~20 simple products, worth getting an 'ecommerce solution'?

~20 simple products, worth getting an 'ecommerce solution'? Rate Topic:

#1 Adam Dynamic

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 02:08 PM

Hey,

This is possible a well-worn topic here (though I've looked and can't seem to find a consensus either way?), if it is then please forgive me!

I'm in the process of building a website for my micro-business. I make and sell musical equipment, as all the prices are fixed, all the colours are the same, there are no different sizes, and I'm only ever going to have about 20 different products. The postage costs vary, and when you start to combine them there's a bit of maths to be done, but that's about it.

I'd like to be able to set inventory levels so people can't order what isn't available (but again these will be small) and I'd like to use my own product page layout rather than something that doesn't fit with the aesthetic of the site (so basically, some 'add to cart' buttons, a 'view cart' button, and ability to manage inventory and style the cart page and I'm happy).

My question, from people's experience with zencart/magneto/etc, at what point is it worth implementing this type of solution vs using the PayPal cart (which I use now, though I hate the admin side of it)? Can anyone recommend a solution that might fit with my requirements? I'm scouring the various carts in the sticky but I think I'm starting to go snow-blind with features?...

Any help on this would be much appreciated!

Adam.

#2 Stevo

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 06:23 PM

Hi Adam,

My partner runs a small handmade jewellery business and has pretty much the same requirements, we use bigcartel and are very happy with it - its ideal up to about 100 products, depending on which option you choose, and is easy to use. You can also style it yourself and customise the CSS etc.

I customised the site for my partner at teastained.co.uk (work in progress), let me know if you get one and need a freelancer to style it

Steve

#3 nellyshark

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 06:34 PM

Would shopify.com be an option for you? Seems to me like it would tbh

#4 Adam Dynamic

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Posted 11 May 2010 - 11:46 AM

I think ZenCart might be a good start for me - my host provides an installation script and it ticks the 'free' box, does anyone know whether it has an 'inventory' or does it always assume that everything in the catalogue is available for sale? I'd ask on the ZenCart forum but I can't for the life of me figure out how to sign up for it?...

Adam

#5 nellyshark

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Posted 11 May 2010 - 12:07 PM

Adam Dynamic, on 11 May 2010 - 11:46 AM, said:

It ticks the 'free' box right but to skin it it will cost a good few hundred and you have to configure it correctly too. The installation script will only install a version of the cart, it is up to you to apply security patches and updates. Some of them are inherently insecure and need constant monitoring. I've seen OSCommerce and Zencart sites have malicious files being added to them in a matter of days of being installed, and that's before they were even marketed at all. I am all for open source apps and would actually recommend Open Cart over Zen Cart but in my professional opinion the return has to outweigh the input. That is why I recommend shopify.com above (I am signed up to their partner program for the sole reason that like in this case I believe it would be more advantageous to the client to have a hosted app rather than the hassle of hosting and maintain their own app). Even if you got someone to install a site, install the patches, modify and install a template or custom design a theme - this could still work out more than the cost of trying out a hosted solution where you don't have to worry about any backend stuff, other than fulfilling orders and looking after your own content. Plus there is a 30 day free trial using shopify. You could even cancel your current hosting and save some more money that way

Failing that I believe Open Cart would be the best Open Source cart for your needs (http://demo.opencart.com/). A list of features can be found here: http://www.opencart....feature/feature

To summise, in my profession opinion, for your needs Shopify>Open Cart> Zen Cart.

IF you do decide to signup for the shopify 30 day trial can you please PM for my partner page.

I hope this post has helped you somewhat even thought it didnt really answer what you asked