How to use Characteristics

Hi,

I am using business edition of Hikashop. I am so confused as to how to properly setup characteristics for products.

I have a toy as a product.
I want toy to have its main price
I want toy then to have a drop down menu to add a type of material called MAPLE for extra $5
However, I want to make sure it does not default add the $5 option but that they have to select it.

Thank you,
Charles

So what is the best way to do the following that can be used over and over for many products.

I would like to have a dropdown that looks like this:

Upgrade Wood: Make Selection
Cherrywood $2.50

Then the price of the product adds the $2.50 to the overall price.

I am confused on adding options.

Can you just create an option somehow or do you have to select a product and then click add for options?

When I click add options from product I never see now to create an option. All I see is existing products.

Please explain the steps. I looked at the tutorial but it was not clear to me.

Hi,
An option is another product that you'll add as an option of your product, in your case you'll have to :
- Create a product named "Maple" for example
- Add this product as an option of your Toy product.

How do I do this set up so that it does not appear as an individual product for people to buy?

I only want it as an upgrade selection. For instance like this?

Add Hardwood: Select Wood Type
Cherrywood $3.49

From what I see right now it forces me to select a category where people will see it as a product to purchase on its own.

I now understand this and it works. However, what I think is not good is that it only updates one price field instead of both which is very confusing. Please see image showing 2 different prices.

Hi,
I just want to leave my 2 cents here. It's not really confusing that 2 prices will be shown but it would look much better (and maybe more professional) if you would add the options price to the base price.