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24seven
Joined: Feb 24, 2004
# Posts: 6
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 05:43
I will be putting together an ecommerce site for a client.
I manage an online store as my full time job, but I never put an ecommerce site up from scratch.
My client wants something reliable, that can grow with the business he is starting.But not too pricey.
Would OS commerce fit that description? Or should I pay to get a better software. The client won't mind paying it it's worth it.
The same thing for CC transaction. What do I need? WOuld you guys suggest pay pal nowadays?
Also, do you guys think we can start with a shared host, and only when business grow we get a dedicated server? What about a dedicated IP?
The SSL is provided by the host, right?
Thanks a lot for helping.
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OAC
Staff
Joined: Jan 25, 2001
# Posts: 6805
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 07:04
"Would OS commerce fit that description?"
Yeah but so would dozens of others. Like other carts, OScommerce has limitations so it depends on what your clients requirements are.
What is "pricey" $900? $1,500? And in any event, the upfront cost is the least of your client's worries - it is the cost of configuring, customizing and subsequent maintenance of the cart, where the real costs are.
"Or should I pay to get a better software. The client won't mind paying it it's worth it. "
I would pay to get better software (with the proviso that more expensive doesn't necessarily equate with "better"
"CC transaction. What do I need? WOuld you guys suggest pay pal nowadays?"
Get a real merchant facility.
"start with a shared host, and only when business grow we get a dedicated server?"
No problem but be sure to insure that the cart is secure, on the shared server.
"What about a dedicated IP?"
Better, but not essential.
"SSL is provided by the host, right"
You can buy your own certificate. A shared one (provided by the host) is fine if set up correctly.
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24seven
Joined: Feb 24, 2004
# Posts: 6
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 08:02
There are no client requirements because he doesn't know anyhting about it. He wants to have a basic store, be able to process orders online, have control of inventory, send confirmation email, etc...
One of the reasons I started this thread is to get recommendations on possible products. So, if there are other good products besides OSCommerce, which ones would you suggest?
for CC transaction what about 2Checkour or Authorize.net?
Why is a dedicated IP better?
Thanks
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Keensurfer
Joined: Nov 05, 1999
# Posts: 885
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 13:50
Have been using Authorizenet for years. They're reliable.
One important consideration in choosing cart software is right upfront showing the customer the limitations of various shopping software templates. For example, some can only show so many product per line, at particular spacings, etc. You need upfront to determine the degree of customization and flexibility that your client is willing to pay for and support on a go forward basis. In particular:
Does the client want to add and edit new products themselves, or will they hire you or someone with "cut & paste HTML basic skills"? If you don't get that nailed down up-front, you're probably doomed for trouble down the line, or will waste a lot of time.
One last friendly tip.  The fact that your client knows nothing now is a liability, not an asset. Trust me, the day their site goes live, they will
compare it to every competitors site and wonder why their site does not do x, y, or z. Better yet, every relative, friend, enemy, and household pet of your client will give your client feedback on his or her new store! I suggest you sit with your client and study some competitors as well as some other ecommerce sites that your client likes before you start looking for software.
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skuba
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 140
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 19:11
Thanks for the tip KeenSurfer!
My question is when can I start charging for the project. This is my first time putting the whole thing together. So, there is some learning on my part.
Should I do all the research and just start chargin when I present the findings? Or charge since I start the research? How does it work?
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Keensurfer
Joined: Nov 05, 1999
# Posts: 885
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 19:27
Suggest that you charge the client a "competitive analysis" fee. This would include analyzing competitors search results and systems along with a report of your findings & recommendations. If it's your first one, you may want to do it at a bargain price just to gain the experience. Just some suggestions.
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OAC
Staff
Joined: Jan 25, 2001
# Posts: 6805
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 21:32
" if there are other good products besides OSCommerce, which ones would you suggest?"
For ASP on an IIS server, have a look at Storefront
For PHP on an Apache or Linux server (which is what I assume you will be using), have a look at IntelliCART and XCart.
I should add that I have no experience with Oscommerce so don't think that I am trying to steer you away from it, because I am not.
My purpose is to help you to compare the features, strengths and weaknesses of a number of good shopping cart templates to Oscommerce and then make decision.
Whatever you do, steer clear of Miva Merchant. Although I would recommend it to some, I wouldn't recommend it to any site developer. Its a strong cart with loads of features but the developers of this software seem to have set out to make the cart as difficult and time consuming as possible to learn and configure, to make sloppy and bloated code and to ensure that the product and category pages aren't listed in search engines. 85% of the time developing a site is spent trying to find, learning and then implementing workarounds. Avoid any cart that requires anything other than minor workarounds. So it's a good cart for some, but not someone like you. IMO.
HTH.
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Keensurfer
Joined: Nov 05, 1999
# Posts: 885
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 21:48
*chuckle* I've had similar experiences to OAC with Miva.
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skuba
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 140
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 22:40
Yes, I need a shopping cart that I can use mod rewrite and make the URL SE friendly.
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OAC
Staff
Joined: Jan 25, 2001
# Posts: 6805
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Posted: 2004-Feb-25 23:45
There is a very active Miva Users group. They need one. It's called Miva Users but it should be called "Partners in Adversity" group.
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OAC
Staff
Joined: Jan 25, 2001
# Posts: 6805
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Posted: 2004-Feb-26 00:27
Getting back on topic ...
One thing that you and your client probably have not thought much about are backend features which enable easy synchronization of the store inventory, product details and category details with his accounting system. Depending on how big the sales volumes, how many products, how often product details need to be updated etc., easy synchronization can be a huge time and cost saver.
It is very easy, when building a new store, to focus on the initial cost of the store and completely ignore the store maintenance cost. Do not underestimate the maintenance costs.
For nearly all of my ecommerce clients, I have ensured their carts have synchronized with their accounting system. This has proven to be a boon for them. The usual accounting systems to look at are Peachtree (US and Canada), Quickbooks (pretty much everywhere) and MYOB. There are others but I have no experience with them.
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stevenjm
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 824
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Posted: 2004-Feb-26 05:53
"For nearly all of my ecommerce clients, I have ensured their carts have synchronized with their accounting system"
Is synchronizing a site with MYOB a major drama?
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OAC
Staff
Joined: Jan 25, 2001
# Posts: 6805
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Posted: 2004-Feb-26 09:07
Depending on the site but I have seen a case where 3 hours per day, every day was reduced to 10 minutes per day. For a smallish business, that works out to be a heck of a reduction in admin costs, per year.
As to MYOB, I am just in the process of building a site for a wine store, which uses MYOB for its bricks and mortar operation. I haven't finished yet so can't yet give you feedback on how difficult it is. From the documentation, it should be OK, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we'll see.
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skuba
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 140
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Posted: 2004-Feb-26 16:21
I read that OSCommerce can be upgraded to sync with QuickBooks.
?????
Anyway, the client company is starting. They are new to business. I will ask them about account programs.
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