Before launching your Uscreen storefront, comprehensive testing ensures your customers have a seamless experience from their first visit to a successful purchase.
ℹ️ INFO: This guide covers testing methods to validate your platform's functionality and identify potential issues before they impact real customers.
Why Testing Matters
Testing is crucial for several reasons:
Prevent Revenue Loss: Identify and fix checkout issues before customers encounter them
Build Customer Trust: Ensure smooth user experiences that encourage repeat purchases
Validate New Features: Test newer releases and platform updates to ensure they work correctly with your specific setup
Reduce Support Tickets: Catch common issues early to minimize customer service inquiries
Essential Testing Scenarios
Creating Test Users
Create test user accounts to experience your platform from a customer's perspective. This allows you to:
Test the complete user journey
Verify email templates and notifications
Experience different access levels and permissions
🔗 Learn more about Creating a Test User
Testing Checkout with Coupons
Use coupon codes to test the checkout process without real charges. This method:
Validates your tracking code functionality
Tests the complete purchase flow
Generates invoices and fires webhooks for testing integrations
🔗 Learn more about Redeeming a Coupon Code
Testing Live Payment Methods
For thorough validation, test real transactions with small amounts ($0.50) using actual payment methods. This ensures:
Payment provider connections work correctly
Charges processed successfully
Subscription billing cycles function properly
💡 TIP: Remove trial periods from subscriptions during testing to see immediate charges
Refunding Test Purchases
After testing with real payments, you can easily clean up your test data:
Process the Refund: You are free to test any purchase at full price and simply refund the charge through your Uscreen admin panel
Navigate to People or Sales: Go to People and search for the test user, then click on the specific invoice to refund, or use the Sales page to locate the transaction
Click Refund: Click the Refund button and confirm the refund in the pop-up box
📝 NOTE: Before confirming a refund, double-check that you are refunding the correct account and invoice, as this process is irreversible.
🔗 Learn more about the Refund Process
User Impersonation Testing
Impersonate users to troubleshoot issues and test specific scenarios:
Verify content access for different user types
Test device session limits
Check referral program functionality
Validate email preferences and notifications
🔗 Learn more about User Impersonation
Email & Marketing Tools Testing
Test email templates and marketing features before sending to your audience:
Send test emails to verify formatting and content
Test push notifications with private bundles
Validate email deliverability and bounce handling
🔗 Learn more about the Email Templates
Testing Use Cases & Scenarios
Pre-Launch Testing
Complete checkout flow validation
Email template verification
Mobile app functionality testing
Payment provider integration testing
Feature Release Testing
New feature functionality validation
Cross-platform compatibility testing
User experience testing across different devices
Ongoing Maintenance Testing
Regular checkout flow verification
Seasonal promotion testing
Integration testing after platform updates
Best Practices
✅ Do
Test with real payment amounts and refund if needed
Create multiple test user accounts for different scenarios
Test on multiple devices and browsers
Validate all email templates before launch
Test newer platform features thoroughly
❌ Don't
Skip testing payment provider connections
Forget to delete test subscriptions to avoid recurring charges
Test only on desktop, as mobile testing is crucial
Assume features work without validation
FAQs
Can I test purchases without getting charged?
Can I test purchases without getting charged?
Yes, use coupon codes for 100% discounts or test on the staging environment with test payment credentials.
Will test users receive actual emails?
Will test users receive actual emails?
Yes, test users will receive emails using your configured email templates. Use test email addresses you control.
How often should I test my platform?
How often should I test my platform?
Test before major launches, after platform updates, and regularly as part of maintenance to ensure continued functionality.
What should I do if I find issues during testing?
What should I do if I find issues during testing?
Document the issues, fix them before launch, and retest to ensure the problems are resolved.
Can I get refunds for test purchases?
Can I get refunds for test purchases?
Yes, you can refund test purchases through your admin panel, but keep in mind that payment processing fees are typically not refundable.