← Blog

Shopify Test Orders: The Benefits and the 4 Ways to Perform Them (With Steps)

Last updated:  May 22, 2023

As an ecommerce business owner, you should ensure your customers can make purchases easily. For example, a buying experience with defects or too many steps is the perfect excuse for your customer to churn and go to one of your competitors. And this can cost your business $243 on average. How good the checkout process is, is vital for the CX; that’s why you must examine it using regular dummy runs.

At Upscribe, we know how important the CX is to a healthy bottom line. Up to 86% of customers are willing to pay more when their experience is top-notch. We integrate with Shopify to

ensure your checkout process is seamless. 

In this article, learn why you should perform test orders regularly and four ways to achieve them. 

What Are Shopify Test Orders?

Shopify test orders are a dummy run of your transaction experience before it’s released to customers. Regular test orders are essential, especially before new checkout releases. You won’t be charged when stimulating a purchase on Shopify, and there are several ways to perform them.

Why Are Shopify Test Orders Important?

Ensure the checkout process works as expected

Test orders allow you to double-check the entire checkout flow. This way, you get to see whether the following elements are free from bugs and defects:

  • Order processing;
  • Inventory availability;
  • Shipping rates;
  • Email notifications;
  • Taxes;
  • Handling fees;
  • Subscription handling; and
  • Tip handling

Test transactions let you uncover any potential issues that are difficult to see in a basic preview to prevent them from getting into the live system.

Put yourself in the customer’s shoes

The UX and UI are fundamental parts of delivering a high-quality CX. And a walk-through of your checkout process lets you decide whether you’re providing the buying experience you know your customers will find satisfactory.

You can consider things like the length of your checkout process. If your customers feel they are being taken through a million steps to make a payment, they’ll likely become frustrated and abandon the cart.

Your checkout process should be concise and challenge-free. Examine things like the upsells and cross-sells experience. And if you offer a localized checkout, are there any issues there?

In addition, you’ll get to scrutinize how the pages display throughout the process and discover whether the branding or any other customized elements display the way you want on mobile.

CX is everything! 64% of customers believe their CX is more important than the price point. One way you can instantly improve your subscription CX is by leveraging Upscribe. We’ll take your subscription CX to another level by helping you deliver the personalized experience subscribers appreciate. We focus on subscription-based customers and can help your business to scale by offering customers flexibility to manage subscriptions using a powerful customer portal.

Already using a similar solution? Don’t worry; our migration process is quick and seamless, and you won’t lose any data. We’ll have you up and running in no time!

How to Place a Test Order on Shopify

There are multiple ways to test your payment process, which we’ll examine below. We’ll look at four different methods, providing you steps you’ll need to follow to test your checkout processes effectively. Let’s dive in.  

1. Use Shopify Bogus Test Gateway

Follow these steps to use Shopify Bogus Test Gateway for test orders using your desktop:

  1. Go to Shopify admin,  then Settings > Payments.
  2. If you’ve previously activated a credit card payment provider, you’ll need to deactivate it before continuing by clicking on Manage > Deactivate, then confirm your deactivation.
  3. Next, do one of the following:

If you have Shopify Payments activated:

  • From Shopify Payments, select Manage.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Switch to a third-party provider, then click on the option again to confirm.

Without Shopify Payments enabled:

  • From Shopify Payments, choose See all other providers.
  • If Shopify Payments isn’t available where you are, go to the Payment providers section, and select Choose a provider.
  1. From the list, choose (for testing) Bogus Gateway.
  2. Select Activate (for testing) Bogus Gateway, then Save.

Now go to your online store to add products to your cart. Your test purchase should be more than $1 in any currency. Enter the following information at checkout:

Field name Payment details
Name on Card Enter: Bogus Gateway
Credit card number Enter a number to test different transaction types:

  • Enter 1 to test a successful payment
  • Enter 2 to test a failed payment
  • Enter 3 to test an exception (to generate a message saying that an error has occurred with the provider).
CVV Enter any three numbers here e.g. 111
Expiry Date Enter any future date
  1. Once you’ve finished testing, go to (for testing) Bogus Gateway, and click Manage.
  2. Select Deactivate to remove (for testing) Bogus Gateway from your checkout.

Shopify Bogus Test Gateway using the mobile app

The steps are pretty much the same when using Bogus Test Gateway from the Shopify app. There is a slight difference in how the options are worded at the start of the process.

  1. Open the Shopify app and select Store > Settings.
  2. Tap Payments under Store settings.

From here onwards, follow the exact same steps you used when testing on desktop.

2. Use Shopify Payments test mode

The Test Mode feature in Shopify Payments lets you test transactions and processing. However, real payment cards won’t be accepted when the test mode is activated. Therefore, test mode shouldn’t be started on a store in Production.

Note: You’ll be charged for any shipping labels purchased, so don’t fulfill any test orders. And if you have an app that automatically fulfills orders, deactivate it before using test mode.

Follow these steps to activate Test Mode via desktop:

  1. Go to your Shopify admin, then click Settings > Payments.
  2. Click Manage from the Shopify Payments section.
  3. Select Enable test mode from Test mode, then Save.

Activate Test Mode using the Shopify app

The steps for enabling Test Mode from the mobile app are almost identical:

  1. Open the Shopify app then tap Store > Settings.
  2. Press Payments under Store settings.
  3. From Shopify Payments, tap Manage.
  4. Choose Enable test mode, from the Test Mode section, then Save.

Stimulate Transactions

Create your dummy orders and test the transaction process using a test credit card number. You can use the credit card numbers to credit successful and failed transactions.

Successful transactions

Use the following information when asked for credit card details at checkout:

Field Name Details to enter
Name on Card Enter at least two words
Expiry date Enter a future date
Security code Enter three digits
Card number Enter any of the following numbers
Visa 4242424242424242
Mastercard 5555555555554444
American Express 378282246310005
Discover 6011111111111117
Diners Club 30569309025904 
JCB 3530111333300000

Failed transactions

Enter the following credit card numbers to stimulate failed transactions:

Failed Transaction Error  Card number to enter
Card declined 4000000000000002
Incorrect number 4242424242424241 
Disputed transaction 4000000000000259
Invalid expiry month Enter an invalid number like 13
Invalid expiry year Enter a past date
Security code Enter a two-digit number

3. Use a real payment provider

You must  immediately cancel and refund the order when performing a test order using a real payment provider. Although testing with factual information is ideal, and you get to see whether the cancel and refund part of your set-up works, the payment processor may charge you. Consider checking their terms of service first.

Follow these steps to test using authentic payment details from the desktop or Shopify app:

  1. From your Shopify Admin, select Settings > Payment providers.
  2. Under Accept Payments, choose Accept Credit Cards.
  3. Click the Select a Credit Card Gateway pull-down menu on the Accept Credit Cards screen.
  4. After setting up your payment gateway details, check the Use test mode option, then Activate.
  5. Add some items to your shopping cart and complete the checkout process using your credit card details. You’ll be asked to log in to confirm the transaction if you’re using a third-party gateway.
  6. Now go to the Order section in your Shopify Admin.
  7. Find the order then select the order number to open it.
  8. Choose Refund.

4. Use an offline payment method

Test runs are also handy to see how manual payment methods like Cash on delivery (COD), bank transfers, and money deposit are handled. Do this by setting up a custom Manual payment method, then run a test order. You won’t be charged third-party transaction fees; here’s how to do it on desktop and mobile:

  1. Go to your Shopify admin, then Settings > Payments.
  2. Select one of the manual payment methods from the Payment providers section.
  3. If you want information to display next to the payment method at checkout, enter it in Additional details.
  4. In Payment instructions, add the instructions the customer should follow to make payment. They will display on the order confirmation page once the order is completed.
  5. Click Activate payment method.

When running your test run, select the payment method like a bank deposit, then verify that the details are correct on the confirmation page.

Use Upscribe for more Subscription Revenue

A test order lets you see what it’s like to transact on your Shopify storefront. It allows you to double-check that the process is successful and you deliver the intended CX. A common reason for customer churn is an unsatisfactory UX and CX.

Upscribe helps you reduce churn by supporting you in delivering on your promise to customers of a seamless checkout experience while you focus on delivering more value. We offer free priority support, and our out-of-the-box tools will arm you with what you need for more subscription revenue, make reordering easy, and lots more.

Contact us today to schedule your demo and to start making more money in your sleep by leveraging your storefront’s potential.