jecasc - 7:49 am on Sep 21, 2009 (gmt 0)

The problem with most shopping cart solutions is - they started simple once and then grew over time.

You start with a simple shopping cart: User can add a products, description, price and picture. All is well, simple and self-explanatory.

After a while someone wants to create categories. So this is added, too. Then someone wants to mangage different products attributes, like different colors. Then someone needs 20 different tax classes since he is shipping internationally. Then someone wants to add a new payment interface. Another wants multiple shipping options. The next wants specials, multiple language support and the list grows and grows.

Then you come and say: Oh my god this is all so complex, no usibility at all, all I want is to create a category and then add a few products, why is this so hard.

Many shopping carts are like houses in third world countries: One floor after another is put on top - and at some point the building collapses.