Is there a good shopping cart script?

lunatunes · #1 02-28-2008, 02:31 PM

I am trying to get a shopping cart up and running. I don't mind using a
prebuilt cart, but I am looking to have full control over the way the
front and back ends look.

I don't need any real fancy features right now
but I would like a cart that is built well enough to add on to with out
tons of headache. I have been looking into osCommerce. Though I have
read that the php is a nightmare to work through.

Over all If there is a good premade software title (easy to
template) you could recommend or if you know anywhere I can find just
the scripting for the full back end administration panel and card
handling, that would be greatly helpful.

I really prefer to own the rights to the script for use as many times as I
need. Cutting down on per-site overhead.

The other option I was considering was going to a rent-a-coder site and
having one made, Cost is a slight issue I would really hope to stay
under $500.00 if using a rent a coder.

Many thanks :)

Randy

Marincky · #2 02-28-2008, 03:43 PM

Hi Randy,

Speak to George. I can highly recommend his services for what you are looking for.

Bethers · #3 02-28-2008, 05:29 PM

But don't expect everything you need to be cheap. I'm not sure you're going to be able to keep that in the under $500 range - especially if you want access to change everything. People who build these, build them for multiple use - and not all the things done in them will be changeable.

Karen Mac · #4 02-28-2008, 06:01 PM

Soho is a pretty good prebuilt cart, and you can play with templates, and alter templates or even have them done fairly cheap at the addons site. Is easy to maintain and update.

Karen

Vasili · #5 02-28-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

Soho is a pretty good prebuilt cart, and you can play with templates, and alter templates or even have them done fairly cheap at the addons site. Is easy to maintain and update. Karen

I agree....and I would also nudge you to re-consider osCommerce as well. Both are available with one-click-install free with every Vodahost account, and with the multitude of free templates available for each, you have a wide range of "look and feel" that as Karen mentioned, are easily customizable by you or affordably by a freelancer. Depends on how much you have pre-planned and "drawn" your dream configuration, as the many plug-ins available can be overwhelming......and these too, are easy to get installed by a pro for about $30 a pop!

You should stomp around a few osC freelancer hangouts to see comparable jobs both posted and completed to get a feel for what you really want and to make a reasoned decision/commitment. Be sure to find the right forum (osC, eCommerce, etc.) as Soholaunch is a smaller community, and there is only one worthy recommendation for first-class builds that are incredibly affordable: www.templatezapper.com (for Soholaunch only)

www.joomlancers.com (they do much more than Joomla here)
www.getafreelancer.com (osC pros abound here)
www.odesk.com (this is where you will find the biggest collection of "affordable" and reliable programmers)

>> Sorry to disagree, Ramsey....General Navaldesign IS very good, but far above the budget our peer clearly mentioned!!!

Vasili · #6 02-29-2008, 02:28 AM

PS: If you are trying to think through how to bypass using a gateway to tie into your pre-exisiting card processing system, or desire to have a customized "admin panel"/interface to direct traffic or interrupt a process integral to the cart itself, don't waste your time: not only is it not permissable, it would prove to be a total waste of time and money before you discovered the incompatibility of such coding.

Been there, done that......

navaldesign · #7 02-29-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasili

>> Sorry to disagree, Ramsey....General Navaldesign IS very good, but far above the budget our peer clearly mentioned!!!

???? Sorry Eric, where does this come from ?

A simple but robust, fully customized (as for the visual part) cart, might be as little as $240. Custom made Order forms that work on conjunction to the cart, using Ajax "smart" engine can be as little as $60 - 80 and up to $120, adding functionality that Soho, OSC and all other carts can NEVER achieve, as, in example, in http://www.discountwoodblinds.co.uk/dbts_cart/order.php where there is a 139 different price options for the same product!

Or, "smart" decision making scripts that update the order page in real time, without page refreshing, and allowing practically for infinite options!

OSC, Soho etc can not have these done as the main core script is inaccessible.

Let's make an example with something that has to do with your own job: i have been asked to create a cart that would allow, in the product page, to have:

1. Up to 4 options for the metal (Gold, white gold, silver, platinum) Metal affects price
2. Up to 6 size options (size affects price)
3. Up to 5 options for the stone size (carats)

Of course, the cart needs to work with any combination from the above. Further more, the price has to be decided by the script realtime, according to users input (as in the above link).

This cart costs $500.
And it comes complete with catalog, search products by category / subcategory / price or combinations of the above, fully customized as for the visual part, so it looks excactly as the rest of the site, and it also allowes for free page creation, because it provides the admin with the necessary code to embedd in your own pages, to direct the user to the specific cart page. Thus allowing for "Special Offers" pages built as the admin likes.
Also has a complete backend (database administration, product uploader, cart and admin details atc), Customer registration feature, Downloadable products section (with automatic download after payment), discount coupons, etc.

Additional modules allow for wedding and gift registries. Payment modules include PayPal, Worldpay, and, on request, any other (at no extra charge)

What DOES cost (and might be as much as $1 - 2K) are special features that relate products to other products, photo galleries for each product, combined lists etc. But this is not the case here.

A simple, visually customized cart with the same style as the rest of the site and site hosted backend (only payment goes out of the site itself) can cost as little as $240.

Marincky · #8 02-29-2008, 11:28 AM

..... having used George myself for a complex cart system that no pre existing cart would handle, and knowing his excellent pricing schedule is the reason I recommended him...

So sorry to disagree back!!!...

Vasili · #9 02-29-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navaldesign

???? Sorry Eric, where does this come from ?

A simple but robust, fully customized (as for the visual part) cart, might be as little as $240.
Let's make an example with something that has to do with your own job: This cart costs $500.
And it comes complete with catalog, search products by category / subcategory / price or combinations of the above, fully customized as for the visual part, so it looks excactly as the rest of the site, and it also allowes for free page creation, because it provides the admin with the necessary code to embedd in your own pages, to direct the user to the specific cart page. Thus allowing for "Special Offers" pages built as the admin likes. Also has a complete backend (database administration, product uploader, cart and admin details atc), Customer registration feature, Downloadable products section (with automatic download after payment), discount coupons, etc.

Additional modules allow for wedding and gift registries. Payment modules include PayPal, Worldpay, and, on request, any other (at no extra charge)

What DOES cost (and might be as much as $1 - 2K) are special features that relate products to other products, photo galleries for each product, combined lists etc. But this is not the case here.

A simple, visually customized cart with the same style as the rest of the site and site hosted backend (only payment goes out of the site itself) can cost as little as $240.

This is what I remember, as I did not ever consider you even offered a "smaller" type of cart build when there were similarly designed utilities out there already......

Thanks for setting the record straight!

(Psignomen!)

navaldesign · #10 02-29-2008, 09:33 PM

A programmer may offer from the simplest to the most complicated product, depending on the customers requirements. A cart usually has always the same core (similar to most carts) and costs relatively few money, as long as no special work is required. You see, the cart development and updating cost, is devided to many customers. When it comes to extras, the customer is charged for the ENTIRE work done, so if i work 5 days x 8 hrs x $25/hr = $1000.

Custom carts might reach this and even higher prices.
The basic cart instead is very reasonably priced.

I do offer such reasonably priced carts, although, as you mentioned, there are ready solutions out there. The reason behind this, is that it is extremely difficult for these scripts to be visually customized to suit a BV site. Mine can have the visual part in whatever builder (Frontpage, Dreamweaver, BlueVoda, and more) so the look and feel are the same as the rest of the site. So there IS a market for this product.

NewMoonDesign · #11 08-03-2008, 04:12 AM

Hi there! I'm extremely tech-ignorant...all I know is that I make one of a kind glass art and I need a cart that will somehow automatically register if an item has sold and not allow a second customer to come along and buy the same item. Is there anything pre-made I can buy that will do that? Or do I need to hire someone to make it? If so, how much would a cart like that run?

Thanks for any help you can give me!
Dana :)

Karen Mac · #12 08-03-2008, 08:01 AM

You can use soho.. its very easy to get around in..very easy to use.. watch the tutorials and away you go..

Karen

NewMoonDesign · #13 08-03-2008, 06:18 PM

Hi again, Karen! Thanks for the answer...I went to the area with the video tuts and etc about Soholaunch and read what it said about downloading it via your user control panel. But when I go to my control panel, there is no Fantastico icon. I've already paid for webhosting through Blue Voda...but is Soholaunch only included through a certain package or something? I'm sorry I'm such a pain...I just don't have a clue what I'm doing (as if that's not obvious!).

Dana :)

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