Comments on: Shopping Carts

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:08:36 +0000

Hi Mark, I think this is my main selling point, to allow people who don't have a clue to be able deal with their own site without outside help – once the design is set up of course

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:02:06 +0000

That would definitely work Sarah. Most carts available are similar to the client cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. Too much function and not enough style usually.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:50:48 +0000

Hi Kym, thanks for your comments. My post was exploring the idea of offering light as well as full scale ecommerce packages. As mentioned, I already have a script that allows clients to run their entire site similar to the way osCommerce works, but including a CMS so they don't even need to edit the language files.nnPersonally I wouldn't use osCommerce unless a client requested it. Whilst theoretically it's a good idea, it's table-based, inaccessible and bloated. It also relies on registered globals being on, unless you apply an extra contribution.nnosCommerce straight out the box produces old, invalid, non semantic markup. In the UK we have to adhere to laws to ensure a business or service website complies up to WAI Level AA. It would take me longer to get osCommerce to comply than to use my own pre-written solution which is already valid CSS/XHTML 1.0 Strict on both the front and back end of the site where you simply need to update the CSS file to control the layout and design of the site.nnMy idea would be (as mentioned in the post) to offer varying stages of software. Allow the small business to buy a lightweight version that's designed for the sale of a handful of products, then to upgrade to an intermediate version, where the shopping cart is available but the CMS isn't, and then the full version which offers the whole job lot. I have the scripts already, it's just setting them up, covering all possible requirements such as Gary's suggestion of digital products, and getting it thoroughly tested.nnSomething for the summer!

By: Kym

Kym — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 06:57:32 +0000

A site has to grow with the business and it would not be long before people who wanted a shopping cart such as you describe (which is akin to an HTML site with PayPal buttons) realize they actually need an eCommerce solution which is a totally different ballgame.nnAnd this is where osCommerce is ideal. If you are talking eCommerce (and these days you should be) you can't get lighter than oCommerce. If you want heavy go look at CRE Loaded.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:29:41 +0000

Hey Gary,nnI guess I could offer physical and digital product versions and a combination of both. Essentially going from small to medium to large versions of the cart. As for reporting features, I have some already written but am always interested to know what else people want to find out. If I could work out how to make the reports modular then people could simply pick and add the ones they wanted. Or just offer the admin in different bundles too, one with minimal reporting and one with everything I can think of!

By: gary

gary — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:50:27 +0000

Definitely.nnIf you allow the possibility of selling digital products (via IPN etc) with instant delivery, you could have a nice little cart. You'd also need to have some reporting features, which is what most carts don't have.