Comments on: Lulu Lens – What Can We Do To Improve the Checkout Process? http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/ Adventures in Self-Publishing Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:37:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: AJ http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-5760 AJ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:10:47 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-5760 Hi Ruth, Lulu is built with preview capabilities for any work, but it is up to the author of the content to enable that preview. Hi Ruth,

Lulu is built with preview capabilities for any work, but it is up to the author of the content to enable that preview.

]]> By: Ruth Bredbenner http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-5754 Ruth Bredbenner Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:02:23 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-5754 Buyers would like to see something inside of book before they purchase. Can you make this possible ? Buyers would like to see something inside of book before they purchase.

Can you make this possible ?

]]> By: Nate Taber http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2927 Nate Taber Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:09:03 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2927 It would be really nice if it was possible to offer some of my customer discount codes. I (and I assume many other creators) would be interested in attracting more customers through offering discounts for our products only to use on lulu. Of course, the creator would lose the revenue, not lulu. Also, streamline checkout. Collect name and email during the order sheet, not beforehand. That way customers are more likely to complete the transaction as they don't feel like they are "signing up" for something. Thanks! It would be really nice if it was possible to offer some of my customer discount codes. I (and I assume many other creators) would be interested in attracting more customers through offering discounts for our products only to use on lulu. Of course, the creator would lose the revenue, not lulu.

Also, streamline checkout. Collect name and email during the order sheet, not beforehand. That way customers are more likely to complete the transaction as they don’t feel like they are “signing up” for something.

Thanks!

]]> By: Nick Popio http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2926 Nick Popio Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:39:05 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2926 K, Where were the poems transferred from? K,
Where were the poems transferred from?

]]> By: K. Waskewicz http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2925 K. Waskewicz Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:44:36 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2925 I'm still wondering "what happened to 6 or more poems that I had transfered to your site, late last spring? I’m still wondering “what happened to 6 or more poems that I had transfered to your site, late last spring?

]]> By: Marilyn Pavlovsky http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2924 Marilyn Pavlovsky Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:00:34 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2924 Nick, Yes I believe most people would be comfortable giving their e-mail address. I do this often without even thinking. I feel while one is checking out, after a purchase, they may feel this is a common thing. I think telling someone they have to become a member makes them believe they are being tricked or something. Some may believe they are joining something like a book club. You know, one like they used to do mailings on all of the time. A person buys a book, but then next month they must buy another one, etc. I don't know all the reasons, but the few customers I have did not want to join. Thanks Nick,
Yes I believe most people would be comfortable giving their e-mail address. I do this often without even thinking. I feel while one is checking out, after a purchase, they may feel this is a common thing. I think telling someone they have to become a member makes them believe they are being tricked or something. Some may believe they are joining something like a book club. You know, one like they used to do mailings on all of the time. A person buys a book, but then next month they must buy another one, etc. I don’t know all the reasons, but the few customers I have did not want to join. Thanks

]]> By: Colin Jones http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2923 Colin Jones Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:28:04 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2923 Yes, make the buying process as simple as it can be. Becoming a member for creators is fine, but a buyer just wants to get a book. Postage should be shown as soon as possible - cheapest option by default. And postage should be kept to a minimum. Current rates are good but there have been some eye-watering rates in the past. I'm thinking of UK orders here, but I understand other countries have suffered too. If the checkout process is right then Lulu can be made unbeatable. Yes, make the buying process as simple as it can be.
Becoming a member for creators is fine, but a buyer just wants to get a book.
Postage should be shown as soon as possible – cheapest option by default.
And postage should be kept to a minimum. Current rates are good but there have been some eye-watering rates in the past. I’m thinking of UK orders here, but I understand other countries have suffered too.

If the checkout process is right then Lulu can be made unbeatable.

]]> By: Peter Bu http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2922 Peter Bu Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:04:12 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2922 Hi Nick, I feel the need to "become a member" is annoying to those who only wish to shop and may have no desire or clue as to why they need to become members. I suggest separating the process to BUY and BECOME A MEMBER, with the BUY being as simple as possible. Secondly, I sell books out of my own inventory (sourced from you)and would like those buyers to leave testimonials, but I feel very uncomfortable asking them to first "become a member" - a seemingly unnecessary step, before they can leave a testimonial. We both lose potential future sales in this regard. Peter Hi Nick, I feel the need to “become a member” is annoying to those who only wish to shop and may have no desire or clue as to why they need to become members. I suggest separating the process to BUY and BECOME A MEMBER, with the BUY being as simple as possible. Secondly, I sell books out of my own inventory (sourced from you)and would like those buyers to leave testimonials, but I feel very uncomfortable asking them to first “become a member” – a seemingly unnecessary step, before they can leave a testimonial. We both lose potential future sales in this regard. Peter

]]> By: Nick Popio http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2921 Nick Popio Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:55:21 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2921 Lanette, Those are some really interesting ideas! starlady42, Great suggestions! Maureen, Can you give me some examples of sites you've seen that offer check-out without registration? I would love to take a look at a large variety and see what some different solutions are so we can look at all of the possibilities available. Marilyn, Good point. Do you think most people would be willing to provide an email address and be comfortable with creating an order history (as opposed to becoming a member)? Lanette,
Those are some really interesting ideas!

starlady42,
Great suggestions!

Maureen,
Can you give me some examples of sites you’ve seen that offer check-out without registration? I would love to take a look at a large variety and see what some different solutions are so we can look at all of the possibilities available.

Marilyn,
Good point. Do you think most people would be willing to provide an email address and be comfortable with creating an order history (as opposed to becoming a member)?

]]> By: Marilyn Pavlovsky http://www.lulu.com/blog/2009/10/17/lulu-lens-what-can-we-do-to-improve-the-checkout-process/#comment-2920 Marilyn Pavlovsky Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:28:13 +0000 http://lulublog.com/?p=1819#comment-2920 I think it may be better if the buyer did not have to become a member. Or the word member not be used. I believe this turns some people away. I am mailing a book, this very week, to a lady who did not want to become a member. If the customer could just go through the purchasing by placing all of their contact information at the very end. You know, while checking out, I think this would make them feel more as they do when they purchase from other companies. Thank you. I think it may be better if the buyer did not have to become a member. Or the word member not be used. I believe this turns some people away. I am mailing a book, this very week, to a lady who did not want to become a member. If the customer could just go through the purchasing by placing all of their contact information at the very end. You know, while checking out, I think this would make them feel more as they do when they purchase from other companies. Thank you.

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