Netdirector e-trader pro vs EKM

[dave1928]

Has anyone got an comments to make about how good Netdirector e-trade pro is?? for the standard package (about 20quid per month)

Also for those who know - How does it compare against the like of EKM powershop?

Thanks
Dave

[luckyg]

I dont know much about netdirector but i would recommend u stay well away from ekm

do some more research on these forums about ekm and you will come across so many people who have left them due to their limited store facilities and extremely poor customer service.

I ususally hesitate before dissing a company online as i dont like seeing people lose business but they really got on my tits, it infuriates me when you have to ring an 0870 number to get to speak to someone.

[dave1928]

Thanks for your comments luckyg

I know there has been some bad feedback regarding ekm, but at same time ive seen and heard quite a few good reports from them. Limited store facilities in my opinion isnt the case for ekm, from what i can see on their website.

Anyone got anything to say about e-trader pro??

Thanks

[consultant]

If you can, seyt up your own system - software, in many cases, is free and hosting can cost you only a few quid.

Even though an out of the box system may appear a simpler solution, being totally in control (ok, not directly the server) of your own site and, more importantly, it's data, is the most imp0rtant thing - how would you feel if the webshop company went bust and your trading platform went bust or had a server error, without speedy correction - you are the loser and will probably have little redress.

With your own system, as long as you keep regular backups, you can be back up and running in minutes - hours.

Also, alway register your url with a separate company to who is hosting your site.

[PrettyPaws]

I dont know much about netdirector but i would recommend u stay well away from ekm

do some more research on these forums about ekm and you will come across so many people who have left them due to their limited store facilities and extremely poor customer service.

I ususally hesitate before dissing a company online as i dont like seeing people lose business but they really got on my tits, it infuriates me when you have to ring an 0870 number to get to speak to someone.

I would disagree with that. We've used EKM for 2 years now and they are great. The best on the market in my opinion. Free email support and good customer service over the phone. The shops are easy to mod and to use.

1 in every 5 uk stores are with them so you are bound to find a few unhappy people, but there are lots more happy customers.

[consultant]

I dont doubt it is easy to use, but what would happen if, god forbid, they went in to liquidation - their plug COULD be pulled immediately and you have no access to your store (I do hope there is UK legislaion to prevent this - separate thread?) - what backup plan have you got if this every happened.

Also, where do you get 1 in every 5 uk stores are with them from. Again, I do not doubt that it is popular, but do you realise how many stores that really is/could be?

[luckyg]

I would disagree with that. We've used EKM for 2 years now and they are great. The best on the market in my opinion. Free email support and good customer service over the phone. The shops are easy to mod and to use.

1 in every 5 uk stores are with them so you are bound to find a few unhappy people, but there are lots more happy customers.

I hope you used saynoto0870.com to get their geographic number when you were getting that "good customer service" otherwise you would have been paying circa 10p per minute.

And by the way i only settle for "great" customer service!

Do u mind if i give u a tip on your site. Change your favicon from ekm's generic shopping trolley to a pets paw. Thought you may have noticed their horrid shopping trolley favicon in the two years you have been using them!

Aswell as looking good it will allow people who bookmark your site to easily spot it with the nice brown paw tha you are going to put their now!

[quikshop]

1 in every 5 uk stores are with them.

I suspect you've been given that fact by EKM. Actinic are by far the UK's market leader for Ecommerce solutions and even they don't make such spurious claims.

[consultant]

Dave,

I agree that Actinic is possibly the most popular ecom solution, however, would caveat that to commercial/proprietary.

I am sure that something like oscommerce (and its variants) would be the most popular, overall - there are a lot of bedroom shops out there and many use osc!

[Flying Hippy]

I also use EKM,

Ekm is good but requires custom design work to make it look not out the box.

I have thought about using Magento but dont know too much about it.

Only problem with hosting yourself is you will need to go down the Data Protection Act for servers, which not a lot of people are aware of. This means you have to have 2 servers in diffrent locations and hold DPA certificate.

If you are using a host or shop provider they will be liable for the DPA and not you as they are providing the service.

[quikshop]

Dave,

I agree that Actinic is possibly the most popular ecom solution, however, would caveat that to commercial/proprietary.

I am sure that something like oscommerce (and its variants) would be the most popular, overall - there are a lot of bedroom shops out there and many use osc!

I would agree with that, osCommerce is probably still the most popular open source solution even though there are better variants now available, which would make it the most widely used Ecommerce platform.

I stand corrected :D

[mattlast005]

It is true without a doubt Actinic is by far the most common e-commerce providor. The problem is its not on demand software and that is a necessity in todays ever changing e-business climate. It lacks a few fundamental requirments that an online business needs. It appears they've clearly been focusing on the epos side of things rather than focusing on how the make the e-commerce software itself that much better.

With regards to NetDirector e-Trade Pro its perfect for anyone serious about making money through the website. It looks professional, its easy to use and its always being updated including tools a business needs to put products on easily and manage their online and much more. All things that EKM lacks and EKM as far as I am aware is more expensive. I agree with one of the previous comments the 1/5 online shops I'm thinking was clearly said by a EKM salesman.

I've only heard good things about Magento also. Its got a lot of useful features. The only draw back I've heard its its not the easiest solution to administor.

[PrettyPaws]

I hope you used saynoto0870.com to get their geographic number when you were getting that "good customer service" otherwise you would have been paying circa 10p per minute.

Oh lord 10p? That'll break the bank! lol.


Do u mind if i give u a tip on your site. Change your favicon from ekm's generic shopping trolley to a pets paw. Thought you may have noticed their horrid shopping trolley favicon in the two years you have been using them!

Aswell as looking good it will allow people who bookmark your site to easily spot it with the nice brown paw tha you are going to put their now!

Well thanks for the tip it was already the list but as always there are much more important things to do. To be honest I'm not to bothered by it.

To be honest I can't help thinking you have another motive for attacking EKM (and my site!), the above points seem very petty.

[PrettyPaws]

I agree with one of the previous comments the 1/5 online shops I'm thinking was clearly said by a EKM salesman.



Yep, it's on thier website. http://www.ekmsystems.co.uk/ecommerce.asp

[Hedgie]

Having examined net director e-trade pro I have to admit it's good. So good in fact that I have decided to run our new cosmetics online shop using it.

So far, i'm very impressed. :D