Forum Moderators: buckworks
I was wondering if anybody can recommend a shopping cart to me.
I am after cart that can be easily integrated into some existing html pages, as i only have a few products i want to just be able to add a buy button and quantity box.
I would also like the features listed below -
Stock control
Invoice generation
Sales database
Multiple currency and shipping rates
CVV and customer IP recording
Secure credit card details/order retrieval
Printable shipping labels
Anybody know of a good cart with these features that does not dynamically generate the product pages?
<edited>
Thanks!
John
[edited by: Johnny_b at 4:23 pm (utc) on July 12, 2003]
>> and isn't dynamically generated
Non-sequitor.
If you want the ability to add/edit/delete products then you need to have dynamic cart unless you want to hand build static pages to accomplish the same thing.
If you're worried how the SEs will view the pages there are tricks to make dynamic pages look static. A few searches here on WebmasterWorld will yield the info you need.
Thanks for the reply.
>> and isn't dynamically generated
>> Non-sequitor.
I just meant a cart that doesn't or has the option not to dynamically generate the webpages pages for example from a database. I still want it to be able to add products to a database for stock control reasons so that can be dynamic.
The reason why i don't want it to be dynamically generated is not just SEO reasons. The site to begin with is going to be devoted to one product and only a few pages in size.
I intend to have multiple product images including a flash presentation showing how the product works all on the same page with the order button. A dynamically generated cart seems over kill for a site that's only going to be two or three pages in size and also that would most likely restrict the layout and design. Also having flash and numerous images i want to keep it as fast as possible.
BUT... ;) always plan for growth. If you start with static pages now - what will you do if suddenly you need to add 20 or 100 more products? Those static pages get to be a PIA.
Re: Flash - not that you asked about this specifically but if I were you I wouldn't put the presentation on the same page or any pages the user must go through to get to the ordering page. Put a link to it but keep it seperate - for speed reasons.
Lastly, what cart to use? I don't know of any static carts out there. All of the ones I know of are db driven. You're best bet may be to take a dynamic script from hotscipts and make it static to suit your needs.
Or perhaps tall_troll or jatar_k might know of something more suitable.
>> Stock control
>> Invoice generation
>> Sales database
>> Multiple currency and shipping rates
>> CVV and customer IP recording
>> Secure credit card details/order retrieval
>> Printable shipping labels
>> I am after cart that can be easily integrated into some existing html pages
There are carts out there that will do the "plug'n'play" thing, lets take Mals-e as a good example, but you are using parameter/value pairs OR <form> input content to send stock quantity info to the cart, for instance. That info is then either 1) fixed, 2) manually updated by you or 3) populated out of a database.
1) seems not to be acceptable, according to your spec, 2) is more trouble than its worth, and 3) leads you back to a database driven solution. You also mention that you want multi-currency and shipping rates. As these are variables, I don't see haow you can realistically get around the need for a database driven page to do this bit.
If I'm reading this correctly, getting your product pages spidered and ranked isn't the main issue, but still important
>> If you're worried how the SEs will view the pages there are tricks to make dynamic pages look static. A few searches here on WebmasterWorld will yield the info you need.
Lorax nailed it there. Plenty of threads on how do carry out "field mods" to carts, either here or over in the scripting forums and get rid of pesky session IDs and the like. Many carts that suffer from these faults have official, or unofficial, patches available to fix the URLs
>> A dynamically generated cart seems over kill for a site that's only going to be two or three pages in size and also that would most likely restrict the layout and design.
But a database driven site ISN'T overkill for the level of backend functionality you want. Unless you are going to push your orders back into an accounting product that will generate invoices, handle multicurrency etc, etc. If you want proper e-business function, you need proper e-business software, and THAT means you need a database SOMEWHERE, although it need not be in the web-based component of your set-up
As Euclid might have said, "There is no royal road to success on the web"
Excellent point TT. In our world there are so many little tasks that add up in time consumed. The benefits of using a db and scripted backend to drive the front end has enormous benefits for time savings. And that means saving money and improving profit margins.
And if you must try and generate 'static looking' pages, there is an experemental setting to do just that. Although, I doubt anyone would recommend using that feature.
I think i may have found the shopping cart i am looking for in the form of www.merchantorderform.com/ It appears to have control i was after including a small backend database. It doesn't support stock control though i can live without that or possibly get a mod written to add that functionality. Any of you tried this cart?
As for osc it seems to be designed for stores with multiple products. I think with just the one product the way it is designed layout wise would make the site feel empty which i don't think would be good for sales. I would certainly consider upgrading to it once i start adding a large amount of products though that is unlikely for a long while yet.
[edited by: TallTroll at 1:40 pm (utc) on July 16, 2003]
[edit reason] delink [/edit]
And in fact I wouldn't.
