Just let me log in!

I know that I said this post would involve a door, but I haven’t had time to go snap the photos for that entry.

Instead, let’s look at how a website can make you go through needless pain for the privilege of sending them money.

Last night, I wanted to order with a national pizza chain. So I went to their website and was presented with their homepage.

 There is an “Order Online” button with a big, inviting button. The assumption is that you click the button and would be taken to the log-in screen. Since I have a log-in with them, I click the button. Instead of a log-in screen I get this screen:

Why is the site asking for my location? Shouldn’t I log in and the system would know where my store is?

So, I enter my zip code and am rewarded with this screen:

Now, please note the “Order Online” link… the same link that I clicked two pages ago. Why am I being asked for this yet again? And why is it so small?

Click the link and you get:

 FINALLY, an honest-to-goodness log-in screen.

Now I can enter my email and password and start ordering my delicious pizza.

Now, let's talk about how this should have worked.

When I clicked the “Order Online” button on the home page it should have given me the opportunity to log in. On the order page I would enter the delivery address. The system would then verify that this address is serviced by my stored location. If not, it would advise me that there is a closer location and my pizza would be delivered from that location instead.

LESSON LEARNED:  When a user wants to log into your system, don’t make them leap through hoops. Get them into your system first and then take it from there.