Need more than three "Define Variations that tell more about the product" fields?

[micah]

Hi, I am currently using all three of the "Define Variations that tell more about the product ordered" field. I need at least one more field, I'd really like to have a spot where customers can type special instructions and since I've used up the existing three fields another one would be great.



Is this something that is going to be added at some point (soon!)?



Is there a workaround for this so customers can include detailed special instructions when they order a product from me? Thanks!

[E-junkie_Monster]

Hello,



If you combine variants and variations you can get a total of six options to be passed through the checkout process. We really cannot pass more than that since we have to let the order go through a checkout process with a third party and there's a limited amount of information we can send through.



We go over some other ways to pass variables through the ordering process which can be adapted to displaying more options than we can officially support here:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.custom.purchase-buttons.htm#product

[micah]

Thanks for the quick reply...



The thing is, I don't need the special instructions field to be passed through to the payment processor (PayPal in this case). I'm already at the 6 variant limit, now all I need is to be able to get an email directly from E-Junkie or as part of the E-Junkie "payment received" email that includes special instructions entered by the customer... that information wouldn't even need to go to the payment processor, it's just for me and the customer anyways.



Seems like it should be doable?

[E-junkie_Monster]

Unfortunately, in order for you and your customer to get that information it necessarily has to be handed off to the payment processor and saved during the checkout process.



This is what all item options ultimately are: extra information that the payment processor doesn't use because it has nothing to do with the monetary transaction, but it still must be saved within the order while the processor handles the money. There is limited space to do that and we're already stretching it about as far as it can go.



This is still doable, but any additional information will have to involve the customizations described here:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.custom.purchase-buttons.htm#product

[micah]

OK thanks, I'll check your link and see if I can sort it out.



So there's no way to have E-Junkie send a "special instructions" email directly to me, completely separately from payment processing?



I get a copy of the successful transaction email that customers receive so I know E-Junkie can automatically forward information to me... couldn't you also have an email triggered to me when customers enter details in a specific box? Or even if it has to be automatic with every order that'd be fine, when people don't enter any special instructions I can just delete the email.



And that email, like I said, could be 100% outside the payment processing part of the system and literally just be a "special instructions for transaction ID #xyz123" email from E-Junkie to me, the seller... I'm sure I'm not the only person who would find a system like that to be really really handy

[E-junkie_Monster]

Order information first goes to the payment processor, then to us after payment is completed, then to you.



If we took any order information before the payment processor finished with the order and passed it on to you then you'd be getting bad information from everyone who didn't actually complete a payment.

[E-junkie_Guru]

BTW, see the bottom of this help page for further tips about combining Variations and Variants to get up to 6 product option fields/menus:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.variants.htm



BTW, bear in mind that you typically should not need to use this method to get the buyer's name, email address and (optional) street address, as all that information would be collected automatically during checkout; just remember to enable Shipping/Buyer's Address in the settings of each product that should trigger collection of a street address.

[micah]

OK thanks guys for all the informative and prompt replies.