New Guy: Online Store

...back to the basics...please.

[madcat]

First, if I used one of the free shopping carts that come with my hosting plan...do I have to do anything else besides install the prog before I can sell anything? Will I have to purchase a merchant account? How do they work together?

What cart is the most customizable in your experience? How much did it cost?

Thanks!

[Essex_boy]

Is it just a cart? Or a catalog and cart? Which one is it?

You may have to buy a merchant account or you may use a third party processor. Welcome to teh mad mad world of ecomerce.

[madcat]

Say I have 40 music samples.

I want a page that lets you listen to or review the song files, and add them to your cart if you wish...

Why are a catalogue and a shopping cart separate...?

[jsinger]

Oh, is THAT all you want!

[Essex_boy]

Can be seperate at times Actinic is all in one Mals-e.com is just a cart.

I know the software you need 'Online merchant gold' - which isnt made any more the firm went bust. I have a copy hehehehe. the tech support firm once asked me to ring back as they were busy! Their standard reply to any problem was 'well try using the back up you made.. You didnt make one! ha well its all your fault'

Its a very basic ecom package in that you dont have any customer order management or sign ups area but it does support major card processors.

It does allow you to sell music/video and people are able to listen/view the track in full or part before they buy. Try Ebay.

It cost me £175 and ive never used.

[madcat]

Ok, thanks for the advice...

Oh, is THAT all you want!

Useless! It's not like it hasn't been done before...

[Essex_boy]

Errm that wasnt a sales pitch - It was my attempt some what feeble at irony.

[madcat]

I only half read it man...EBAY? I'd rather that post than just a random pointless comment.

Just wanting to hear if somebody else has this same model working. If you feel like trying to help, please post a comment. If you just like the sound of your keyboard being pressed...save it.

...pologize for being short, but, "Oh, is THAT all you want!" is nonsense.

[PatrickDeese]

I think what was being said, albeit none too delicately, is that what you are describing is relatively advanced and quite possibly not something that an out-of-the-box ecom template will be able to offer you.

Streaming music involves a number of factors that you may not have considered, including legal issues.

[madcat]

I fully understand the *slight* sarcasm buried way underneath the text of the previous posts. However, that won't get me to my destination. I'd rather hear real baby steps...

...but I digress. I'll keep looking for information on the Web. Sometimes I come here to get ideas from people (maybe,perhaps, possibly) already using/implementing the technology (I'm speaking of) so I can find out how it's done.

I have a shopping cart, why couldn't I turn that into what I need? I'm sure people that are new to Web development have found ways to achieve an online store either by pay or cheaper means...? These are the questions and answers I'm looking for...not just a comment that simply says...what are you nutz.

Anyway, not trying to get testy, just wanted some advice...and I'll keep looking.

Thanks

[Essex_boy]

Yeah try Ebay... As in look for the software that I mentioned should you wish to follow down that path.

The package I mentioned does all that you require.