Creating drop down menu instead of multiple product variants

[KirkN]

Hello,

We make custom-sized products which are currently divided into 3 product categories based on size (charging more for larger units). The customer selects the product size which is relevant for them and then is meant to type in the make, model and year in the Notes section of their Cart page so that we know which product we need to make and ship.  It can be confusing for the customer, however, if they don't know which product they should select and/or if they don't type in the make, model and year information on the Cart page notes section.  I am looking to make it easier and clearer for customers.

The straight forward option (from a design perspective) would be to create a product for each make and then have different variants for each model within that make.  They would still need to add the year to the Notes somewhere.  I am concerned about having so many variants and the effect it can have on site speed and complexity of setting up and managing so many variants, especially since we are ultimately still going to be charging the customer based on one of the three pricing categories that we have already set up. 

An alternative which I would like to explore is to have drop down menus which allow them to select the make, model and year and which will then bring up the correct product page based on those selections.  We would also need to have those selections recorded somewhere during the order process so that we know what we need to make. Is this possible?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

Regards,

Kirk 

[ParseLab_Viyana]

Hello @KirkN,

It is possible to simplify the selection process for your customers by using dropdown menus for make, model, and year, which would then guide them to the correct product page. However, Shopify’s default variant system may become complex with too many options, affecting site speed and management. You may need to do custom coding to implement this functionality efficiently.

To streamline this, you can use a third-party app like Inkybay - Product Personalizer. With Inkybay, you can create unlimited product options such as dropdowns, text fields, color swatches, and image swatching. You can set up dropdowns for make, model, and year, and even show a live preview of changing variants using image swatching. Price will update with the selection of options too

Additionally, all selections made through dropdowns and other customization options will be available in the order file, ensuring you receive the necessary details for production. Inkybay includes a 21-day free trial, so you can test whether it meets your needs or not!

[Cindy_Kickflip]

Hi @KirkN 

With Kickflip, you have several flexible options to structure your product setup while keeping it efficient and easy to manage.

1. Dropdown Menus for Selection – Customers can choose the make, model, and year using dropdown menus, ensuring their selections are recorded as part of the order.
   
   
   

   

    

2. Text Input for Customization – If needed, customers can freely enter additional details (such as the year) in a text input field, keeping the selection process simple while capturing all necessary information.
   
   

3. Size-Based Pricing Adjustments – You can create size-related questions and assign different pricing to each selection, ensuring that the correct pricing is applied automatically.
   
   

4. Splitting into Three Products – If you prefer, you can set up three separate products, each containing its respective options, to simplify management and ensure clarity in pricing.

Kickflip is designed to handle a variety of product configurations efficiently, so performance and site speed should not be a concern. Let us know which approach aligns best with your workflow, and we'd be happy to guide you through the setup!

Best regards,

The Kickflip team

[Easify-Jolie]

Hi @KirkN 

You can try the Easify Product Options app to simplify the selection process. It allows you to create dropdown menus for Make, Model, and Year, ensuring customers choose the right product without relying on cart notes. The selected details are recorded with the order, reducing confusion and manual work. This helps maintain your existing pricing structure while keeping the product catalog manageable. Here's how it works:

• This is the result

• This is the order:

• This is the app setting:

To make sure Toyota Car Model only show when Toyota is selected as Car Make, go to Advanced Settings, and set Conditional Logic like this: 

Easify is a hassle-free solution, and I think you’ll love it. Reach out to Easify if you need any help with the setup! 🤗