What issues do you have with you're ecom software?

[sabian1982]

There are obviously quite a number of different shopping cart solutions out there, each with their own unique features. Once the designer (if you've used one) has finished their job and got you're online shop up and running, its usually down to you, the owner, to maintain the site and keep things updated and running smoothly.

My big question is (and this is to both owners as well as web devs and SEO's out there who have worked on 3rd party shopping cart software), what shopping cart software do you use and what issues or short falls do you feel you have with you're online shop? Are there any features lacking or missing that you wish you're specific cart had that would make running your online shop easier and better?

Bring on the market research http://www.a1businessforums.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[gibby]

a good question.

From all of the carts we have used I think they all could benefit with better order management systems.
Miva merchant had nothing included so a module had to be bought
we are now using cube cart and although its much better the space for leaving extra notes etc is far too small.

Also the options of the order status could be better customized - ie pending processing, completed, canceled is not enough as we really need options of returning products, refund required etc

I know these can be done just we would prefer if it could be done without paying a developer

G

[mke]

Sabian, "you're" fully written out is "you are". I think you mean "your", which means it belongs to you. As a developer. precise language is essential. Get the meaning wrong and you've got the project wrong. That is true for the buyer as much as for the developer.

So badly constructed and imprecise English is the bane of my life.

My recommended cart software is Zen Cart because it has a very good English language module as well as excellent seo modules, i.e. for database url translations, built in gateway interfaces and much, much more.

[creospace]

You might find this thread useful that i started a while ago, much of the advice I got I've included in what we do now.

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=59723

[mke]

Eerrrmm, creospace, the replies were all from suppliers, not users or site owners. Added to which, all of it is available, free for anyone web savvy enough, in a whole range of Open Source ecommerce solutions.

[sabian1982]

Ah the joys of slight dyslexia but more over having worked way too many hours for a Sunday Mke... valid points over Zen Cart and its additional modules though.

Thanks for the thread Creo - Ray has obviously made some good pointers there as well.

[new2bus]

We actually offer 3 separate carts but we favour Zen Cart and tend to offer it as a first line choice mainly because of its flexibility.

Unfortunately we end up giving support on numerous others because the customer chose whatever and decided to host it with us. (actually a lot of the time they do not even host with us).

Then again it also gave us experience with other carts and strengthened our position on recommending Zen Cart.

[mke]

Couldn't agree more, new2bus. We mirror each others' experience in that respect.

[fairestcape]

Sabian, "you're" fully written out is "you are". I think you mean "your", which means it belongs to you. As a developer. precise language is essential. Get the meaning wrong and you've got the project wrong. That is true for the buyer as much as for the developer.

So badly constructed and imprecise English is the bane of my life.

My recommended cart software is Zen Cart because it has a very good English language module as well as excellent seo modules, i.e. for database url translations, built in gateway interfaces and much, much more.

I endorse this fully - for opensource (free) e-commerce software, there is no rival to zencart - not even OsCommerce. We have been using zencart for 5 years and have built over 30 webshops for clients. One is now achieving turnover in excess of £800,000 annually !

[TotallySport]

My problem is when people who sell "web sites" to the average person, they expect them to not be net or ecommerce savey, so when they try to sell me a shopping cart they only specify very simple features, generally becuase thats all they offer, shopping carts don't offer cutting edge options which will be needed in the up and coming years.

IMO over the next 3 years, the large companies web sites will develop beyond what shopping cart sites can offer making places like amazon more appealing to buyers and less likely to buy from template based static sites.

I was cold called by a web design company who tried to talk to me about SEO, and asked me to read an article on googles pages, when I explained I already new about it she was shocked and asked how? Considering I am web based retailer I would expect I should have some knowledge, and since it is all on the net I would expect me to read at least some of it.

Rest asured they didn't get any contract, but the fact is shopping cart will always be more than one step behind.

[spiritadventures]

I started my shop all in simple html. Those were the days! Moved onto click cart pro and I couldn't be more happy. Lovely little sysem both with the website shopfront and management.

[Silk]

Hi Spirit, A lot of people and web designers don't like CCP because you have to pay for it. I agree, it is one of the best carts out there though after some tweaking and the addition of some mods. Are you on 5.1 or 6?

[spiritadventures]

Hi Spirit, A lot of people and web designers don't like CCP because you have to pay for it. I agree, it is one of the best carts out there though after some tweaking and the addition of some mods. Are you on 5.1 or 6?


I'm on 5.1 - Like you said, done a lot of tweaking and had a few mods installed.

Still I didin't mind paying £100 for it. I run the business with no other help, so to have a good system that saved me time was worth paying for. Had a few mods installed and because of the weakness of the $, that saved me a bit of money too.

[serendipitybusiness]

I find the biggest problem is integration into new and unique designs they all seem to be pretty standard so it takes some good php programming to get an original and unconventional shopping cart design out.