The Ultimate Question?

Which software to use?

[M2D_Media]

I was so happy to find this forum! Finally... some Pros! I have been racking my brain out trying to find the right solution for my business.
I think I've tested every piece of software known to mankind. FRUSTRATION! My Dad left me part of a jewellery business before he died and I want to get it up on the great wide open web. Because there are so many freakin' little pieces of product... I'm looking for a pc based solution... S.E.O. ... with a customer "login" feature (not mandatory)... sales management... gift certificates... the only real item variable is "size" ... able to run on Unix, Redhat or win.
thumbnails and blowups would be icing... am I asking for too much out of the box? LiteCommerce comes real close but it is browser based not enough catalog control for me. IS THERE SUCH A PIECE OF SOFTWARE OUT THERE? IF NOT... THEN MAYBE I SHOULD LEARN SOFTWARE ENGINERING INSTEAD.

[Essex_boy]

Real pros?!?!? US? Wow thats an ego boost!

Have you tried OScommerce? can do all of what you want and its free.

Or write your own in HTML and link mals-e.com cart to it. For the add ons here you may need to have them written, but this is the best option.

Its easier than you think.

[M2D_Media]

It sounds good Essex_boy but I'm looking for something simple.Product changes are a constant thing we are always rotating stock.(I want something my wife can do "hehe") She has no knowledge of excel or databasing or PHP and MySQL and I must admit my skills aren't very impressive either. I'm not worried about the cost. I want simplicity and once again pc based. Like actinic or GS Shopbuilder(nice cataloging options)even shopfactory has better payment gateway options then most (allowing multiple gateways). But they all seem to lack severely in areas. Tried EC Builder but fell asleep filling out forms haha. If I had a lot of time on my hands, I would try to carve something out myself and I'm sure OScommerce would be an awesome backbone. But what I guess Im really looking for might not exist yet. Unless you know of a couple?
Browser based solutions are really a drag for us since we live in the country and are on dial up. And when you're talking about potentially thousands of products it would be very painful.
The one thing I liked about Actinic was the Update Website/Download Orders menu option. But I've read a few horror stories on this site about it? Shopfactory seems a little cheesy but has a couple of nice features, Gs shopbuilder has awesome cataloging features but is totally designed for the UK. Blah,Blah,blah I'm friggin' fed up!

(If I spent as much time working on my site as I have looking for software... I'd be finished!)

[Essex_boy]

Well ok, So it has to real simple....

Your going to have to use a spreadsheet of sorts and if your thinking of ecomm and you cant use excel... Get some training.

I have a package at home never used it as I thought it was a bit to 'noddy' you can upload products via a spreadsheet easy to use and setup.

Allows diffrent product sizes and prices. Doesnt have the option to add coupons etc.

Ill dig it out and sticky you.

Have you tried xcart?

[balinor]

I was going to suggest Xcart as well. I just opened a shop with Litecommerce, and after buying all the ad-ons I might as well have just bought Xcart. Better catalog control I believe. Although it is still a browser based back-end. Easy to use though, and the programmers are always willing to help you out with customization.

[M2D_Media]

Thanks guys... I was checking out Xcart yesterday.
If someone were to make an app that would do all that I wanted I quess this forum would only be half full. If I could only come up with a better cataloging system, I would be ok.

[too much information]

I've written my own before and now that I'm expanding to a larger product line I am searching for the same. Have you tried comersus? I am playing with it now, it is only slightly confusing, but it will watch inventory for you and take products down when they sell out.

(My items are custom so I don't keep an inventory. So I don't really know how well the inventory thing works.) but the free features are pretty impressive so far.

[derekwong28]

Even with dial up access, I am not sure whether a PC-based solution is best for you. Afterall, if you have got lots of pages to update, ftp could be very unreliable and you may get breaks all the time.

Jshop markets a PC-based and server based solution. The server based solution is as slick as anything thing I have seen.

[badtzmaru]

Why not a Yahoo store?

[M2D_Media]

comersus looks ok but I'm kinda' leaning in the php and mysql or static html creation areas. Jshop looks interesting... gonna' look into it. Yahoo stores is not what I'm looking for at all but I really, really appreciate all the input so far... you guys rock!

[Dreamsbvw]

I use Mojo cart, from www.pcmojo.com , maybe cause my fiance wrote the application....but it is a Cold Fusion application that really works well. To add or change items(products, you simply log in to a web based interface...and enter stuff. it is so easy that my 10 year old daughter entered a lot of the items in my product list. You also have the ability to send newsletters to your customer base...which is really nice!

Anyone can use it once it is set up, but you do have to have a host that offers cold fusion.

[M2D_Media]

I might have found the answer to the altimate question... first of all, I really want to thank you guys for being so helpful! You truly are Pro's... the best of the best! I can tell because a Real Pro is always willing to share info (that's why they are constantly getting better) I've decided to go with Litecommerce, kinda' best of both worlds (server and pc based)I can edit templates and the wife can add stock... nice options, very clean.
I never would have found it without all of your input though... thanks again. {:o)