Epic 1: Transparent Pricing & Cost Visibility

User Story 1.1: Early Shipping Cost Display

As a price-conscious shopper
I want to see estimated shipping costs before I start checkout
So that I can make informed purchasing decisions without surprises

Acceptance Criteria:

• [ ] Shipping cost estimator visible on cart page
• [ ] User can enter ZIP code to calculate exact shipping
• [ ] Total cost (items + shipping + tax) displayed prominently
• [ ] Multiple shipping options shown with delivery timeframes
• [ ] Free shipping threshold clearly communicated

INVEST Validation:

• ✅ Independent: Can be developed without other features
• ✅ Negotiable: Shipping display format can be refined
• ✅ Valuable: Addresses #1 abandonment reason (48% of users)
• ✅ Estimable: 3-5 day development effort
• ✅ Small: Fits in single sprint
• ✅ Testable: A/B test conversion rates with/without feature

Story Points: 5 Priority: P0 (Critical) Business Value: High - Directly addresses primary abandonment cause

User Story 1.2: Dynamic Price Summary

As an online shopper
I want the order total to update automatically when I change quantities or shipping options
So that I always know exactly what I'm paying

Acceptance Criteria:

• [ ] Real-time price updates without page refresh
• [ ] Clear breakdown: subtotal, shipping, taxes, discounts, total
• [ ] Visual highlight when total changes
• [ ] Mobile-optimized sticky summary bar
• [ ] Discount codes applied and reflected immediately

INVEST Validation:

• ✅ All criteria met

Story Points: 3 Priority: P0 (Critical)

Epic 2: Frictionless Guest Checkout

User Story 2.1: Guest-First Checkout Flow

As a first-time shopper
I want to checkout without creating an account
So that I can complete my purchase quickly

Acceptance Criteria:

• [ ] Guest checkout is the default, prominent option
• [ ] “Continue as Guest” button above “Sign In” option
• [ ] Only essential fields required (email, shipping, payment)
• [ ] Account creation offered AFTER successful purchase
• [ ] Order tracking available via email link (no account needed)

INVEST Validation:

• ✅ All criteria met