Radio buttons vs. dropdown for item options

[nachomommas]

I created some new items with several option sets. One item has 3 color options while another has 4. The 3-color item shows color options as radio buttons online but the 4-color item shows color options as a dropdown (which I prefer). If I add a 4th color, the radio buttons change to a dropdown menu. Removing the 4th color makes it go back to radio buttons. Anyone know why this suddenly changed? And, more importantly, how can I control it?

[Donnie-M]

@nachomommas Sounds like you are hitting an autoformat setting with the options versions of items.  The three set is meant to be the fastest cleanest way versus the drop down boxes.

If you want to force drop downs, you could always just repeat a color, or list a color and put it out of stock, it should then force the drop downs for you.

The logic is friction:  drop downs are an extra click/movement versus a one touch radio button.  The goal is to make checkout as frictionless as possible.  If you notice on pamazonia when you shop there are virtually no drop downs.

[nachomommas]

Thanks for the feedback. I understand the extra click/movement issue, but our listings are so long that I'm trying to do whatever I can to not overwhelm customers visually. I'd actually prefer dropdown menus on modifiers, too, since those aren't required choices, but that also seems to not be an option.

So is this a recent change? We've had 3-color listings before that still showed as dropdown menus by default. And you're saying I could repeat a color. Wouldn't that show the color twice in the online options? Not to mention creating numerous duplicate variations that would exceed the 120 limit? I'm hesitant to list a color that shows as out of stock because it might cause customers to wait to purchase until it's back in stock (never) and/or question our ability to maintain stock of items...? I guess I'm looking for the option to choose radio buttons or dropdown menus. Am I just out of luck?

[leadastray]

Im having this same issue but my REQUIRED modifiers are DOZENS and its creates a disgusting lengthy mess on my product pages. WHYYYYY. I just want dropdowns!!!  

[gooatl]

This really needs a fix - the current set-up locks customers out of available options because radio buttons don't work once there are out-of-stock options. The moment a customer selects an available option they are locked out of changing their selection.

The simplest fix is, like these other users are saying, to allow drop-down menus to be enabled.

[AZC]

We need to be able to force drop-downs. I want each item page that used the option subset to look the same.