If you have an online store, the easiest way to receive customer payments is with a shopping cart. Shopping carts are an e-commerce software tool that allows your customers ease when shopping online. Just like at a traditional retail store, customers of online stores can place their items in virtual shopping carts and “checkout” using their credit card.
You can find shopping carts that range from those that will do the most basic features to those that do everything. The most basic feature is to allow customers to add and remove items from their virtual basket. You may also allow them to choose different options for an item, such as size, color, or quantity. It may even show the customer a running sum of their shopping cart as they add and remove items.
Most shopping carts will calculate shipping, handling, or taxes. Shipping and handling costs are important, so you want to get a good shopping cart that does proper calculation. If it calculates incorrectly, you lose money on shipping. Do you need a shopping cart that offers the user a variety of shipping options such as FedEx, USP, or USPS? Do you want to offer them overnight or second day shipping? If you want to provide a variety of options such as these, you will need a fully functioning shopping cart. The shopping cart generates the sales tax based on the customer’s zip code.
Email confirmation is another key feature of shopping carts. This can be done in several ways: an email sent to confirm the order was placed, an email sent to confirm when the order ships, or both. If you want an email sent when the order is shipped, you may want to provide tracking services so the customer can actually see where the package is while in route. The cookie technology of shopping carts is an excellent way to help you keep track of your customers and their orders. If can provide them coupons or discounts based on their previous shopping experiences.
One of the most vital features of shopping carts is the secure transaction. You want to know that both you and your customers are protected when making transactions for online stores. The shopping cart software must have a secure sockets layer (SSL) connection to encrypt the credit card and personal information your customer sends you online. The shopping cart should also work with a payment gateway to make sure the credit card data gets to your credit card processor. If your Internet merchant account offers turnkey solutions, you will not need a payment gateway. But, if you do choose a payment gateway, make sure that the one you have chosen works with your shopping cart.
There are other important aspects when looking at shopping carts. Do you need a shopping cart that can be modified to your specific needs? Also, the workability of a shopping cart is important. If the user cannot figure out how to use it, chances are he or she will not. And finally, the design is important. Customers are more attracted to good-looking designs.
When looking for shopping carts, it really just boils down to what do you need from the software. Do not make a hasty decision when choosing shopping cart software – it is a very important part of your online store. Ask your Internet merchant account provider if they recommend a shopping cart to use with their services. |
