Basket Save and Restore functions in the Tool Kit are designed to reduce the frustration that shoppers experience when they leave your store for a couple hours and then return only to find their basket is empty. Make it easier for the shoppers to keep track of the products that interest them. The bottom line is to boost sales.
If you do not already have the Emporium Plus Tool Kit, you can get it at http://www.emporiumplus.com/go/wcw/PROD/1AA/1AA00223 If you do have it and just need an update, you can get the update at http://www.emporiumplus.com/go/wcw/PROD/1AA/1AA00223U for about 1/10 the cost of a single module that only does basket save and restore.
1) Customers can save their basket to a custom customer field by clicking a single button, usually on the basket contents page or on their account page or both. This method requires that the customer has an account and is logged in. There is no expiration limit. This method is handy for customers who want to study their purchase options and perhaps share their choices with partners or their purchasing department. They can even discuss the basket with store personnel who are able to login as the customer with the Tool Kit override customer password routine. This save basket method allows customers or store personnel to create "development" accounts and have a different saved basket in each.
2) Basket contents are automatically saved to a cookie as items are added to the basket. Normally the token to run the automatic save is placed on the basket contents page, so the customer does need to visit that page in order for the action to occur. The store sets the expiration limit, e.g. 30 days. This method limits the basket to a single end user computer since the cookie is stored on their hard drive. Hence, the customer cannot share the basket with others unless that specific customer logs in, restores the basket, and then shares their account login with the others. If the customer uses multiple browsers or computers they can have a different saved basket within the cookies of each browser.
Both methods store the exact same information; one in a custom customer field and the other in a browser cookie. The shopper can use a single button click to restore the entire saved basket to the live basket. If some of the items are out of stock, the restore function recognizes both regular and attribute level inventory, so it displays a message for each out of stock item which could not be added to the basket. The shopper can display the saved basket contents using Miva Merchant's store morph technology in the page templates with an individual add/buy button on each item along with the button to add all at once. You can see how the display (cookie method used here) looks by visiting the test store at http://www.pinemporium.com/SFNT.html in the lower left category column. Put some products in the basket and view the basket contents page. If you select a couple software products, you will see how the attribute/options work and the inclusion of the alsobought link (++). Then click the Clear Basket button so the basket is deleted. Return to the storefront to see the display and test the restore back to basket functions.
The EZ Basket Save and Restore functions work well with other Emporium Plus programs. If you are using the Restock Shelves module to send "sale saver" emails with coupons to customers and you are using the cookie save basket method, you could include a link that would restore their basket if they return to your store with the browser they had previously visited with. If you are using the Tool Kit "alsobought" function, you can include a link in the saved baskets display for each product that has products which were also bought with the primary product. This gives you an advanced marketing strategy to increase sales for items which are often bought with the primary product. This recommendation engine presents products which are more likely to be purchased than the standard related products, as it is based on "customer" purchase patterns rather than a store employee's "I think" logic. Boost sales with the save and restore basket routines combined with other Emporium Plus programs which seamlessly integrate into that functionality.
The EZ Basket Save and Restore functions in the Tool Kit are designed to reduce the frustration that shoppers experience when they leave your store for a couple hours and then return only to find their basket is empty. Make it easier for the shoppers to keep track of the products that interest them. The bottom line is to boost sales.
If you do not already have the Emporium Plus Tool Kit, you can get it at http://www.emporiumplus.com/go/wcw/PROD/1AA/1AA00223 If you do have it and just need an update, you can get the update at http://www.emporiumplus.com/go/wcw/PROD/1AA/1AA00223U for about 1/10 the cost of a single module that only does basket save and restore.
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