Should registration with Woot be required to purchase a product?
This question resulted when I clicked on a deal posted here, and then saw purchasing required registration.
It's pretty well known that requiring registration to purchase a product (and not allowing "checkout as a guest" or some such) inhibits purchase. See, for example: http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/.
It's a question of usability. Even if it's easy to circumvent, it's still a disincentive for many users.
Now Woot is unique in some ways. They allow login through Google and Facebook already, which covers most potential buyers. They also make a notable attempt to foster community, and registration is vital for that.
However, I submit that a numerous people have bought from Woot but never participated in the community. And many other users may be reluctant to use logins for other sites at random online shops.
Is there a large segment of the population that Woot loses as potential customers by not having the simple option to "Checkout as a Guest"?
No. Just like any site, you should be able to get through the checkout system without having to create a username and password.
How many people use the same username and password on multiple sites. You know how dangerous that is?!?!? So I have to use a different password for each site and it is very difficult to remember them all.
Registration should be an option but do not require people to register.
@cengland0: But (to play devil's advocate, since in retrospect I think my question appears slanted a certain way) I feel like Woot, in particular, relies on numerous repeat customers. We see so many people who have Wooted countless items, and have a black square to prove it.
Woot's business model seems to rely on these relationships formed in a way few shopping sites do. Perhaps permitting purchasing without registration will inhibit new customers from becoming repeat customers?
novastarj: I'm confused. Are you saying that you clicked on a random deal posted here, on Deals, that was not from a Woot branded site (Sellout, Shirt, Wine, Kids, Moofi, Woot central), and then were required to login to your Woot account to purchase? I'd be surprise to hear this, because I've purchased things from Deals without being logged in at all, including meritline and myspicesage.
Please explain which site you meant when you said this.
If you meant a Woot site, then no, everyone makes an account. It's just one of those rule things that keeps people from being able to buy more than three of something.
@novastarj: Registration should be required to participate in the forums and deals.woot but not to make a simple purchase. I have 38 woot purchases but that doesn't mean I care about woot tracking those. What benefits do I get from making so many purchases? I still can't get a bag of crap because I'm in Florida and Woot is in California. There's too many servers between here and there so I can't even connect during a BOC event.
So, since there are no rewards for multiple purchases, I don't believe registration should be required.
@shrdlu: The inspiration was from a non-Woot branded site. The question is directed at Woot branded sites. Apologies for the lack of clarity.
And I feel like the "can't buy more than three of something" isn't really a good reason (though I see how that could be the rationale). It's incredibly easy to set up a system to not allow unregistered users to place two orders to a single address, or using a single credit card. It's basically the same thing they do now with (just with logins).
@cengland0: I'm pretty sure Woot is in Texas (although their main servers may be in CA). I am somewhat suspicious that geography like that would really prevent someone from getting a BOC although I live in Maryland and have never been able to get one.
Anyone on the East coast ever get a BOC?
@benyust2: I've looked at the stats after the BOC event and people in Florida don't get them too often. I believe the geography does have something to do with the ability to snag one.
@cengland0: Of course, you can never get a boc if you are not already registered, because by the time you put in the credit card info and shipping data, they will be sold out.
@benyust2: I've gotten several and I'm further north and east than you.
On the Internet it isn't simply a function of miles away from a particular point. As the online gamers will tell you, it's all about the lag.
@benyust2: I am in Florida and have gotten many BOC's. In fact, my first purchase from Woot was a BOC. Not saying they were exceptionally GOOD BOC's, did get one with a bunch of refurb Sansa's once, but I have gotten them.
Pure luck for BOC's, nothing else.
On principle, sites should allow you to purchase without creating an account, but allowing connection through Google and Facebook covers enough ground that I don't think they need to offer an outright Guest Checkout.
Hell no.
I believe it is purely for the 3 per customer reason, no more, no less.
I'm in Florida, and I have gotten a BOC too. I think less east coasters get them purely because of the timing, usually during drive time, for those who commute.
If a site accepts PayPal, that should be all they need.
@cengland0: so few BOC's end up in florida because it has so many senior citizens. Old people barely use email, woot is way beyond many of them.
Hmmm. now that I think of it, that's probably why Florida smells so weird too.
@kamikazeken: lol, think some Floridians didn't like that one?
@benyust2: Forgive the late response: yes, I'm in Florida and got a BOC last year.
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