"Hate Having To Establish Account For EACH Retailer???" Topic

By this I mean having to remember your userid and password for every retailer or manufacturer that makes it mandatory, instead of proceeding to a shipping info screen (I never forget where I live) and then to PayPal.

What are your thoughts on this requirement?

Thanks.

CC

Try this product: roboform.com

I absolutely hate having to establish an "account." I just want to buy something, I don't want to establish a relationship.

I use the same password for everyone.

Personally I really don't like it, to the point where accounts are disabled on my site – just fill in your address and click the Paypal option. So I get emails from customers asking why they can't create an account…. All a matter of personal preference, so a company can't get it "right" whichever they do….

Yep. I agree completely.

When I get my online store set up, I may give people the option to start an account if they want, but I certainly won't make it a requirement.

I hope to have my checkout be as simple as "fill in your address & payment info", then click "pay".

Probably easier said than done.

-Alex

Also dislike having to establish an account.

I don't mind (I use a single password for all my non-critical online accounts) but I know many dislike this. So my shop lets you do it either way – open an account or shop as a "guest."

I do not like it, one of the reasons I chose paypal, that way the customer can pay with a card or use their paypl account. Costs me a bit more but makes life easier for the customer.

Many sites have lost my business as I just can not be bothered with having to work at creating another account, buying things you want should be easy.

Having said that a couple of people in this thread have bypassed the system and just sold me stuff outside their online system.
Kudos to them.

Michael.

Rant-mode on – click

I don`t like it either, it bugs me in the same way as the so-called loyalty schemes in brick and mortar shops do. Such as…..
Cashier "Thank-you, do you have a Boots (or other store) card?"
Me "No"
Cashier "Do you want one?"
Me "No"
Cashier "Oh!"

Its not the cashiers fault, but every bloody time you buy something its the same patter. If I want a card I can ask, it should not be quasi-mandotry. Same thing with online stores.

Rant-mode off – click

AS

If I want the product that badly I do it and keep a (secure) record so I don't have to remember – often I never buy again from the site anyway. If it isn't a 'must have' I often buy elsewhere but it doesn't annoy or antagonise me overly much. If I can be bothered I sometimes send emails explaining things I dislike/like about sites -usually I can't because I get the impression that often the owner has little control over the systems because they are bought off a shelf.
Like Angelbarracks I have Paypal so you can pay by card or paypal – or in the UK I will even take a cheque! If anyone remembers what that is.
I do have the option to make people register but frankly I find it intrusive myself so I disabled it. This way I find I can establish a relationship with those who want to establish one, and not intrude on the life of those who don't.
Guy

I still want to know why the gas company needs to know my dog's name.

It's like an interview to determine if I am worthy to shop in a store.
Why do people find this a good idea?

I hate having to set up an account to find out what the postage will be for an order.

I've never really thought about it, but our online store gives both options at checkout (create an acct or process w/o acct). Interesting.

On the one hand, if you're a regular customer an account avoids having to rekey delivery information. On the other, having to set up an account for a one-off or infrequent customer is a pain because we're all passworded-out as far as computers and the internet are concerned.

I can only set up my shop to have accounts or not have accounts. All the the accounts do is store contact details, not payment details.

I've just taken off the accounts as an experiment. It'll end the issue of incorrect or forgotten passwords, but some regular customers may miss the convenience.

do they give you loyalty points for being a member?
are there any other benefeits to being a member?
is the postage calculated on where you live? (hard to do that without your address.)

some account based sites can give discounts, one thing my paypal can not….