Collect Customer Phone Numbers at Checkout

You've wanted it, and you've got it: We’ve added phone numbers to the list of info your shop requests during checkout.

The new phone number field at checkout defaults to be optional, but if a phone number is crucial, you can change it to a mandatory field. If you’ve been running your shop for a while, maybe you remember a time when it’d be handy to have a few more customer details. You might need to clarify some order details, or a certain shipping carrier may require a recipient's contact info. Now you'll have it and business will be smooth sailing.

If you're thinking, 'Why would a shop give a hoot about phone numbers?' Here's why.

International shipping

You’ve got fans around the world, and they’re placing orders! Since international shipments are a little trickier to deliver correctly, most carriers ask for a phone number. Now you’ll have your customer’s digits so that they’ll be contacted directly by the shipping company if there are any questions about where the heck their home is, exactly.

Custom products

When you’re making one of a kind items, you want to make sure you get it right. While it’s great to use product options and Notes at Checkout to specify colors and take requests in writing, sometimes a quick phone call can clear up any confusion.

When life gets in the way

Look, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. Maybe you forgot to adjust inventory numbers when you gave your buddy a sweatshirt, and now you’ve sold a size that was out of stock. Or there’s a mismatched city and zip code that are raising red flags during shipping. A phone number is a good backup if you need to solve an issue and a customer hasn’t responded to your email.

There’s nothing you need to do to start asking for phone numbers at checkout, we’ve already flipped the switch and added that field to your shop. To set it as mandatory, just look for the Preferences header in the Account section of your admin.

And while you’re here, stay tuned: we’re working on more ways to improve the shopping experience for your customers. Not too long ago, we added the ability to send shipment notifications from your shop, and next up is automatically charging accurate sales tax on any order.

If you have something else in mind, let us know. We’re all ears.