Restrict based on postcode / zip code
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I love this plugin, but one issue affects its usability.
Many street names are not unique, and often the correct address does not appear in the first few results.
For instance, in the UK if I type “12 High Street”, there are hundreds of matches. This occurs for many less common addresses too. In practice, a user doesn’t see their address, so continues to type out their address manually – defeating the purpose of the plugin.
I would like to be able to restrict the search based on postcode / zip code. So, we can present the address fields in this order:
1. Country
2. Post code / zip code
3. Street address (auto complete field)The search would be restricted only within the postcode area. This means the correct address appears *every time* (in the UK at least).
Is this possible? (i.e. restrict by postcode, if that field has a value entered)
Thanks
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To add to my comment above, I have noticed that many users don’t realise they can type their *full* address, in the ‘Street address’ field.
If a user continues to type their town name or postcode, the address selection works fine. But users often don’t do this as the field is labelled ‘Street Address’ so they only type their door number and street name, which is not specific enough.
This is why I’d like the plugin to look at other fields entered too, not just country and street address.
Hope that makes sense?
A better idea (and I realise I’m taking to myself here) would be to show results in the postcode field too
So:
1. User selects country
2. User types post code
3. Plugin shows a drop down with all addresses in that postcode, user selects the correct addressThis would work well for UK addresses, where there aren’t that many addresses per post code. And I’ve used sites that do this, eg this registration page: https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/register
However, in the US a zip code can have thousands of addresses, so further filtering would be needed, e.g. door number AND Zip code
One way round this would be to allow the plugin to be configured to optional hook into different address fields, and let the site admin choose. E.g. in th plugin settings, choose to use
street addressorpost code. As I’m building UK site, I would choose post codeAny ideas?
Thanks for your reply
I also think people will continue to type their address details until they see it show up.
I referred to this in my first comment. In testing, I’ve seen that this often isn’t true. The plugin acts on the ‘street address’ field. Many people type in their door number and street name, then see a list of unrelated addresses. Many people don’t realise they can continue typing, to further refine the address suggestions. Therefore, they often skip to manually entering their address. Which defeats the plugin purpose.
Adding a zip code before it would defeat much of the purpose of this plugin which is to reduce the amount of typing people need to fill out their address
In the UK at least, the optimum approach used on many e-commerce sites, is to ask for door number and postcode, because that is the smallest unique address possible. (Each door number is unique per postcode). The version I linked to above is a variation on this, using google autocomplete. The user is asked to type their postcode, then is presented with all matching addresses in a list, and the user clicks their address. I suggest you try it, eg with: NE6 2BA
I’d be interested in knowing what you’d charge to add this functionality. Can be discussed privately.
Thanks
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