Customer Registration Feature

[Paula]

I currently do not have the Customer Registration feature turned on for my store, but am considering enabling it. My main concern is with security. If I enable the feature, what do I need to do in terms of added security - or is this something handled on your end?

I would also like to know what the advantages/disadvantages are of having a registration feature on a store. I see some of your live stores do not use the feature. Personally as a shopper, I don't like having to sign in/remember passwords, etc. And I'm wondering how many others feel the same way. Thanks.

[ShopSite Lauren]

Paula, I agree, I don't like to sign in to websites. However, if a website has a facebook connect option, I will sign in 50% of the time. So, if you are enabling the registration feature, I would suggest setting up the facebook connect option so customers can login with their facebook account rather than create a new login for your website specifically.

As far as security, the SSL setup for your store includes security for the customer registration, so you shouldn't have to do anything there. However, some merchants choose to NOT store the payment information for registered customers. This is added security and if you are concerned, then I would suggest doing this as well (it is part of the config for registration).

[Paula]

Thanks, Lauren. I've seen some sites that don't even give you the option of purchasing without signing in. Ugh.

I'm not very familiar with the Facebook registration feature. Is it a pretty secure feature? My other concern would be that Facebook would have access to my customers' data. Plus there is the concern about people hacking into Facebook; then in that case would they have access to my customers' data?

Maybe I will leave as is for now. I don't have a wholesale site, or the type of site where people re-order the same exact thing.