Idea for shopping cart change

[mercphoto]

I've seen some people (including me) ask for slight changes to the shopping cart. In particular the problem of having print sizes in three different lists: standard prints, speciality prints, and digital prints. It seems confusing to customers, or at least non-obvious.

The obvious delima to having all print sizes in one drop-down list is the sheer size that list would become. Also not good.

Which got me wondering about a potential solution. I know myself, I'm primarily interested in making it easy for a customer to order an 8x12 or a 16x24. This way there is no cropping from my 3:2 images. I'm wondering if simply changing the shopping cart to move those two sizes into the standards print list would solve a large number of the gripes without cluttering up the drop-down list.

[bham]

Hard question, not a easy answer. You are assuming we all shoot and upload at 2:3 ratio. Some use the 3:4 cameras. I have a G6 I use for specific things. I usually though upload 2:3.

Maybe adding another one that is all with all listed. Yes one list is long, but how long would it take you to find a particular size if it is the first time you are using it, and say you are wanting an unusual size like a 10x10.

Maybe also adding something when the site owner has disabled many other sizes. You could put something about please email "siteowner" if you want/need a different size than offered. Many of my galleries that I put up to print I don't do all the sizes available because I really don't want to take the time to figure out what to charge for all those different sizes.

[DavidTO]

I would suggest that pros could make a custom list if it's less than x options and opt out of the other lists.

[mercphoto]

Hard question, not a easy answer. You are assuming we all shoot and upload at 2:3 ratio.
Correct, that is an assumption of mine. Or more accurately, my assumption is that most of the people who don't like the split lists are primarily interested in making it easy to find 8x12 and 16x24 sizes. My proposed solution doesn't solve all problems. I'm trying to solve most of the problem, without throwing everything into a single list and creating a different problem.

For example, I'd like to stop offering 8x10 and 16x20. If I do this however, the user is shown a list of 4x6, 5x7 and 20x30. This is a poor first impression and leads to shock. I have found very few customers who even realize I offer 8x12's at the moment.

Maybe also adding something when the site owner has disabled many other sizes. You could put something about please email "siteowner" if you want/need a different size than offered.
Doesn't work. I currently put in the gallery description to email me about purchasing digital files. I still get emails asking why I don't offer digital files. This tells me quite plainly they are not reading the gallery description, because otherwise they'd say "I'm emailing about a digital file purchase".

DavidTO's suggestion is probably even better.

[marlinspike]

I didn't vote because I don't see the option I want. Everything that's in 2:3 ratio should be a standard print IMHO, including 24x36 (it's actually easier to find 24x36 frames than 20x30, so I have no idea why one is standard and the other specialty).

[renstar]

Why not have the print type set by ratio instead? instead of standard and specialty, have 1:1, 2:3, and 3:4, Pano, and Exotic or something -r

[mercphoto]

Why not have the print type set by ratio instead? instead of standard and specialty, have 1:1, 2:3, and 3:4, Pano, and Exotic or something -r
Because customers don't understand math. Seriously. Nobody thinks aspect ratio when they go to order a print.

[flyingdutchie]

I'm in favor of all prints (sizes) in one list.:D

[renstar]

Because customers don't understand math. Seriously. Nobody thinks aspect ratio when they go to order a print. you dont have to call it that. but it is at least a reasonable organization method. i mean, think outside the box a little. Call it square, standard, i dunno, it is just a more sensible organization than a giant mess of all of them