Subproducts dropdown box - Deafult value

[Andrea]

Hello,

We have created a product template that displays the subproducts names and
prices in a dropdown box.
Currently, the default value of the dropdown box is the first subproduct
name and price.
How could we have "Ordering Options", or any other short message, appear as
the default value in the dropdown box rather than seeing the first
subproduct?

At the moment we have developed a template that displays "Ordering Options"
as the default value by hard coding in the "Ordering Option" option just
above the dynamic dropdown:

<SELECT name=itemnum>
<option selected value="#">Ordering Options</option>
[-- LOOP SUBPRODUCTS --]
[-- SUBPRODUCTS --]
[-- END_LOOP SUBPRODUCTS --]
</SELECT>

but, for some strange reason, if the client chooses "Ordering Options"
rather than an actual product, he gets a $50 gift certificate in the
shopping cart (this is the default value of our gift certificate product).

I hope someone can enlighten me.
I am happy to upload the template if that would help.
Thank you in advance for any suggestion.
Andrea
http://www.essentialsforentertaining.com