RapidStudio Test Tip: Shopping Carts

RapidStudio Test Tip: Shopping Carts


Being in the RapidStudio support team gives me first hand insight into the needs of the new up-and-coming South African internet users.
I often feel that our business is pulling South African computer users kicking and screaming into the world of e-commerce, and need to be responsible in assuring, educating and helping them in as many ways as possible.
Being on support duty every Sunday from 10 till 3, I've finally decided to use some of that time to work on a few "tips" for new internet users to both help them stay safe online, and have the best possible online experience. These are written by me personally, RapidStudio support can't explain, take responsibility for, or support any of the things I've put up here for you. I am sure other internet users besides RapidStudio-ers will find them useful too!
So here's the first tip, a test tip to see if this helps anyone and if I should consider doing one a week:

The Shopping Cart

When shopping online, most e-commerce stores use some kind of "shopping cart" to hold all the items you are about to purchase, keeping track of the quantities, totalling up the prices and discounts and providing you with delivery options for and physical items that need to be delivered to you .


Just like in a regular store, you need to "check out" the items in your shopping cart, and pay for them, before they become yours. Generally, when checking out you'll be diverted to a third party payment page, where a secure "payment provider" verifies that you've paid, and makes sure the both the shopper and the shop do not land up victims of fraud. These secure payment providers are responsible for keeping your financial information safe. Some stores with a large enough volume of transactions can afford to be their own payment providers, but usually the payment provider is a third party. Once the payment is verified, they divert you back to the store's site to complete the check-out process


When checking out it's important to check the the delivery details and quantities you've provided, as well as the total price you are paying are correct.


It's also important to try and do the whole check-out process in one sitting. You can usually add many items to your cart over the series of a few days, but when it comes to checking out, it's good to do it start to finish without interruption in order to avoid mistakes, confusion and possible duplicate payments. There is usually a confirmation at the end of the checkout process from the store itself, It's important to know the that process is complete before leaving, as sometimes there are a few options that come after payment, for instance, sometimes delivery options, uploading or downloading of files or invoicing can happen after the payment has been verified by the provider and you have been diverted back to the stores site.


In all the tips are simply:

1. Check and double check all the changeable options and items in the cart
2. Make sure the deliver options are correct
3. You will probably be diverted to a third party to verify payment
4. Be patient and make sure you've completed all the necessary steps of the process

Good Luck
- Steven


Below are a quick list of some of the third party payment providers I have encountered in this country:
PayFast
PayPal
Mygate
Paygate
Setcom
Easypay