Testing the cart in online shops

Most e-commerce websites have a common theme and structure where the shopping cart and checkout process are the most important parts

The shopping cart is one of the strategic areas to cover while testing. If website visitors can't add items to their cart, they have no reason to stay. Therefore, test cases should contain all types of operations with the selected element. In other words, the shopping cart functionality must handle calculations that are sometimes quite complex. Since it determines the price of the final product depending on the type of delivery or other services, the smooth functioning of the shopping cart is crucial.

First of all, it is important to check some aspects of its appearance.

Location

Most users have already visited online stores before. And they expect a certain arrangement of elements with standard sets of functions. Therefore, the so-called «user experience» should be taken into consideration.

To begin with, you should determine the location of the basket. Usually, its standard location (where a potential client expects to see it) is the upper right corner. Therefore, you should not try to be original in this, because the competition among online stores is very high, and even the seconds spent searching for the basket can create a negative impression of interaction with the site.

The location of the basket on the website of the «Adanola» online store.

The location of the basket on the website of the «Amazon» online store

Dropdown block (mini-cart)

Every customer expects to see all information about their order in one place avoiding roaming through the site. This is the reason why the cart icon must be displayed on all pages of the site and show the precise number of goods added. By hovering or clicking the cart,  user must be demonstrated:

• products in cart (goods with pictures, prices and their amount);
• ability to change the amount of goods or delete it completely;
• total amount of goods;
• purchase button.

Dropdown block cart with all information needed

Before you drive any traffic to your eCommerce store, it's best to check if the following features are implemented correctly:

Adding goods

1. Add one product to the cart. You need to make sure that the user does not have questions about the performed action, it is better to implement a certain visual confirmation of it. This can be a pop-up message, a changed button, or another effect. The main thing is that the user understands the consequences of their actions without unnecessary operations.

Changing the button after adding the product to the cart

2. Increase the number of products and add several to the cart. As part of this check, you can also try to add an invalid quantity of the product (negative number, zero, too much quantity, etc.).
3. Add the same item multiple times. A good tone will be if a pop-up message reminds the user that this product is already in the cart, and whether the user really wants to add another one. Of course, the items added to the cart must correctly calculate the quantity and final cost of the order.
4. Add several elements of different types. Check that all products are really in the cart and the calculated value.
5. Are there products with restricted access on the site? These can be, for example, products for customers who are over eighteen years old. You should make sure that there is proof of age and an informational notification.

Also, in each of the listed cases, it is worth making sure that the correct product appears in the cart, all the necessary information and links are displayed.

Change in the number of products

A certain product is already in the cart. Now you need to edit the product quantity with valid and invalid quantities (only spaces, negative values, 0, symbols, etc.). Make sure the item count is successfully changed if the user gives a valid value, otherwise a warning message should be displayed.

Changing quantity of product in the cart

Removal of goods

Remove one product from the cart. A pop-up window should appear to confirm the action (to avoid the possibility of accidentally pressing the button). Then remove multiple items. Make sure the items that were removed are gone. The quantity and value of the goods in the basket change according to the actions.

Remove all items from the cart.

Button to remove the product

Placing an order

At this stage, the following functions should be checked:

• ensure that the user can access the payment page only after adding the product to the cart;
• multiple payment methods available and functioning;
• methods and cost of delivery are available ;
• the final amount to be paid is calculated correctly, it includes the cost of delivery, taxes, etc.;
• order tracking status is available ;
• the contact page is visible and easily accessible;
• the currency switch will be a very useful tool on the payment page;
• placing an order by double-clicking the «Send» button (how the system reacts, whether appropriate notifications are displayed);
• can the user make his order as a gift to another person (gift message, packaging fee).

Placing an order

Promo code/gift certificate/bonuses

1. Select an item and apply the promo code at checkout by entering a valid discount coupon code in the field provided. Make sure the discount coupon amount is correctly calculated at checkout.
2. Enter the same promo code again (which has already been used before) during checkout. Make sure an informative message is displayed.
3. Check for invalid promo code. A corresponding notification should also appear to the user.
4. Place an order where the discount/certificate amount is greater than the entire order (how is the total calculated, is there an unused balance message).

Block for entering a promotional code

Guest cash desk

It is better not to provide an opportunity to place an order to an unregistered user, because, for example, various transactions may be linked to the account. Such information cannot be deleted from the database. Even users themselves may eventually want to see where they spent their money. Retention of such data may assist in the resolution of any disputed issues and legal proceedings. So, here you need to check that the user should be shown the cart page with all payment and shipping methods and it should ask for user login. A good solution would be automatic registration or login through social networks.

 Delivery

The following points should be taken into account:

• ensure that only registered users have access to the shipping address page;
• name, street address, city, state, country, zip code are required fields on the shipping address page;
• an error message is displayed when the user enters invalid values in one, several or all required fields on the shipping address page;
• check that the «Back to Cart» link is available so that the user can change the contents of the cart or other information if necessary;
• order status (the goods have been sent to the warehouse for packaging/in the process of delivery/the order has arrived at the specified address, etc.).

Choosing the delivery method

Order payment and payment systems

Payment system is another essential e-commerce website testing plan as it will largely determine future revenue. That's why you need to enable multiple payment options on e-commerce websites, such as credit cards, PayPal, mobile payment services like ApplePay, GooglePay, etc.

Ensure that Name, Card Number, Expiration Date, CVV2 are required fields on the checkout page and that an error message is displayed when the user enters invalid data in the fields or leaves them blank.

Choosing a payment method

Think like a user

Anticipate all options for the development of events. If the user can break something, he will definitely do it. Therefore, test the basket by combining different options: with registration and without; from PC and mobile device; with a choice of different delivery methods, payment and other options. This is the only way to find functional and logical errors. And if they are present, they will definitely be found by real buyers, which can lead to the loss of orders and, accordingly, income.

Additional features

For more successful trading, the site can be supplemented with some auxiliary functions. Example:

• block of related goods. The set option works very well, when two or more products from the list of recommendations + already added to the cart will cost the buyer a little cheaper than separately. Please note: the goods must be really related. If the client added a laptop, there is no need to recommend him to buy a power bank or hair dryer. Offer him, for example, a computer mouse.
• Gifts (when ordering above a certain amount, independent choice of gift by the buyer, free delivery, etc.). This not only improves conversion, but also increases the average check.
• Store the user's products using cookies. There can be a lot of reasons why the buyer left the cart without completing the order. He can remember an unfinished order after an hour or after a few days. Don't force your potential customer to start over.

Related goods

There are more and more e-commerce sites, each of them trying to attract as many customers as possible by all available methods. Therefore, users become more capricious and demanding, every little thing can reflect the intention to interact with your site in the future and leave it without completing the matter. All stages of placing an order in the online store are extremely important, because the buyer trusts you with his money. Carefully check every possible and impossible action, take into account the user experience, do not be too strict about mistakes made, make the site as personalized as possible so that the user feels comfortable. Caring for the client will definitely pay dividends.