General shopping cart question
My first post here so hello
I've come to the point with my web design for clients that I really need to start building dynamic websites with shopping carts, customer registration, data acqusition etc.
Where do I find information about how to do this? There seem to be php carts for free, others you pay for - while yet more sites offer a cart as part of hosting but it's $25 per month (or whatever).
So far I've just used the PayPal shopping cart which is OK for my clients without a merchant account - and it's free - but it doesn't "integrate" with a site and allow customers to register with a site or for the site to gather data about customers.
Any pointers for a novice much appreciated. I'm really looking at educating myself at this stage rather than having a specific problem to solve.
James posted this at 20:40 — 18th December 2006.
He has: 127 posts
Joined: Dec 2005
It depends very much on your site and type of product, have you tried looking at OSCommerce and Zencart, if so what is it about those scripts which don't suit your needs? They would be the easiest. If you are talking about CC processors merchant etc look at WorldPay or 2CheckOut.
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Griffon posted this at 21:30 — 18th December 2006.
He has: 8 posts
Joined: Dec 2006
Yes, I realise I asked a rather general question. OK a more specific example. I recently had an enquiry from a client who runs an up market, ready meals business. They wanted a site where customers could order online that morning to pick up or have delivered food for lunch. I had to turn them away because I don't have the skills to put a site like that together.
Amongst other things a site like that would: 1. enable customers to register (if they wish). 2. store their details so they don't have to input their CC details every time they order. 3. maintain a database of customer preferences 4. allow ordering from a check box php form .... etc.
So would either of the packages you recommend do that?
andy206uk posted this at 23:41 — 18th December 2006.
He has: 1,758 posts
Joined: Jul 2002
Hey there,
You'll be lucky to get an off the shelf product that does everything they need exactly as they want it. You would need to learn to write your own scripts or outsource it to a freelance developer. (*cough* me! *cough*)
Andy
Griffon posted this at 07:37 — 19th December 2006.
He has: 8 posts
Joined: Dec 2006
Hello Andy - I hear your coughs (!) - in fact I have considered whether or not I should be getting into serious programming like this at all when my skills and knowledge lie elsewhere. It all depends on the going rate per hour or day for this type of work and how subcontracting this work out balances against my time taken to get into this field.
andy206uk posted this at 11:46 — 19th December 2006.
He has: 1,758 posts
Joined: Jul 2002
Well... if you ever need to outsource development work, drop an email and I'll be more than happy to talk numbers with you.
Of course, there are companies in developing countries where you can outsource development work and they will charge you significantly less than here in the UK or USA increasing your profit margin significantly. They have their problems too, but like you said, it's all down to how it balances out.
Andy
Griffon posted this at 18:10 — 19th December 2006.
He has: 8 posts
Joined: Dec 2006
Thanks, Andy.
... as for outsourcing to India or wherever I keep getting e-mails from people over there offering such expertise. Trouble is without recommendations it might be risky. Funny isn't it but although it's called the WWW most people I know in the business still like to deal with people locally
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