Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

[tammu]

Can anyone please tell me what the difference between Basket timeout ( set at 60 minutes) and Shopping Interface Cookie expiration ( set at 525600 minutes).

appreciate it

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

The basket timeout empties the basket when there is no activity for X minutes. The Cookie expiration is how long the "cookie" that is set when you first arrive at a site is valid (usually a year). The cookie primarily stores a "session id" so if a customer returns within the valid period, they would use the same session id. Its how "remember me" functions work.

[tammu]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Brilliant!! thanks Bruce appreciate it

[Fishman]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

The basket timeout empties the basket when there is no activity for X minutes.

Hi Bruce,

We were always under the impression that baskets were emptied after the basket timeout period and the goods in the basket were dumped back into inventory for other people to buy. We've recently found this isn't true or at least the dumping of the goods isn't immediate so you might need to add a caveat to your answer.

Within the last few months we've changed the way our store operates. We used to upload inventory when we opened our store and withdraw all inventory when we closed it. We also deleted all baskets (not just the expired ones) as we had deadlines for our orders. We now run the store 24/7 and haven't been deleting any baskets as we thought the stock was being dumped from baskets on expiry.

We've recently found some goods appearing back in the store anywhere up to a week after the basket expired. It's very frustrating as our goods are perishable and we find shellfish someone had in their basket that already died 5 days before another person found the expired product back in the store and ordered it.

Regards - Brad

[wcw]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

To get automatic emptying of the baskets you would need a module like Restock Shelves. It runs at whatever frequency you choose, e.g. every two hours. It delete baskets and can send you a report of how many were abandoned and whether they had products in them when abandoned. If the customer made it to checkout and then left, it can even send them an email and invite them back. So in addition to basket cleanup, it is a useful marketing tool. It usually pays for itself rather quickly. http://www.emporiumplus.com/1AA00067.html

Most stores should be running the admin > utilities > delete expired carts at least once a day, even if they are using the automated method above. That is because there are other store clean up functions built into the delete expired baskets routine. You should also pack the databases once a day. Your store's performance will be significantly improved if you do those two steps which take less than a minute.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a caution icon appear in the main admin screen if a store has not done it by noon each day.

[Fishman]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Consider it sold! Thanks - Brad

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Brad,

You are referring to "inventory", I was answering a question about basket verses session time out.

[Fishman]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Hi Bruce,

I was referring to the bit which said 'The basket timeout empties the basket when there is no activity for X minutes'

I was always under the impression this was the case. If you set the basket timeout to 60 minutes, once that hour was up, if the customer hadn't finished shopping the inventory held in the basket would be tipped back into the store.

I've recently been told that the basket timeout only refers to the length of time the customer remains logged into the store. The basket (and it's contents) remain intact after the timeout period until such time as it's deleted.

Is that correct?

Thanks - Brad

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

I've recently been told that the basket timeout only refers to the length of time the customer remains logged into the store. The basket (and it's contents) remain intact after the timeout period until such time as it's deleted.

The basket timeout is how long the basket is valid, so it's not tied to a customer being logged in or not. However the second part of your statement is true, if they're not deleted inventory is not returned to the store automatically.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Brad,

I think the confusion is a matter of semantics. When I (and Rick) say the basket is "empty" we are referring to what the customer see's. However, that data that represents that basket is still in the basket databases (along with inventory count) until the expired baskets routine is run either from Pack or a module like Weiland's.

As for the second part of your question:

" The basket (and it's contents) remain intact after the timeout period until such time as it's deleted.

"
Again, if you mean the basket database....yes...if you mean what the customer see's no. Once the basket times out, the customer will not see what they had in it before it timed out.

[Fishman]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the explanation. Rick, would it not make sense to also have goods returned to inventory when a basket expires?

We've installed Restock Shelves as it's important our stock gets returned to the store as soon as possible after a basket is abandoned. With fresh fish, time is critical.

As Bill Weiland states, all it takes is a competitor to fill a basket with half your stock and then abandon the cart to mess you up. If basket timeout also returned inventory when the basket expired this would solve this problem.

Thanks - Brad

[wcw]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Brad,

At this point you have the restock shelves module so you are covered. As a bonus you have a handy re-marketing tool that you don't have to pay extra for.

I suspect an auto-restock is on the Miva road map, but with a low cost alternative all these years, I doubt they see it as a high priority. Also, I doubt they would include a re-marketing feature as it would compete with some of their partners who offer a similar service (funded with click thru and other models).

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Difference between Basket timeout and Shopping Interface Cookie Expiration

Bill is right it's on our roadmap, but since it's so easily solved it's not a huge priority.