E-commerce Documentation

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Overview

The Universal Bookshelf e-commerce system provides a comprehensive platform for selling digital and physical books. Our system handles everything from shopping cart management to order fulfillment, with robust payment processing and inventory management.

Key Features
  • Shopping cart with session persistence
  • Secure checkout process
  • Multiple payment gateways
  • Order tracking and management
  • Inventory management
  • Promotional pricing
  • Shipping calculations
  • Return and refund processing
Supported Products
  • Digital books (PDF, EPUB, MOBI)
  • Physical books (hardcover, paperback)
  • Audiobooks
  • Book bundles and collections
  • Subscription services

Shopping Cart

The shopping cart system provides a seamless experience for users to add, modify, and manage items before checkout.

Cart Features
  • Session-based storage: Cart persists across browser sessions
  • Real-time updates: Instant price calculations and inventory checks
  • Quantity management: Easy item quantity adjustments
  • Save for later: Move items to wishlist
  • Cross-device sync: Cart accessible from multiple devices
Cart Operations
Operation Description API Endpoint
Add Item Add a book to cart POST /api/cart/add
Update Quantity Change item quantity PUT /api/cart/update
Remove Item Remove item from cart DELETE /api/cart/remove
View Cart Get current cart contents GET /api/cart
Clear Cart Remove all items DELETE /api/cart/clear

Checkout Process

The checkout process is designed to be secure, user-friendly, and conversion-optimized.

Checkout Flow
  1. Cart Review

    Review items, quantities, and prices

  2. Customer Information

    Billing and shipping details

  3. Shipping Options

    Choose delivery method and address

  4. Payment Method

    Select and enter payment details

  5. Order Review

    Final confirmation before processing

  6. Order Confirmation

    Success page with order details

Security Features
  • ✓ SSL encryption
  • ✓ PCI compliance
  • ✓ Fraud detection
  • ✓ Address verification
  • ✓ CVV validation

Order Management

Comprehensive order management system for both customers and administrators.

Order Statuses
Order Lifecycle
Pending Order received, awaiting payment
Confirmed Payment received, processing
Processing Preparing for shipment
Shipped Order dispatched
Delivered Order completed
Order Operations
  • Order History: Complete order tracking
  • Order Details: Detailed view with tracking
  • Invoice Generation: PDF invoices
  • Order Cancellation: Cancel before shipping
  • Reordering: Quick reorder from history

Payment Processing

Secure and flexible payment processing with multiple gateway support.

Supported Payment Methods
Credit/Debit Cards
  • ✓ Visa
  • ✓ Mastercard
  • ✓ American Express
  • ✓ Discover
Digital Wallets
  • ✓ PayPal
  • ✓ Apple Pay
  • ✓ Google Pay
  • ✓ Stripe
Payment Security
  • Tokenization: Secure card storage
  • 3D Secure: Additional authentication
  • Fraud Detection: AI-powered risk assessment
  • PCI Compliance: Industry security standards
  • Encryption: End-to-end data protection

Inventory Management

Real-time inventory tracking and management system.

Inventory Features
  • Real-time Updates: Instant stock level changes
  • Low Stock Alerts: Automatic notifications
  • Backorder Management: Handle out-of-stock items
  • Inventory Reports: Detailed analytics
  • Multi-location Support: Warehouse management
Stock Levels
In Stock Available for immediate purchase
Low Stock Limited quantity remaining
Out of Stock Currently unavailable
Backorder Available for pre-order

Pricing & Promotions

Flexible pricing system with comprehensive promotional capabilities.

Pricing Features
  • Dynamic Pricing: Real-time price adjustments
  • Currency Support: Multiple currency display
  • Tax Calculation: Automatic tax computation
  • Bulk Pricing: Quantity-based discounts
  • Member Pricing: Special rates for subscribers
Promotion Types
Discount Types
  • Percentage discounts
  • Fixed amount discounts
  • Buy one, get one
  • Free shipping
  • Bundle discounts
Promotion Rules
  • Minimum order value
  • Product category restrictions
  • User group targeting
  • Time-based validity
  • Usage limits

Shipping & Delivery

Comprehensive shipping and delivery management system.

Shipping Methods
Method Delivery Time Cost Features
Standard Shipping 3-5 business days $5.99 Tracking included
Express Shipping 1-2 business days $12.99 Priority handling
Digital Delivery Instant Free Email delivery
International 7-14 business days $19.99 Customs handling
Delivery Features
  • Real-time Tracking: Live shipment updates
  • Delivery Notifications: SMS and email alerts
  • Signature Required: Secure delivery options
  • Delivery Windows: Scheduled delivery times
  • Multiple Addresses: Ship to different locations

Returns & Refunds

Customer-friendly return and refund processing system.

Return Policy
Physical Books
  • 30-day return window
  • Must be in original condition
  • Free return shipping
  • Full refund or exchange
Digital Books
  • 7-day return window
  • No download restrictions
  • Instant refund processing
  • Account credit option
Refund Process
  1. Return Request: Customer initiates return
  2. Approval: Admin reviews and approves
  3. Processing: Item received and inspected
  4. Refund Issued: Payment returned to customer
  5. Confirmation: Customer notified of completion

API Endpoints

Complete API reference for e-commerce operations.

Cart API
Endpoint Method Description Parameters
/api/cart GET Get cart contents None
/api/cart/add POST Add item to cart book_id, quantity
/api/cart/update PUT Update item quantity cart_item_id, quantity
/api/cart/remove DELETE Remove item from cart cart_item_id
Checkout API
Endpoint Method Description Parameters
/api/checkout/initiate POST Start checkout process shipping_address, billing_address
/api/checkout/process POST Process payment payment_method, payment_data
/api/checkout/confirm POST Confirm order order_id
Orders API
Endpoint Method Description Parameters
/api/orders GET Get user orders page, limit
/api/orders/{id} GET Get order details order_id
/api/orders/{id}/track GET Get order tracking order_id
/api/orders/{id}/cancel POST Cancel order order_id, reason
Next Steps

Now that you understand the e-commerce system, you can:

  • Integrate the shopping cart into your frontend
  • Implement the checkout process
  • Set up payment gateways
  • Configure shipping methods
  • Customize the order management system
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