Battle of the shopping carts

[ecommerceprofit]

I am starting a new store soon. I have always used customized solutions using my own code - now I just want to start fresh with a mature shopping cart that I can buy off the shelf. What's the best out there that I can buy with no monthly fees or low monthly fees?

My backup cart will be Yahoo stores but I really don't want to pay a percentage of my sales to them. Any advice will be appreciated!

[jackgordon]

I would SERIOUSLY consider Ecommerce Templates software. You can buy it with a template, or without. There are loads of add ons you can buy and create, that rival even osCommerce or Joomla carts. Also, the code is fairly clean and tidy, so changes are easily made by yourself/ freelancers.

[edited by: lorax at 11:54 am (utc) on May 31, 2009]
[edit reason] no urls please [/edit]

[ecommerceprofit]

I have heard of ecommerce templates but forgot - this sounds interesting - thanks! osCommerce seems like I need a programmer to help me - I'm tired of using programmers - if your idea does not work out then I think I will use Yahoo stores - very simple and lots of big stores are using it - .75% payment to Yahoo on gross for stores making mega bucks up to 1.5% for smaller stores but I will be free of the chains of using programmers - love the guys but most are slow to fix bugs...may use them for custom stuff that is small as add on to Yahoo stores but nothing critical...no need to worry about server security either - it will be a refreshing change.

[ecommerceprofit]

I read your message again - looks really good but as you said I would need a freelancer - I think Yahoo is the way to go this time - again thank you for taking the time to write!

[ecommerceprofit]

Ok, last message tonight - it's late and I'm not thinking as clearly as I should. ecommerce templates says this:

"We give you the shopping cart software and design, you just choose the template you like, make the database connection, plug in your products and start selling. No monthly fees and no set-up charges!"

All I need to do is hook into a MySQL database and I am up and running - a freelancer can easily do this...security would be one thing...but we will see. This may be an option - I'll let everyone know which way I go when I make a decision for future readers that have the same question as myself.

[jackgordon]

Hi,
You don't need a freelancer, the shopping cart software auto installs itself, however, if u contact a freelancer they could help you if u needed. Thx

[lorax]

Re: programming
Somebody has to skin it and add any customizations you may want.

[ecommerceprofit]

Exactly - someone has to help me - how am I supposed to set up in a LAMP configuration - I know nothing about how to hook into MySQL, etc. I will need someone but from what I know it won't be complicated for a semi-knowledgeable freelancer.

[jackgordon]

most shopping cart software will do it all for you (setting up mysql database, its only if you need extra special addons or changes that you might need a freelancers help for.

[T_Miller]

Ditto on the recommendation of eCommerce Templates.

Constantly updated for both security and features.
And one of the best support forums and staff I've ever seen for paid software at any price.

[enigma1]

Regardless of what shopping cart you choose, customizations for your site will be an ongoing process. Therefore you need to find one, that it can be expanded and either you or a programmer that you can find can do that at anytime. Look for things like online support, communities, forums with info etc.

Some stock carts may look bad or ancient yet you see lots of variations and customizations that put their owners at the top of the search engines. And you aren't selling the cart s/w but your products.

And even with the same s/w cart1.example.com vs cart1.example.net may even have similar products but you often see one thriving and the other struggling.

[ecommerceprofit]

Excellent! Thanks for the help everyone - I will seriously give eCommerce Templates a look.

[kool002]

"eCommerce Templates" is it like zen cart or os commerce kind of shopping cart.

if yes which one of these 3 is best capable of handling products with multiple option.
for example
T- Shirt
size : S,M,L
Color : RED, GREEN, BLUE
Neck type: Round or V

I mean a product with lots of such option like color, style, size, trim, etc etc

[jackgordon]

Yeah
You can add upto 25 different options to each product such as size, colour, neck type..... and then each option can have 25 more options eg small, medium, large and so on.

[enigma1]

if yes which one of these 3 is best capable of handling products with multiple option.

osc does handle multiple product options by default without a limit. There should be modules also that handle nested options too and you can assign stock, images etc. In any case most likely you will have to do extra customizations

[webtress]

Ecommerce Templates is user friendly for the DIY types or if you don't have the time or skills, there are third-party developers and designers that can help. The support is there as well to answer questions if you need. There are several t-shirt stores that use the software, due to WebmasterWorld TOS no names will be mentioned but you can check their live stores section to see examples.

[jackgordon]

Well, if it makes any difference, i have a dozen or so scripts that I could give you for eCommerce Templates, they are what I have used on our website:
Things like:
3D Product Images
Multiple Product Images
Google Base Auto Feed
Advanced Order Tracking Module
Multiple Admin Logins
Print Multiple Invoices/ Packing Slips at Once
Cross Sale
Gift Wrap
Rewards Points.

all of these are simple to use. They have been produced by me in conjunction with my freelancer, and I hold copyright before anyone asks :)