Comments on: Preventing the Add-and-Abandon; Making a more user-friendly wish list

By: John64

John64 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:38:14 +0000

Because I am fluent in all languages when it comes to understanding things said about foods I wish to consume, I understood quite well when the man behind the counter explained, in German, that the drink never comes with cream, anyway. ,

By: ThongJsn

ThongJsn — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:20:04 +0000

I appreciate this very article.

By: fashionapparel

fashionapparel — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:09:09 +0000

I had thought, but I never do. cause I don’t like ads abandon too.

By: Waiper

Waiper — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:52:30 +0000

Thank you. Good suggestion. ^_^

By: Genetic

Genetic — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:29:27 +0000

Hell, Natalie Hart.

Thank so much for suggestion.

By: Bloggers Digest 7/25/08 | Get Elastic

Bloggers Digest 7/25/08 | Get Elastic — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:10:41 +0000

[...] Buchanan gives 3 reasons why your wish list doesn’t convert. This makes a lot of [...]

By: Property Doc

Property Doc — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:22:32 +0000

I have to 100% agree with the article. When I’m shopping online, I want to shop for what I want, put it in my cart/wishlist, and then, only when I’ve completed my shopping, know my totals, and am ready to check-out do I want to give away any personal information.

Until that point, I haven’t made up my mind if I’m really purchasing from this merchant. I may just be checking prices.

Newegg’s system is absolutely perfect in my opinion for online shoping.

By: NetBlazon Miva Consultants

NetBlazon Miva Consultants — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:21:45 +0000

Natalie, #2 is the one I run into most often as both a developer and a shopper. So many wish lists, even when they allow you to add the product directly, make you do it one product at a time. It’s so nice to stumble on a site that allows you to add the entire list with one click. And being able to check/uncheck items to add? Do you like that? It seems like a good thing, but could result in a higher interaction requirement than just clicking a single button. I haven’t seen this on a site, but I’d like to play around with one that has it – so if you have a link to share, I’m all ears. Thanks

By: Natalie Hart

Natalie Hart — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:11:43 +0000

Soeren- I think you have an interesting suggestion in terms of communicating with your customers of the different uses of the shopping cart. My fear, however, stems from when sites are doing testing (and you should, as the Eisenberg’s new book is titled, Always Be Testing). If customers utilize the shopping cart as a placeholder, how you will be able to track conversion, since often it is tracked through the shopping cart? Perhaps there is a mutual need for the wish list, because it allows businesses to track the conversion rates more efficiently by keeping these add-and-abandon shoppers at bay.

By: Natalie Hart

Natalie Hart — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:02:29 +0000

Thanks so much for responding Heidi. I’m a huge fan of Shopbop.com and think you guys are doing a nice job at creating an e-commerce site that speaks to the different personas.

By: Soeren Sprogoe

Soeren Sprogoe — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:57:13 +0000

Well, I have a suspicion that users today has grown so eCommerce-savvy, that they know that they can use the shopping basket to store items for a later visit.

But whenever they want to make a list of items they can send to someone else, they use an actual wish list. That can also explain why the one at Amazon works, as they mostly sell items that you’ll actually wish for.

Atleast that’s a behaviour I’ve seen a couple of times in the past months.

“Never assume that a technical similarity automatically translates to a psychological similarity.”

Well, isn’t there a clear psychological similarity between the two also? I think there is, if the user knows that the shopping basket can be used for an “item placeholder” that you can go through later on.

Atleast this psychological similarity is what got me thinking if you don’t run a risk of confusing the customer with offering a feature they might not understand, and that it might be easier and simpler just to communicate that you can use the shopping basket for a sort-of wish list also.

Or maybe I’m just damaged from working too much with not-so-internet-savvy customers in the clothing industry

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:43:46 +0000

Soeren,

Never assume that a technical similarity automatically translates to a psychological similarity.” A wish list is like a registry, and merely “tagging” something for a someday maybe list (or a “please buy me this” list) has a completely different psychological feel to it than adding it to your shopping cart. As an example, Amazon has both a wish list and a persistent shopping cart and I guarantee you that the vast majority of customers do not use the two features in anywhere near the same way.

-Jeff

By: Soeren Sprogoe

Soeren Sprogoe — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:07:54 +0000

One thing I’m asking myself after reading the article:

Why have a wish list at all?

Isn’t it just confusing to the customers to offer both a wish list AND perhabs a persistent shopping basket?

Isn’t it basically the same? And are we not just confusing our customers when we give them options like this?

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:38:22 +0000

Thanks so much for the suggestions. We definitely will be following up to try to improve our wishing experience for you.