Critique Online Ordering System

[prodigiousfool]

I just finished writing the code to make my online photography ordering system (yes i wrote it myself, no i didn't use something premade). I know the site itself is rough, i haven't finished the design aspect, but i'm wondering about the flow/layout of the purchase part of the site. The address is: http://dwhphotography.com (http://www.dwhphotography.com).

If you go to the "Order Online" page, you'll see the individual galleries available. I've password protected the weddings and engagements, becuase i figure the only people who would want to buy those are friends and family, who will have the password given to them.

I'd really appreciate any feedback that you all would like to provide on how it can be improved. Thanks for looking everyone!

Dane

[JurekB]

It looks good to me, its straight forward and very user friendly. The only thing I would say and this is really minor and probably will never be an issue is that you can't order 100 pictures as the box will only take 2 digits. I know it's never going to happen but for something which I'd guess is no big deal to change it might be worth 'just in case'.

Otherwise great, are you going to be selling the software by any chance?

[MJPhotos24]

Might be just me cuz I do it all the time, but it seems you're over explaining things.

The first sentence (The pages below....) is kind of just obvious info that you could shorten up and put with the second sentence. Maybe something along the lines of

Orderng online is simple as layed out below. We only use the highest quality...etc. etc. etc. (sorry short on time as I have a gig to go shoot but trying to respond fast :) )

"If you are interested in making a purchase" - the sentence lacks confidence, and makes them ask themselves "am I interested?" That gives them a chance for there brain to say no or second guess the purchase, little thing probably but you want to make it sound more like they want to buy and not trying to decide, without being pushy either of course.

Instructions part I would change a lttle more to...

Search the gallery below
Select the photo(s) you want by putting the quantity in the size boxes
Select the update card button when finished. You may add or update an order after doing so.
Check your purchase and select buy now.

Saying "finally" makes it sound like it's a lot of work.

Take the below info and put it in the introduction section shortened up.

As for the ordering pages...
I like the layout, nice codes.
the "your shopping cart" needs to stick out more - maybe make it an icon that is noticable. The way it is right now you can barely see it. Same with the keep shopping link, and maybe put the "Buy now" and keep shopping links side by side so they can easily see it.


Ok, half of that probably don't make sense but leaving here quick and typed pretty darn fast. I like it overall but can be cleaned up a bit, but just minor little things :)

[prodigiousfool]

It looks good to me, its straight forward and very user friendly. The only thing I would say and this is really minor and probably will never be an issue is that you can't order 100 pictures as the box will only take 2 digits. I know it's never going to happen but for something which I'd guess is no big deal to change it might be worth 'just in case'.

Otherwise great, are you going to be selling the software by any chance?

I limited the input box to only 2 digits, simply becuase i didn't plan on anyone really ordering more than 99, however having said that, i fully agree with you. That's an easy change that can be fixed, and probably is something i should take into consideration, as you said, "just in case".

I didn't have any plans to sell it right away, especially given the age of the code. I'd like to flesh it out some more pretty it up and such. I figured actually on posting it online somewhere as FOSS (Free, Open Source Software). Being a CIS major, i'm always looking for coding examples and guides, and i figured that i could give back in this way. i suppose i could always wrap it up and sell it, but ATM it's way too much effort, and my real job and in the fall school, are going to be taking up too much time. I can always let you know, it might be a few months before i get anything really concrete, so if you were looking for something immediate, i'd look somewhere else. thanks for the feedback at any rate, i appreciate it a lot.

Might be just me cuz I do it all the time, but it seems you're over explaining things.
...
Ok, half of that probably don't make sense but leaving here quick and typed pretty darn fast. I like it overall but can be cleaned up a bit, but just minor little things :)

Great suggestions. Thanks for pointing all that out. Originally, i didn't have any text on the page at all, just the links, but i figured that it needed some sort of introduction, but it looks like i went a bit overboard with it. I can definitely slim it down. I am working on a new "Buy Now" button, ATM i just used one of the stock Paypal buttons, since it was there, free and easy. I can increase the text size on the "Shopping cart" and "keep shopping" links until i can get some better buttons made. I'm partially waiting on a complete site design to come to me, i'm not totally crazy with the blue boxes. I'd like to do something a little more slick, i just need to sit down and actually design it.

Either way, really great suggests from the both of you that responded and i really do thank you. Hopefully it'll morph and start to look better over time, we'll have to see i guess. Please if you are reading this, keep the suggestions coming, i'd like to hear whatever you have, good or bad.

Dane

Edit: following changes have been implemented: code changed to accept 3 digit orders (gallery.php), added icon to go to shopping cart (gallery.php), text enlarged to continue shopping (cart.php), page added so that when image selected to view full size, right click function disabled (photo.php referrer:gallery.php) and watermark added to fullsize images only

[PhotosGuy]

It looks good now, buy IMO your prices are WAY too low.

[prodigiousfool]

It looks good now, buy IMO your prices are WAY too low.

Comparatively yes, but the whole point of the site was to have a way for friends and family of the B&G of the wedding i just shot get their pics easily. I did the wedding free, and didn't think it'd be right to gouge them on the prints, especially after i had shown them the prices on adorama. I know the whole argument about charging lower prices now can come back to bite me, and i do eventually plan on raising prices. But seeing as i'm not pursuing this as a full-time or professional endeavor, i'm just having fun, i don't know why i should charge $8 for a 4x6 or $15 for a 5x7 like some of the photographers in my area. What i eventually planned on was:
4x6 - $1
5x7 - $2
6x9 - $3
8x10 - $5
11x14 - $10
16x20 - $15
20x30 - $25

I don't know though, it's all vague right now. Thanks for the opinions in any case, i know i've got lots of improvement to do, so i do appreciate it.

[PhotosGuy]

but the whole point of the site was to have a way for friends and family of the B&G of the wedding i just shot get their pics easily. Those prices are better. You did the wedding for free, but that doesn't mean that "friends and family" shouldn't help pay for your next lens? ;)

[prodigiousfool]

Those prices are better. You did the wedding for free, but that doesn't mean that "friends and family" shouldn't help pay for your next lens? ;)

How do you handle a price change like that though? I already know that people are going to complain about the rise in prices, especially since some people have already made purchases, their friends are going to want them for the same price that they got them. And given the fact that i literally just put the site up about a week ago, people are going to wonder why i'm already raising prices. I don't know, i'm wondering if it's worth the flack and even fewer orders to do it. I suppose now would be as good a time as any to do it though, since i'm not going to be doing any events for a month or so. Any thoughts on how to deal with people complaining?

[Gary_Evans]

Firstly, on the whole I liked the ordering system.

With regards to prices, you can always say that orders recieved with X number of days recieved a Y% discount and after that they are full price.

[prodigiousfool]

Firstly, on the whole I liked the ordering system.

With regards to prices, you can always say that orders recieved with X number of days recieved a Y% discount and after that they are full price.

Good point. I suppose that i can put up a notice that says effective on such and such a date, the prices will be adjusted to x value. Anything ordered prior to that date will be subject to current prices.

Thanks for the help, and i'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm working on an online uploader on the admin side, rather than having to manually add if all of the information to the database. I think if i can get that, and an original default install script that just give a barebones setup, along with proper documentation, i can wrap it up into something that can be passed along to other people more easily.

[PhotosGuy]

How do you handle a price change like that though? I like Gary's solution. Or use the ever present, "The price of oil just went up again"? ;)

[Mr. E]

As for price change you could say 'I just noticed the guy who created the site didn't put in the right prices'...which is true...kinda...you just realized now that you should charge more...