Quote for Zen Cart work please

[QwertyGroup]

Hi All,

If there are any experts out there I am looking for a quote for someone to help me do a few things on my Zen Cart store. I have done most of the work on the site and I know I can do it but it will take me alot longer than an expert.

If anybody is interested then can you please give me a quote for the below. It's a simple list, if you are able to do it good value for money then we will be able to throw more work your way in the future. The website I am using is a template that bought and I need a few things done. Here is a list;
Install to put Thawte/VeriSign Logo, Hacker Safe Logo. So that people can see these on the site.
Install payment methods, Google Checkout, and Metacharge (UK). Paypal is done, but it currently requires too many clicks for Paypal Express to checkout. Need to shorten the process. I need people to be able to add to cart from anywhere. I have SSL installed so people need to be check out securely. Add Credit Card Surcharge. I would like to add 3% surcharge for credit cards but not for Debit Cards.
Adding 5 more pages site. These can be basic pages for text and pictures. I have the original for the HTML pages from the template. The pages won’t be used to sell products, more for information than anything.
When you click on one of the main pages/pictures it currently goes to an empty page. Not a blank page. To fix this.
Add social book marking to the site. I have list of the common ones that I want added.
Install chat software.
When the window opens with the larger picture I want people to be able to choose from several pictures. I can show you examples of what I mean. I am not sure if this is possible with Zen Cart.If anybody is interested and can give references or reference sites that they have worked on then I would like to hear from them.

The most important things on the list are security seals and payment.

If you would like to chat then email me I can give you my Google Talk or MSN Messanger details.

PLEASE NOTE: I AM USING A TEMPLATE.

Thanks in advance.

[mke]

QG, I don't want that job, but here's a couple of pointers I hope may help you, in order of your points:

1. Simple enough.
2. Are you saying you want all of these? What are you selling that requires a plethora of payment gateways? Are you aware that both Paypal and Google Checkout insist upon precedence, so you need extra coding to keep the damned things quiet? Why have more than one of the same thing anyway? Once you've decided which to use, the rest should be straightforward enough.
3. That's not telling us what you want. Are you looking for an empty template so you can put in what you want later? OK, then you're not restricted to a specific number of pages. Once set up, it doesn't matter if you add one or a thousand and one.
4. It currently goes to an empty page not a blank page? Kindly elucidate. They mean the same thing to me.
5. Read up on your SEO theory if that's the purpose. Whoever wrote what you read got it wrong.
6. OK. Do you know which you want and that it is compatible with your hosting system?
7. Almost anything is possible in Zen Cart. You have the source code to manipulate as you wish. But what you have asked for is one larger picture yet it is several pictures. Sorry, I must be being thick this evening. Non capice.

Finally, every Zen Cart instance is a template. No need to shout it. Provided yours is about look and feel rather than having changed the base code, it will work like any other.

Hope that clears up a few points for you. Mike

[jdpos]

The template has edited the base code (I did some of the work) to edit the main text on the home page you cannot access it through the admin section as usual and have to edit loads of files just to change that one bit of text. It is extremely badly coded and makes life really hard.

[mke]

Thanks, jdpos. In that case, QG, my advice would be to start again with a template which respects the base code, or write one. Bear in mind it's a template. The core information is in the database so it can be uploaded to your new cart whichever visual design you choose.

All of what you want doing, apart form where I have commented otherwise, is doable. Even in those cases it can be done, it's just harder therefore more expensive. But you are going to find yourself in a similar position in future if you persist with the one you have without very good reason. You'll end up with a bespoke cart that has cost a fortune for no extra benefit and the probability of a few disadvantages.

Eye candy is not, in my humble opinion, good reason. I have yet to hear of a surfer not buying from a site because it wasn't over-designed, but many who have left because it has been.

[QwertyGroup]

Thanks for your replies. I need to look at it properly and take a decision.

[davidww]

Hi OwertyGroup,

I have a IT support team (my chinese colleague) and the website www.fosmart.com is totally made from ZEN CART, please give me a PM if you want we do the work for you.