Unified Receipts: Track All Store Orders

Hey guys! Let's talk about something super handy: a consolidated receipt for all your multi-store purchases. Imagine the convenience of having one single document that neatly summarizes everything you bought across different stores. This feature is a game-changer for anyone who shops at multiple locations, whether it's for groceries, household items, or anything else. The ability to generate, email, and print these unified receipts makes managing your spending and keeping track of your purchases a breeze. Let's dive in and see how this works and why it's so valuable.

🎯 The Shopper's Dream: Single, Comprehensive Receipts

As a shopper, the goal is simple: I want a single consolidated receipt that includes all items purchased across multiple stores. Think of it as your financial command center for shopping. With this feature, you won’t have to dig through multiple emails or paper receipts to find out where your money went. The beauty of it is the per-store subtotals, taxes, and order IDs, providing a clear breakdown of each transaction. And of course, having the option to email or print/download it as a PDF, so I can keep one clear record for budgeting, expense claims, or sharing. It’s all about making your life easier and giving you better control.

This unified receipt isn’t just about convenience; it’s about providing clarity. Imagine trying to reconcile expenses for work or personal budgeting with a stack of receipts. This is where this feature will come in handy. It’s all about empowering you with the tools you need to stay organized and informed. The value extends beyond personal use; think about businesses that need to track purchases across multiple locations, this will be the best solution for them.

Why is this valuable?

• Simplified Budgeting: Quickly see how much you spent across all stores in one glance.
• Expense Tracking: Ideal for expense reports, keeping records, or accounting purposes.
• Easy Sharing: Share receipts with family, accountants, or anyone else needing the information.
• Organized Records: Maintain a clean, digital or physical record of your purchases.

📌 Scope: What's Included

So, what exactly does this amazing feature do? Let's break it down, guys.

• Consolidated Receipt Generation: The heart of the feature is its ability to generate a single receipt from multiple store orders made within the same checkout session or a manual selection. This means you can group orders from various stores into one document.
• Per-Store Sections: Each store gets its own dedicated section within the consolidated receipt. This includes the store's name, order ID, time, and details such as pickup or delivery information. You'll also see itemized lines, store taxes, and subtotals—all neatly organized.
• Global Summary: At the end of the receipt, you'll find a combined summary. This section provides the combined subtotal, discounts, taxes, service fees, delivery charges, grand total, and a payment breakdown. It provides a quick and easy overview of your total spending across all stores.
• Email and Print/Download Options: The feature includes both Email (sent to your account email or a custom email address) and Print/Download PDF options. You can easily share and archive your receipts in the format that best suits your needs.
• MongoDB Persistence: All consolidated receipts are securely stored in MongoDB. This ensures your records are safe, accessible, and easily retrievable when you need them.
• Optional Features: Though optional, the feature can also attach or store original store receipt links if available. This provides a direct link to the original receipts for added detail and verification.

Out of scope for now: Generating or altering official retailer receipts; returns processing.

✅ What to Expect: Acceptance Criteria

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what the feature should be able to do. Here’s what you can expect when this feature is implemented:

Build & View

• Order Selection: You will be able to select eligible orders (e.g., “Today’s orders,” or a specific date range) to build a consolidated receipt. This makes it easy to customize the receipts you generate.
• Store Sections: The consolidated receipt displays each store in its own section. Each section includes store name & logo (if available), order ID, order timestamp, and fulfillment (pickup/delivery + address). You’ll see the Line items: name, qty, unit price, and line total; along with any notes (e.g., substitution).
• Store-Level Details: Expect to see Store-level subtotal, tax(es) itemized (e.g., HST/GST/PST), and store discounts to get a complete picture of each purchase.
• Summary Section: A summary section that shows combined totals: items subtotal, discounts, fees, tax breakdown, and the GRAND TOTAL (currency).

Metadata & Compliance

• Buyer and Payment Information: The receipt shows Buyer details (name, email) and a Payment summary (method(s), last4 digits, amounts).
• Disclaimer: A disclaimer states: “This is a consolidated record generated by the app, not an official retailer receipt.” This ensures that everyone understands the nature of the document.
• Accuracy: Timezone and currency are accurate and clearly displayed.

Delivery

• Download PDF: You can Download PDF (A4/Letter) and it renders cleanly (no cutoffs; page numbers).
• Email Receipt: You can Email the consolidated receipt to your email or a custom address.
• Email Content: The email includes a PDF attachment and a short HTML/text summary.

Error & Edge Cases

• Partial Data: If some orders are missing line items or failed to fetch, the UI shows which ones and allows a retry or exclude option.
• Email Failure: If email fails, you see an error and a retry button; the PDF is still downloadable.
• Currency Issues: If different orders use different currencies, the system blocks consolidation and explains why (or converts with a clear note if conversion is enabled).

🧪 Testing the Waters: Gherkin Scenarios

Let’s look at some Gherkin scenarios to see how this feature will behave under different conditions:

Scenario: Build consolidated receipt for today’s orders
  Given I placed orders at Walmart and Metro today
  When I open “Consolidated Receipt” and select today’s orders
  Then I see a single receipt with two store sections
  And a combined summary with a grand total

Scenario: Download PDF
  Given I am viewing the consolidated receipt
  When I click "Download PDF"
  Then a PDF file is generated with headers, store sections, and a totals summary

Scenario: Email receipt
  Given I am viewing the consolidated receipt
  When I click "Email Receipt" and confirm my email
  Then I receive an email with the PDF attachment

Scenario: Partial fetch failure
  Given one store’s API is temporarily unavailable
  When I try to consolidate
  Then I see which order failed
  And I can retry or exclude that store and still create the receipt

These scenarios outline some core functionalities and edge cases, ensuring a smooth user experience. This feature is more than just a convenience; it’s an essential tool for organized shopping and expense management. With its user-friendly design and comprehensive features, you will have a clear, consolidated view of your spending, making your life easier and more organized. Stay tuned, because this feature is going to make a significant impact on how you manage your shopping receipts!