Usability · Intermediate · 45 min

Critique a checkout flow

Walk through a real online checkout and write a structured critique with severity ratings.

Context

Checkout is where small problems cost the most: surprise costs, forced account creation, confusing delivery options and unclear errors all cause people to leave. You will critique a real checkout without buying anything.

Your prompt

Choose a real online shop, go through checkout up to (not including) payment, and write a critique with at least six findings rated by severity.

Instructions

Pick a shop you have not used before. Add a low-cost item to the basket.
Record every step with screenshots. Note where you hesitate.
Try at least one mistake on purpose, such as an invalid postcode.
Write each finding as: what happened, why it matters, severity (critical, serious, minor) and a recommendation.
Note at least two things the checkout does well.
Stop before entering payment details.

Expected deliverables

A step-by-step screenshot strip
A findings list using the findings report format

Completion checklist

I stopped before payment.
Each finding has evidence, severity and a recommendation.
I included things that work well.
I tested at least one error case.

4 items

Evaluation criteria

Findings are specific and evidence-based.
Severity ratings are consistent and justified.
Recommendations are realistic for the business.

Hints and an illustrative solution

Show hints

Common issues: delivery cost revealed late, forced registration, coupon fields that make people leave to search for codes, and errors that clear the form.
Use the findings report template in the resource library.

Show one possible solution

This is one reasonable answer, not the only one. Compare reasoning, not pixels.

An example finding: "Delivery cost appears only on the final step (serious). After entering address details, a delivery fee is added. People who feel misled abandon at this point. Recommendation: show the delivery cost, or a delivery cost estimate, in the basket." Another: "Guest checkout is available but shown as a small link under a large 'Create account' form (serious). Recommendation: present guest checkout and sign-in as equal choices, and offer account creation after the order."

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