Why Customers Abandon Cart in OpenCart (and How to Fix It)

Posted by JackBudd on February 7, 2025

Cart abandonment is a frustrating challenge for any ecommerce store owner. You’ve done the hard work of attracting customers, getting them to browse, and adding products to their cart, only for them to leave without completing the purchase. OpenCart stores are no exception to this problem.

So, why do customers abandon their carts in OpenCart, and how can you fix it? 

1. Complicated or Lengthy Checkout Process

One of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment is a complicated checkout process. If customers have to go through too many steps, fill out excessive forms, or create an account before purchasing, they’re more likely to give up.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a one-page checkout to streamline the process. We’ve reviewed the best one-page checkout solutions for OpenCart here.

  • Offer a guest checkout option to remove friction.

  • Minimise the number of form fields required.

2. Limited Payment Options

Customers expect to pay using their preferred method, whether it’s credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even cryptocurrency. If your OpenCart store doesn’t support their payment choice, they might leave.

How to Fix It:

  • Integrate multiple payment gateways to accommodate a wider audience.

  • Ensure that local and international payment methods are supported.

  • Offer buy-now-pay-later services where possible.

3. Unexpected Costs (Shipping, Taxes, Fees)

Customers don’t like surprises when they reach the checkout page. If they see high shipping costs, unexpected taxes, or additional fees, they may abandon their cart.

How to Fix It:

  • Be upfront about all costs before checkout.

  • Offer free shipping or discounts on orders over a certain amount.

  • Use a shipping calculator to give customers an estimate before checkout.

4. Lack of Trust Signals

If your store doesn’t look trustworthy, customers will hesitate to enter their payment details. Poor design, lack of security badges, and no product reviews can drive them away.

How to Fix It:

  • Display trust badges for secure payments (SSL, PCI compliance, etc.).

  • Show customer reviews on product pages. Here’s how to get more product reviews in OpenCart.

  • Provide clear refund and return policies.

5. Slow Page Load Speeds

If your OpenCart store is slow, customers will leave before completing their purchase. Page speed is crucial for user experience and conversions.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a high-performance OpenCart hosting provider, such as ourselves. Find out why you should choose Antropy for OpenCart hosting.

  • Optimise images and scripts to reduce load times.

  • Enable caching and use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

6. Poor Mobile Experience

With more people shopping on mobile devices, your OpenCart store must be mobile-friendly. If the checkout process is difficult on a small screen, users will abandon their cart.

How to Fix It:

7. No Abandoned Cart Recovery Strategy

If a customer leaves their cart, it doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. Many can be recovered with the right follow-up strategy.

How to Fix It:

  • Send abandoned cart emails to remind customers of their pending purchase. Learn how to do it in OpenCart here.

  • Offer a small discount or incentive to encourage completion.

  • Use remarketing ads to re-engage potential customers.

Conclusion

Cart abandonment is a common challenge in OpenCart, but with the right strategies, you can reduce drop-offs and boost conversions. By simplifying checkout, offering multiple payment options, building trust, optimising speed, and following up on abandoned carts, you’ll see more completed purchases in no time.

Contact us for custom development, optimisations, and support!

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