e-commerce under $1200

software or hosting

[psage]

We currently have a store hosted at Yahoo Store, but their performance has been horrible lately, and this is causing us to lose sales.

So I am looking for an alternative, either in software we purchase and host ourselves, or in a hosted service.

If it's hosted, we'd like to spend under $100 per month if possible. If purchased, under $1200 (but we could go higher if necessary).

So I'm looking for any recommendations.

Part of what makes this a little more complicated is that we are using a fulfillment company which is highly intergrated with Yahoo Store. They say they could do an XML integration with some other software, but no packages I've seen have the ability to do all of:

- authorize the customer's credit card in real time (not charge it) when the order is placed
- transmit orders to our system in realtime or at least frequently, over a secure link in XML
- transmit AVS approval status with the orders (so their system can decide whether to fill the order or place it on HOLD)
- accept status information back from our system when orders are shipped, and use that information to charge the customer's credit card.
- communicate with our system to obtain realtime inventory information to show the customer that the product is in stock (not an absolute necessity but nice)

These seem to be the features which are difficult to find. Of course we also want to be able to:

- do complete page customization
- get really good statistics so we can track where links are coming from, cart abandonment rate, conversion rate, etc.
- have URLs with no query strings in them, which are SEO friendly
- support affiliate programs
- etc.

Any recommendations? Also, if we have to spend a LOT more to get these features, it would be useful to know, although we don't have the budget for much more than a couple of thousand max for software right now.

If we're using a hosted service, I would want to see one with an SLA, redundancy, daily or continuous backup, and a good track record. Geographical redundancy would be great, but I haven't seen that from anyone really...

Thanks for any recommendations!
Thanks!

[webtress]

Psage, look at [ecommercetemplates.com...] The generic template would allow you to use your own design. It intergrates with all major payment processors or if you want to process cards yourself it has the capture card feature(you would need a ssl cert or use your host shared cert) , and ups/usps. Order notifications for both store owner and customers. customiziable order status for customers to view what stage their order is in (order pending/shipped ...) Offer Affiliate sign up program,and static pages. You would need a host that has xlm and offers really good stats. I here a lot of good things about tokois for hosting these templates, I have not tried them yet but should I change I would diffentely look closley at them.

[psage]

Hi Webtress,

I looked at ecommercetemplates recently and didn't see how they could do what I want (the features I listed). The actual software has to transmit, accept and respond to XML (or other format) requests for this to work.

From your reply, it doesn't seem as if you actually use them.

I am hoping to get recommendations from people who are using something they like and are familiar enough with the features to say that it would probably do what I'm asking for.

Thanks!

[Corey Bryant]

There are a few hosting companies that offer the URL re-write for ASP.

PHP also has a URL re-write I beleive.

Hosting should not be over $20 a month for Windows especially if you wanted MSSQL. Check out [oscommerce.snappyserver.com...] - they have a pretty good e-commerce package. They do offer SSL on their packages for real time billing. osCommerce might offer some type of integration for the other features that you desire.

I know that we were approached for for development of an e-commerce package that integrated to their in-store POS system. But it was for .NET. And it depends on what type of POS system you have in your brick and mortar store. It would help to know what kind of language you wanted.

-Corey

[psage]

Hi Corey,

Thanks for your comment.

We don't have a B&M store, and so don't have a POS system, but we do use a fulfillment company which has its own home-grown order/inventory/billing system.

I looked at oscommerce a bit and it also doesn't seem to have the features I was looking for. And I don't really want to get into modifying core code for anything because of upgrade and support issues.

All things being equal, I'd much prefer not being on Windows because it's so much less stable than Linux or BSD, etc.

I was impressed to see that snappyserver does mirroring and weekly backups, but would pay more for daily backups and some other redundancy.

[Corey Bryant]

Talk to them over there about it. I think I read something else on another forum. He might even be on this forum but he is well-versed in osCommerce. There are over 1,500 contributions for osCommerce.

It all depends on what type of system your fulfilment center has. They might already have something that you can add to it.

-Corey

[webtress]

Psage, I do use ecommerce templates however I don't use the host that I mentioned sorry if this confused you. I have also used Oscommerce and it is a very powerful solution also. Both of these solutions would allow you to do what you want with-in you budget and should you need any customization done to the code you would still be with-in your budget. Both of these packages are flexiable with room to grow. From reading your response to myself and others I think you need a complete hosted package that would give you your top priorities and then the secondaries. Look into godaddy they offer website design, payment processing, hosting and domain name registration.

[shaijujose]

Hi,

check : www.goecart.com . This is best solution for you. Cost effective/ 24/7 support/ excellent features

Regards,
Shaiju Jose

[dvduval]

The cool thing about OSCommerce is there are literally hundreds of people out there that can help you. Whether you just need a little free advice, or even paid help to build the site from the ground up, there are many who can help. It wouldn't be unheard of to have someone make a complete site with 100 products for less than $500 (and less than $1200 would even be easier to find someone). I've built several OSC carts for customers in the $500-$1000 range. And what's great for you is I'm very replaceable. There are 100 others like me.

[Andrew Thomas]

Ive used ecommercetemplates, for the price i cannot fault them, you can also request a modification within the forums, so it may be worth another look.

[Jake25r]

You can also try www.iKobo.com . they are cheap and fast, very customizable payment pages, IPN system ...

[psage]

Any other industrial-strength software that's not $20K and/or ISPs who host it for you?

The idea of doing a major OScommerce integration is not really appealing...

[minnapple]

psage

I might have what you are looking for.
We can upload Yahoo Stores.
I sent you a sticky.

M i n n a p p l e