OpenCart Community

This topic has been created for all those OpenCart users out there who would benifit from being able to edit the shipping price after the order has been recieved and then ask the buyer to log-in and pay.

Example. If you want to ship to a country that your country's post office will not give a standard price for, as the price changes weekly or monthly for whatever reason (currency rates), and you wish to take the order but then get the weight and dimensions of the ordered items, contact your post office for a custom price, then be able to add the price to the order in opencart, and email the buyer with an updated invoice. The buyer would then log-in to their account and click on a pay button and they would then pay for the order...

If there are Opencart users who would like to see this in the main release, or even what to use this extension/module/edit when finished please post a comment and show your support for this function.

I opted not to put this topic in the extensions or modules boards as it will probably require editing of the admin order page and hence it will be a general edit as well as shipping and payments modules.

Information on the current module(s) can be found here.

(http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route ... 327&path=4)

Ok, lets get started...I'm going to start with the current modules for 1.4.8 - All Other Countries, then going to add the roadmap to get these modules to where we want to be.

If anyone has any suggestion please post them, thanks

ROADMAP TO FOLLOW....

The workflow of the current modules (in 1.4.8 ) are as follows.

• 0. Buyer adds items to cart >
  1. Buyer creates or accesses account or guest account >
  2. Confirm address (country in geo zone assigned in shipping module) >
  3. Display message 'International Delivery - Quotation within 2 working days' (or something like that) >
  4. Continue to payment and displays 'Payment will be Requested please continue with order' >
  5. Adds additional info to comments about how you will proceed with the order (in checkout confirmation) >
  6. Order is sent, admin can then access order page and retrieve information about weight/dimension,etc >
  7. Admin then contacts post office\delivery service and gets a quote >
  8. In the admin>order page (1.4.8 only) the store admin can then edit the shipping and total >
  9. Edit the order history with a link to the manual payment to be processed >
  10. Once payment is received (not via open cart at this time) the admin then updated order history and sends email of completion. (Then prints invoice adds to delivery and ships out to customer)...

I know this is not the best way to handle this but it does work a treat, the next stage will to be integrate the payment into opencart and tidy up the above processes.

My thinking would be to save the order at the shipping stage then let the admin do their thing and add the shipping cost then email buyer to proceed to the payment section, this cuts down the double payment page.

This would also uninvitedly allow all account holders to save there orders. Ok database meltdown if allowed to keep orders for say more that 7 days, but a great feature none the less.

Thoughts welcome...

Here is a temporary solution until i get the new shipping module and extension created.


http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route ... 375&path=6

I am looking into this at the moment as a way to solve my problems as well so thanks for building this(if I was any good at coding I would have done this a month ago). I'm not sure if this is going to solve my problems since I haven't actually gotten to the point of installing this nor the new update to 1.4.9.1 yet I'm waiting on my site to backup before I start fiddling around with things.

Anyways I wanted to at least explain a reason or at least the reason that I often need to edit orders. I run a custom leather holster shop, I take orders and often I'm 6-10 weeks out with a lead time. In other words that customer isn't going to get their product for at least a month in most cases. Too many other small shops like mine over the years have found themselves in financial trouble and people have been out money sometimes allot of it, so to combat that, I only take payment a week or so before I deliver a product. Makes sure they have the least amount of risk and allows me to handle the payment then. The problem is if someone has 6-10 weeks allot of things can change, they might sell a gun and want a different make/model etc, or add a product. In those cases I don't want them to have to fill out another form just to make the changes in price on the site. Also sometimes someone wants something that I don't list as an option so I can add it manually in the pricing if I can edit. Another reason is often credit card companies have rules about not delivering a product within 30 days of taking payment which would catch me out in almost all cases because it's extremely rare for me to get the product to the customer within that window.

Either way just wanted to give you my scenario as to why this really is a necessary improvement to the current cart. I'm going to be updating to 1.4.9.1 and see how the new edit function is handled before I get into your extension but I will be in touch I have a feeling because it looks as though the edit was removed rather than fixed really(which is fine, but not going to work any better for me).

One final bit, pending the new update doesn't satisfy my needs(again don't expect it will from what I'm reading), is it possible to see more information or screenshots on how the edits are handled via your extension? Or possibly get a trial/beta of the software to see if it will work. I don't mind spending $11 for something that will fix my issues but I hate to buy something that doesn't do what I need either. I understand it isn't much money but it's just the principal of buying something I might not use;)

Thanks again!

Luke

Hi Luke,

Totally agree with you I hate spending money for something and it doesn't do exactly what you need.

OK, let go through this, one step at a time. I will edit this post so keep refreshing.

Davy K

Thanks;) I did get updated and the new version of editing would work for me, but it's fairly slow way to do what I want to do. It's far better than manually editing the tables but it's still not idea IMHO. So I'm curious to see how your edit is implemented;)

Also had a question for you since you had mentioned that when you make changes to shipping prices then ship to customer. Do you have some system in place to bill those customers through opencart with the new totals or are you manually doing it? Just wondering since I take payment late in the process but I currently do it manually and would love to automate some more of this process;) Heck I'd love to use paypals checkout module just later after the order is placed.

Thanks!

Luke

I think I have settled on the name for the new modules that explains what they are about.

MANUAL SHIPPING THEN RETURN AND PAY

If anyone has any better suggestions please advise.

OK here is exactly what the new modules will do, if you want to add to the list let me know!!

(HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION LUKE).

This is the new workflow for the new system 'MANUAL SHIPPING THEN RETURN AND PAY'.

(If your looking for the information of cover 'other countries only', I will deal with this later so I am forgetting about geo zones in the workflow to simplify this and return to cover other countries integration later)

0. Buyer adds items to cart >
1. Buyer creates or accesses account >
2. Confirm address >
3. If this shipping method is available will show information below >
Display message 'Manual Shipping - Quotation within ? working days' (or something like that) >
Also displays custom information on how the store admin with deal with the buyers order >
4. The buyer clicks continue and the order is displayed (like checkout confim) >
5. The buyer will save the order by clicking SAVE ORDER button (replaces confirm order button) >
6. Buyer can view saved orders in MY ACCOUNT and also amend order if the status is not complete or shipped >
7. The store admin can then access saved order page and retrieve information about weight/dimension,etc >
8. Admin then contacts post office\delivery service and gets an exact quote for order >
9. The admin then accesses the order and changes the shipping costs and adds more products >
10. The total is updated automatically and the admin would edit comments to tell buyer to pay >
11. Admin updates custom status (Payment Requested ??) and ticks email buyer >
12. Buyer recieves email and logs back into account, checks the saved order and clicks pay button >
13. The payment page opens the buyer selects payment method and clicks continue >
14. The confirmation page opens where the buyer checks the order then pays as usual >
15. Once payment is received (via opencart) the admin can continue as usual.
(Print invoice, add to delivery and ships out to customer)...

Let me know if there is anything i missed...

davykeenan wrote:I think I have settled on the name for the new modules that explains what they are about.

5. The buyer will save the order by clicking SAVE ORDER button (replaces confirm order button) >
6. Buyer can view saved orders in MY ACCOUNT and also amend order if the status is not complete or shipped >
7. The store admin can then access saved order page and retrieve information about weight/dimension,etc >
8. Admin then contacts post office\delivery service and gets an exact quote for order >

This is the only bit that concerns me for what I'm working with. I would prefer to make all changes to the order myself after it's placed rather than allowing them to make changes(just a thing with my business type). I'm also a little concerned that a customer might not understand the change from "confirm" to save order, often on other commerce style sites saving the order just means for later rather than actually initiating an order. I guess I would love to see this as optional(well depending on how your implementing it). If it's just verbage in a language file than I can make changes there as well.

Thanks again sir;) This sure looks like the ticket for what I've been looking for;)

Luke

Yeah you we be able to change the wording in the language file, and you can add the information about how you will proceed with the order, just so the buyer understands what your doing.

Also you should be able to change the default status so the buyer can't change the order, will do a bit more thinking as i can see this will be a bit more trickier than i first thought.

Davy K

Thanks sir;) I'd be happy to test it for ya a bit as well if need be. Also just curious what price point your shooting for?(I'm guessing around the same but just wanted to make sure)

Luke

Hi Luke,

As this is what i do for a living, I need to try to cover costs so this is going to probably going to cost a lot more than my previous extensions and mod's, just becuase of the work involved, but if i could get the support behind it I will lower the price.

My thinking is around $100 to start and for each person I get support from I will take $1 off.

As more of my time is dedicated to OpenCart I have been thinking about a fair pricing method, so if anyone has any ideas let me know.

Davy K

Just to let you know how my current method of pricing works.

For each module I start at $10 and with every modification/version/upgrade I add $1 to the price.

I think this is fair, but would like feedback.

DavyK

davykeenan wrote:Hi Luke,

As this is what i do for a living, I need to try to cover costs so this is going to probably going to cost a lot more than my previous extensions and mod's, just becuase of the work involved, but if i could get the support behind it I will lower the price.

My thinking is around $100 to start and for each person I get support from I will take $1 off.

As more of my time is dedicated to OpenCart I have been thinking about a fair pricing method, so if anyone has any ideas let me know.

Davy K

Understand completely also being a small business owner. I'm in the same boat, with trying to weigh time savings to money. The only reason I ask is in this case I would likely be able to go around $40 but really not more than that. That has nothing to do with you or the product, has more to do with my volume of orders etc. I only do a few orders a day at best, granted each order is not small but it's a very small one man business. As a result I have to watch outgoing funds very closely etc.

So I guess I just wanted to throw out there that I'm more than appreciative of you looking at my stuff but I would have to decline at that price(not that it's off line, really I don't feel it is, just is for my purposes) at least that way your not doing extra work for someone who might not be a customer.

Thanks again man, look forward to seeing the finished product and I hope to see enough guys buy it to bring it down to my price point;)

Luke

Yeah I get your point, so lets hope more people want this, I have about 5 people that are interested just now.

I need at least 10 to bring the price to around $40, If i got 40 people it would be $10 something like that.

I will be creating this anyway, it just means the more interest i get, the more time i can spend on it and the quicker its finished.

Davy K

I am watching with a lot of interest. But I already brought your other Extension and cannot use it
I will deffo buy again if you get this working.

What I need is...

International buyer adds items to cart.
Buyer Saves order.
We add shipping cost.
Buyer returns.
Goes through checkout and pays.


By the looks of it that is what you are creating, thank you. Top job.

No problem, working on it as we speak. If you bought the current mod you will get a free upgrade to the new mod.

Cheers

Davy K

Just a quick update, I have most of the features working just fitting them together and have reworked the system so no extra database tables need to be added, hopefully keep it that way so it's easier to upgrade later.

So hopefully available soon.

Davy K

Glad to hear, still waiting to see the end results;) I've been using the new system built in, and it works but it's not ideal for my purposes so I guess there is certainly room for a mod to improve the experience.

That said it's much better than recreating the whole order;)

Take care!

Luke

Hi,

I have read this thread and am looking for following on my OpenCart 1.4.9.1 installation:

- A user has the option to "Save Order and Pay Later". A copy of such orders is emailed to admin.
- When he is ready to pay, the order with payment options are presented to him again
- User is given option to pay via a different credit cards in case a credit card fails
- Admin has the ability to re-instate an order where credit card has failed, so user can re-pay the order.

Some of these are being met by your module, just checking to see of other can be met.

Also, has the module been released?

Subhash