IndieCommerce Launches Beta Version Wish List

This week, the American Booksellers Association announced the launch of a beta version wish list for IndieCommerce sites.

When the wish list module is activated, an “Add to Wish List” button will appear alongside the “Add to Cart” button on a store site’s product pages and book lists. Pressing the button will add the selected book to a user’s wish list. Customers must be logged in order to add books to their wish list.

Among the current wish list features:

• Users can e-mail their wish list to up to 10 recipients at a time, along with a custom message.
• The wish list supports product quantities. This is particularly useful for schools or charitable organizations that might want more than one of each item on their list.
• When another user makes a purchase from a wish list, the list is updated accordingly. If the quantity of the product purchased equals the quantity desired, the item is marked as “Fulfilled” on the list, and the “Add to Cart” button is removed.
• Users can search for wish lists by e-mail address. Stores may want to create a link to /wish list/search to help users find this feature. Store administrators will be able to browse all wish lists created on the site.

Limitations (to be addressed in future updates):

• Google eBooks can not be added to wish lists at this time. Google eBooks on wish lists will require support for gifting e-books, which IndieCommerce plans to implement in 2012.
• Only one wish list is allowed per user.
• The “Add to Wish List” button does not appear in search results.
• Customers are not notified when something is purchased from their list.
• No statistics or reports are provided currently (e.g., most wished for books, number of lists, etc.)

Stores that would like to have the Wish list module activated should contact IndieCommerce staff. To help booksellers promote their website’s new wish list feature, ABA has created a new counter card downloadable here.

In other IndieCommerce news, Google eBooks™ are now listed on store websites prior to release. At present, prerelease titles will simply display a “Coming Soon” message, with a release date, and cannot be purchased until they go on sale. (Support for preordering is coming in 2012.) However, this new feature will help ensure that new e-books are available for sale and appear in search on store sites on the day of release.

And lest it be forgotten in the rush of the busy holiday season, IndieCommerce staff offers stores an important reminder: Remember to mark orders “Completed,” especially if your store is using ABA’s shared Authorize.net account. Earned income will not be transferred to a store bank account by ABA until orders are marked as completed.