Forum Moderators: buckworks
I've been designing sites for years (see samples at <snip>) but am new to e-commerce. So, first let me make sure I have this right. I will need the following:
- SSL certificate installed on my web server (I don't want a shared one). This is around $150-200.
- I will need an Internet Merchant Account (if I plan to accept credit cards). I'm not sure about the fees on this. I set it up with my bank right?
- I will need a transaction gateway. Again, not sure about fees on this or who to use.
- A shopping cart that's compatible with all the above.
Finally, what I would like to do is this:
Have a site (myMerch.com) that's like a shopping mall but the stores aren't connected to the other. Each would have it's own look based on an overall template (each store would have it's own set of graphics). The URL to each store would be something like myMerch.com/store1/, myMerch.com/store2/, etc. And, each store would be totally independent of the others (meaning not sharing links to each other). Finally, the cart/checkout would be dependant on the particular store (i.e. different stores have different shipping rates, etc.).
Am I asking for too much? I was checking into westhost.com's e-commerce package with Miva Merchant Pro. Although I know very little about Miva it seems like it might work.
If anyone can offer suggestions or comments I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Thanks,
Steve
[edited by: engine at 10:35 pm (utc) on Mar. 20, 2003]
You may want to try the Site Search [searchengineworld.com] for some of the topics that you're interested in. This may answer some of the questions you have until someone with a bit of expertise with Miva Merchant Pro can give you more specific answers.
The only shopping cart that I'm the least bit familiar with is the one offered by Mals-e.com. Having only basic needs, they offered what we were looking for including a payment gateway and merchant account package.
A few related discussions that you may find helpful:
You may also want to look at good affiliate programs, which do not require you to process a sale.
Good luck on your endeavours.
Lance
SSL Certificate : Not a formal requirement, but it's lack will probably cost you an amount of crdibility. Don't be too quick to dismiss shared SSL though, it can be a very cost effective way of getting SSL facilites, and reduces the administrative burden on you. If you have a definite need though, it is often taken as a mark of quality in an ecomm site, so it can be a very positive bonus. As with so many other things, it depends on your requirements and abilities
Internet merchant account : For taking c/c orders, yes this is a requirement. At least, if your bank (or other acquiring institution) discovers that you are taking orders without such an agreement, they will shut your account down in double quick time. Costs will vary wildly, and may be composed of initial/annual fees, per transcation fees, or a mixture of both. Also, your choice of acquiring institution may affect which card types and/or currencies you can accept
Transaction gateway : Not strictly necessary (at least online). Depending on your setup, it may make sense for you to get an offline gateway. The transaction gateway is just 1 step in the process of transferring funds from your customer to yourself (it provides the actual link between yourself and the transaction clearinghouse that handles transactions for your acquiring institution). A card swipe machine such as will find in any supermarket is a transaction gateway. Given the popularity of e-commerce now, there are several web-based services that will do it too, and these often come as an option with a merchant account and/or a shopping cart. Again fees will vary wildly from provider to provider
Shopping cart : Often the least technically challenging aspect of the system, really. They are often sufficiently configurable that they can be made to mix'n'match with your choice of payment gateway and backend system.
The scenario you outline should not present a challenge for a good cart/developer (if req'd; many carts will handle the specified setup out-of-the-box). This may mean you, or someone, spending some time with your chosen cart solution learning how to configure and/or modify it though.
A couple of general points I would make here. When you are planning this project (you ARE planning it, right?), allow some time for customisation work and slippage. Don't imagine that you are going to be able to go live in 2 weeks with a perfect system. There will almost certainly be some minor detail overlooked somewhere. Allocate time to testing, so you (hopefully) catch any errors before you go live. When considering which solution to pick, don't worry too much about the price. Spending more at the beginning and doing it right first time will be more cost effective in the long run than discovering 9 months down the line that the cheapo cart script you got for a song can't handle serious volumes of transactions, for instance
Good luck!
I am in the process of developing an online service with someone right now, and having seen the problems my actual employer encounters due to the effect of poor design or implementation, we are choosing to move forward at each step only when we feel ready to. We could have put a product out 3 months ago, but it would have been an embarassment compared to what we will have once it is truly ready.
BTW - Welcome to WebmasterWorld!
TallTroll: Yes, I am planning the project and no, I will not rush just to get something up. I'm figuring 3-5 months design and development time once I get all the technical e-comm stuff setup. Thanks and great advise!
I will be back again shortly:-)
Steve
