Welcome!
Hey good friends and people,
I'm Sam A Ruos, a developer of a web-application introducing "Merging
Mechanism". The Core Function which you are about
to test (see below for the manifestation). It's a simple example
for online retail store.
Glad you're here helping me out in testing the application. Thank
you for your valuable time!
Just like any other existing online retailers, new methods and
functions are being implemented and added frequently to improve
online-shopping experience, but occasionally, online-shoppers like
me would encounter some sort of "hassle" because
the flexibiities do not exist (see my frustration below).
Programmers would say "...This is fun!... I found a problem!"...
Later, after long labourous months, the "hassle",
the "problem" issue has been resolved".
"necessity is the mother of invetion"... So
true
This is just one of the many sub-routines, created to help in relieving
the "hassle" that frustrates users by the lack
of "optional flexibility" which would certainly make online
experience become even more enjoyable.
Add another method to "function logical" to the currently
existing options that we are already familair with and accustomed
to. Let this option be available to online-shoppers to gain more
choices and controls.
Then again, they say "There's nothing new under the sun..."
I agree with that too!
Imagine, you've just landed on your favourite online store. After
browsing the products you then, like to add a few items you like
to buy, to your basket. Your basket clocked your items in on a Cookie-based
protocol, for when and if, at later date, you return to the shop
again, the basket status remained the same, as you left it since
your last visit.
This time, you are now, ready to complete your order. That's
Cookies at work! Held in the memory of Cookies data
for use this way like mentioned. Is it necessary to repeat your
shopping all over again like go browsing again... when
found add it to basket again... ?
My experience of shopping online from various sites like eBay and
from other local businesses, is that:
With my "old-school" approach, I don't want to stay signed-in
on any site. I sign in, I sign out when done...
When I need to buy something, I would then go via my routine and
go directly to checkout. Some of us have at least one online account
and some of us have agreed to allow "cookies"
to be placed on our computer. This enables convenience of users
and server (the site you're visting).
Cookies protocol is one of
the protocols of HTTP. Some sites will automatally log us out after
a few minutes of inactivity. It makes sense, just in case you forgot
to sign out (out of security concerns).
Some sites, allow the options
for you to "stay signed in", for days or months
or years depending on the settings of sites' administrators. This
is Cookies at work!
Cookie: a sweet biscuit, a plain bun.
Just before I logged out two days ago, I saved 3 items in the basket.
As expected, the items are saved in the basket using Cookie-based
protocol. Those 3 items would be there (could be indefinitely) until
either I delete them or complete my checkout. The basket then returned
empty on checkout. As expected...
Here is my frustration: I'm browsing my favourite
online-shop (I have an account with them) and don't intend to sign
in just yet. The basket (User-Anonymous) icon on the menu, says
0 item in the basket. That's is because I'm not signed in (to the
application, you're a User-Anonymous). As expected...
I need 2 sets of Roto Sound bass strings, and I found them after
a few clicks and I'm adding them to the basket. Keep in mind that,
I have 3 items already in my User-Customer basket, saved using Database-based.
"...what would happen then, when I'm logged in? we'll see...".
My intention is, to add the 2 sets of strings (Cookie-based)
to the existing 3 items (Database-based) and proceed to
checkout. I'm hoping, at least, there will be some sort of option
that allows me to add more items to the basket this way...
The first checkout step. I'm prompted with 3 options below:
- I don't want to sign up, but go checkout (only as anonymous
customer & one-off checkout).
- I want to sign in, then go checkout.
- I want to sign up, then go checkout
I'm going for option 2 because I already have an account with them.
Once I'm logged in, the 2 sets of strings have disappeared! They
are NOT added...? to the basket (Database-based) along
with my other 3 items?
No avaiable function to handle this request... my request!
Not one option prompting to either to merge or to add the Cookie-based
items to the Database-based items. Really? It would
be a good idea to have this option, wouldn't it not?
A system whereby if a user has decided to merge items together
into one basket (Database-based), then a sub-routine of basket is
called.
During the process of merging, for example, if any item
from Cookie-based is indentical to any item from Database-based,
then only the quantity from the Cookie-based item is added on to
the Database-based item quantity.
skip the "hassle" of having to list identical
items on seperate rows. It makes sense... Imagine, when you want
to merge 12 in quantity from one Cookie-based item to your Database-based
whose item is identical and has the quantity of 3.
This system, displays just one row item with the quantity of 15.
Some sites that I have bought something from, would display two
rows (see table below)
| No |
Description |
Quanity |
Unit price |
Subtotal |
| 1 |
Hand Sanitiser 50ml |
3 |
£1.00 |
£3.00 |
| 2 |
Hand Sanitiser 50ml |
12 |
£1.00 |
£12.00 |
| |
|
|
Amount due: |
£15.00 |
|
Such function must be made available and be an additional flexibility
to user's options. A mechanism that aims to improve User's Experience.
Make the easy-to-use even easier... I'm sure that
there are programmers out there who have the same idea like mine.
Are there?
Cookies. The "name" derived from an old tale
of fairy. Remember "Little Red Riding Hood?". European
tale traced back to the 10th century. Smart move by not eating
her cookies but instead, use them as trail marking to be able
to find her way back home.
Ok so, here I am, again having to navigate through to find the
exact brand and the exact guage of string-set for my bass guitar...
You've guessed it! That's my frustration...
Merging Mechanism! That's what's needed! Here it is to
be put to test!
This idea demontrates the subtlety of intuitive design and the
subtlety of easy-to-use approach mechanism. Introducing the possibiity
of "shopping-flow" environment that flows. This happened,
only to get rid of my frustration. I'm sure of some of us have come
across this sort of experience before... right? If you haven't,
then you most likely have chosen the option of "Stay
signed in" or "Keep me signed in"
It is a suggestion as well as a wish from an ordinary (old-school)
user... Shoud the wish be granted...?
So, if you good people would be willing help me out
testing this very particular area, I would appreciate your help
very much?
It's just "another drop in the ocean..." I agree to
that... but do you think that each drop has its significance?"
I'm stroking my chin... and looking out through my window and not
hearing birds singing...
To run a test on the Core Function, you need to
have an account by registering your email address. You then are,
a User-Customer as opposed to User-Anonymous,
which doesn't utilize any feature of the Core function. See Test
Scenario Options below for in-depth test-run for robustness
of the application. See Walk-thru under Objective
below.
Pick any Test Scenario of your own accord. |