Forum Moderators: mack
Unfortunately, we can't recommend or comment on any individual companies, for a number of reasons. For one thing, we've got probably dozens or even hundreds of members who are web developers or designers who do ecommerce sites at all levels, from large corporate sites to small Mom 'n Pops. It wouldn't be fair to recommend some over others.
Then, it would encourage promotional posts, which we stay away from totally and would have to edit, and which wouldn't necessarily reflect competence or any other factor reliably.
How about if you tell us a little more about the scope of your project, and then we can have a general discussion, which would benefit many people, of what it takes to do an ecommerce site and what to look for when seeking a provider to perform the services.
Here's what I would like my site to have:
a)download option on specified product
b)protected area of special information/products for members.
c)sell "chances" on selected products.
d)The ability to interact with visitor in real time (not mandatory, but I have ideas for it).
Do I even require an ecommerce site for this?
Being new to the world of selling on the 'net, I'm sure my criteria is quaint with other, more important criteria I've not considered. Good place for someone to jump in on this....
I have a basic understanding of html code with a smidgen of javascript thrown in.
Hopefully, others will benefit from this discussion as much I will.
Are you looking to install/set up your own cart or would you ameniable to using someone else's services?
There are eight main parts to any shopping cart:
1. Item presentation.
2. The Cart & Checkout.
3. Security.
4. The Transaction.
5. Add,Editing,Deleting Items.
6. Purchase Verification/Customer Receipt
7. Sales Reporting.
8. Fees.
1. Item presentation has to do with how the items are displayed. What sort of control do you have over presentation? Can you use images (this is not always a given) if so how do you add them. Can you change colors, position, fonts, alignment? Can you add links? As with everything, it all depends upon what you want to do as to how much functionality you should look for. Ask to use a demo.
2. How the Cart actually works and the process for checkout are what make the customer's experience positive or negative. Ask to use a demo. Add items and see how quickly you can get to the cart to see what you've added. And look for sub-totals.
3. Security is obviously a big issue. Security isn't necessary until the customer is giving you thier private information. The form(s) where they tell you who they are, where they live, their shipping address, contact info and CC# should all be protected by an SSL transaction. Look for the lock symbol and the HTTPS protocol. Make sure each page you go to from the time you're asked to supply this info right up to and including the page that provides you a confirmation and a printable receipt are all secured. Find out who their security certificate is with and verify they are who they say they are - call the certificate issuer. Also find out what information they record and store on their server. They should keep some for sales reporting but is it encrypted?
4. The Transaction. Find out who's name will appear on the customer's CC report (yours or thiers). Some services make the sale for you and thier name appears on the monthly statements. Find out exactly what the customer will be told both during the transaction and on thier monthly report. Determine if you will be using your merchant account or thiers.
5. Adding, Editing, & Deleting Items. Ask to see the interface that you will be using to manage your cart. It is important that you be able to manipulate your store the way you want to so be sure to give it a thorough run through. I would go so far as to having 2 windows open. One to work with the Admin interface and another to view what the customer will see. Make sure you're happy with it.
6. Find out what happens after the sale. Will the customer receive an email verification? Will you get an email notice of the sale? Make sure the customer has some acknowledgement that they purchased X,Y,Z from You on This Date, for This Amount.
7. Sales Reporting is often overlooked. I would look for a Cart Service that provides in depth monthly reporting as an option (at least). By in depth reporting I mean I would want to see Item #s, Quantities, Dates, Names or Customer Ids, Transactions Dates, Errors, Rejections, etc... Some services offer downloadable reports in that can be readily imported into Quickbooks. A very handy feature indeed.
8. Fees. It's not unusual that there are a handful of fees. Be sure you're clear on what they are before you purchase. The typical fees include some sort of set up fee. This is usually a one-time fee. The next fees will your monthly fees. Now it's not uncommon for the fees to be based upon services you've asked for - ala cart. You pick and choose what you want and the fee is the sum of the services you chose. Look for and be sure you understand if the monthly service fee is a flat fee or a percentage of sales or some combination of both. Make sure you learn where the break points are for the price changes which are often based upon either $$ sold or quantities sold.
In general, write down a wish list of all the things you would want as both a salesperson and as a consumer. Organize them by priority and don't be afraid to add price. I'd also encourage you to make up a spread sheet so you can compare apples to apples services offered.
This should get you started in the right direction but I hope others will drop this thread a post to add to or correct what I've said here.
Gregg
A very well writen post there!
dhdweb
fredro, let's look at a few points, not exactly in order:
>>>d)The ability to interact with visitor in real time (not mandatory, but I have ideas for it).<<<
There are chat scripts for one on one conversation. Some can be installed on your server, and others are remotely hosted solutions. Those vary, and with remote ones there can be a time factor with load time on occasion.
>>>c)sell "chances" on selected products.<<<
I remember this coming up in one of my discussion groups a while back, and while I don't remember exactly, there were points made about having to check gambling laws where there was any kind of contest situation with a winner. If "chances" are being sold, I'd investigate this aspect a bit before implementing it.
>>>
a)download option on specified product
b)protected area of special information/products for members.
<<<
Either of those would need a sign-up and/or payment first. For the protected area, if it's a paid membership they could make payment first, be given an ID and password and then sign in to the protected area.
For downloadable products, they pay first, and are then given a password or key to access the download. These should ideally have a time limit built in so the key can't have too much opportunity to get passed around.
Do I even require an ecommerce site for this?
Maybe, maybe not. Method of payment depends on whether or not you have your own merchant account. If not, there are third party facilities that process the payments for you, and also there are shopping carts that you simply link to from your site. Some payment processors specialize in downloadable products and handle the whole transaction.
Easy as pie, it's simple to set up and just costs a percentage of the sale, which is sometimes on the high side, but if initial volume or income isn't too great it can be more cost-effective than having your own merchant account and setting up for ecommerce on your own site. You can also use a third party payment service and use a free remote shopping cart.
Particularly if its only one or a few products, it can actually be very simple. It's just a matter of looking at the different available options and picking the solution that suits your particular situation and budget at the time.
Armed with the information given by lorax, I have my sights on a cart that seems to meet all the criteria he gave and is well within my budget.
Marcia answered several questions before they were asked :-)
Based on her post, I think a merchant account is not cost effective for me at this time. Third party facility it will be, at least for now.
I will be starting out with one product available for download and a protected area for those who make a purchase.
Reading over the Themes thread has given me pause. I have been constructing my site on paper following the lead of Brett's pyramid and also the 'satellite' idea. The first major insight I have had since my original post has been that my ideas for the site are cluttered, unkempt. That thread has helped me cut out the fat and focus on being able to sum up the idea for the site in three words (and one of those words isn't really necessary).
If there are any webmaster newbies reading this post, quit right now and go read the Themes thread!
You have given helpful guidance. Thanks!
Whatever you do, try not to sign a yearly contract to start. Commit to a 3 month contract at best - the rates may be higher but if in that 3 months you find you don't like their service you'll have a way out. If you do, sign up for the annual contract.
