RapidStudio Test Tip: Shopping Carts

Being part of the RapidStudio support team gives me firsthand insight into the needs of South African internet users who are new to e-commerce. I often feel that we are helping to bring South African users into the world of online shopping, and it’s important to be responsible by assuring, educating, and supporting them.

Being on support duty every Sunday from 10 till 3, I’ve decided to use some of that time to work on "tips" for new internet users to help them stay safe online and have the best possible experience. These are written by me personally, and RapidStudio support can’t explain, take responsibility for, or support the things I’ve put here for you. However, I’m sure other internet users will also find them useful!

So here’s the first tip, a test tip to see if this helps anyone and whether I should consider doing one a week:

The Shopping Cart

When shopping online, most e-commerce stores use a "shopping cart" to hold the items you are about to purchase. It keeps track of quantities, totals up prices and discounts, and provides delivery options for physical items that need to be delivered to you.

Just like in a physical store, you need to "check out" the items in your shopping cart and pay for them before they become yours. Typically, when checking out, you are directed to a third-party payment page, where a secure "payment provider" verifies your payment, ensuring both the buyer and the store are protected from fraud. Some larger businesses may manage their own payment process, but most will use a third-party provider. After payment is verified, you are returned to the store's site to complete the check-out process.

When checking out, it’s important to double-check the delivery details, quantities, and the total price to ensure everything is correct.

It's also a good idea to complete the checkout process in one sitting. While you can add items to your cart over several days, when you’re ready to check out, try to do it in one go to avoid mistakes, confusion, or duplicate payments. There is usually a confirmation at the end of the checkout process, and it’s important to make sure the process is fully completed before leaving the site. After payment, you might encounter additional steps, such as choosing delivery options or uploading/downloading files.

Tips for Shopping Carts:

• Check and double-check all options and items in the cart.
• Ensure that delivery details are accurate.
• Expect to be diverted to a third-party payment provider for verification.
• Be patient and make sure you've completed all necessary steps before exiting.

Common Payment Providers in South Africa (For Illustrative Purposes):

This is not an endorsement, but a list of some of the payment providers we have encountered. RapidStudio uses PayFast as our trusted payment provider.

• PayFast (Supports credit cards, EFT, Apple Pay, SnapScan, and more)
• Yoco (Known for card payments and point-of-sale devices)
• Ozow (Focuses on real-time EFT payments)
• PayGate (Reliable and secure, for both card and EFT payments)
• SnapScan (Specializes in QR-based payments)
• Mobicred (Buy-now-pay-later option for customer financing)

Good Luck,

- Steven

Changes Made in This Article:

• Refreshed language for clarity and relevance.
• Replaced outdated payment providers with a current list for 2024.
• Emphasized the use of PayFast as the trusted payment provider for RapidStudio.
• Clarified that the listed payment providers are for illustrative purposes, not endorsements.