How to Disable Quantity Changes in WooCommerce Cart
Imagine someone suddenly decides they want to make a bulk order in your store, and you really can’t handle it. Disappointing a customer after you’ve taken their money is not going to benefit anyone, so it is important that you are able to control the quantity you are offering.
One of the key features of WooCommerce is its add-to-cart functionality, which allows customers to add products and adjust quantities before proceeding to checkout.
There may be instances where you want to disable the quantity change option in the cart, such as offering limited edition items or simply preferring to offer fixed quantities, this article will guide you through the process of disabling quantity change in your WooCommerce cart.
Importance of Quantity Change in WooCommerce Cart
By default, WooCommerce allows customers to change the quantity of products in their cart. This feature provides flexibility and convenience, as it allows customers to adjust their order to meet their specific needs, but let’s say you’re selling something handmade, and simply don’t have the capacity to ship 30 of the item if someone orders it. You need control of quantities and inventory.
Additionally, you may restrict the number that a customer can buy. Say you are selling tickets for an event and you want to prevent the customer from ordering all of them to sell them on. How can you achieve this?
Things to Consider Before Disabling Quantity Change
Consider the nature of your products and the impact of fixed quantities on your customer base. Will they be disappointed if they can only order one or two of something, or is this expected in the industry you are in?
Be sure to communicate the change to your customers. Transparency is key in maintaining a positive shopping experience. Inform your customers through various channels, such as your website (banners, product pages info), and regular updates through emails regarding the decision to disable quantity change in the cart. This will help manage expectations.
Control Quantity With Min Max Default Quantity for WooCommerce
WooCommerce by default doesn’t enforce a minimum or maximum quantities for products, so a lot of users opt for more control on this and use plugins like Min Max Default Quantity.
The key functionality of this plugin is to allow you to set both minimum and maximum quantities for product, category, or sitewide.
If you can provide 10 of an item per customer, then you can easily set this as the maximum they can order.
The plugin also lets you cleverly assign decimal values to sell products in decimal quantities, like when you buy fruit based on weight. It can also intuitively display units like ‘KG’, ‘piece’, or ‘liter’ next to products, making shopping clearer for customers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Quantity Change
Now that you have considered the implications and communicated the change to your customers, as well as the top plugin option for quantity control, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of disabling quantity change in your WooCommerce cart.
First, you can’t (or probably shouldn’t) allow changing quantities in product pages, but prevent that from cart, otherwise it would be useless since customers can return back to shop pages and update quantities.
So it’s better to control quantities in cart, as well other pages like product & shop pages (if you allow changing quantities there).
Once you install the above-mentioned plugin, navigate to WooCommerce >> Settings >> Product Quantity. From there, you will find various options to control minimum & maximum quantities.
You can strict quantities to be 1, on all products at once:
And you can go to other tabs (minimum & maximum) to allow specifying these values on product, category, all products, or sitewide level.
Disabling the Quantity Change Option
Though you can make the changes by editing the code of your website, this isn’t an option for most people who use WooCommerce precisely because they prefer not to code.
Using a plugin such as Min Max Default Quantity for WooCommerce you can easily specify distinct allowed and disallowed quantities at granular levels, including individual products, categories, or attributes for enhanced customization.
So you can choose to have minimum and maximum levels for all products and this will automatically remove the customer’s ability to change the quantities.
As this video explains, you can control every aspect of quantities and ensure customers can only order in the volumes you predetermine:
Maintaining Your WooCommerce Cart After Disabling Quantity Change
Once you have successfully disabled quantity change in your WooCommerce cart, it’s important to ensure that your cart continues to function optimally.
Regular maintenance and updates are key to providing a smooth shopping experience for your customers, and you may need to make changes based on the availability of products. Every new product may also require you to check the boxes within the product listing to ensure that you have no issues with new products.
Regularly Checking Your Cart’s Functionality
Periodically test your cart to verify that the disabled quantity change option is still functioning as intended. Do this by adding products to the cart, attempting to adjust quantities, and proceeding to checkout. This simple check can help you identify any potential issues early on and address them promptly to avoid disruptions for your customers.
Conclusion
Disabling the quantity change option in your WooCommerce cart can be a strategic decision for your business. By considering the implications, communicating the change
to your customers, and following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can successfully implement this customization while maintaining a positive shopping experience on your website.
There are myriad reasons why you might change the quantity controls, such as limiting ticket sales per person or ensuring you don’t get inundated with orders, but using a plugin such as WooCommerce quantity control, you can ensure that you always have control.