AJAX 1 page checkout - which cart?

[jxm28788]

Hi,

I'm shortly going to be creating a new e-commerce site, which will just be pretty basic. THere is no need for fancy features such as displaying the cart contents on the page, logging in or registering, or any of that.

But one thing it does need is a 1 page checkout.

Can anyone recomend an e-commerce package or cart solution that has this feature?

Thanks,

John.

 

[Sandskater]

You can now get a 1 page checkout mod for Xcart.

However, it sounds like Xcart may be an overkill for what you need.

 

[Spiderden]

Magento has a one page checkout, though it is probably overkill..

 

[jxm28788]

You can now get a 1 page checkout mod for Xcart.

However, it sounds like Xcart may be an overkill for what you need.

Do you have a link for the xcart website. If I google for it I just get tons of xcart mod sites...

 

[jxm28788]

Magento has a one page checkout, though it is probably overkill..

Actually that looks pretty cool, would be good for my next big store... except that calling that a 1 page checkout is a bit of a stretch... and it broke halfway through which isn't a good sign...

 

[Spiderden]

It's still in Beta, a production version is expected at the end of the month.

 

[nethosts]

Do you have a link for the xcart website. If I google for it I just get tons of xcart mod sites...

Their site is a at http://www.x-cart.com/

 

[jxm28788]

It's still in Beta, a production version is expected at the end of the month.

the 1 page checkout is in beta or Magento? Is Magento a popular cart? It looks pretty cool and well featured but I have to say I've nver heard of it!

 

[Val Moscow]

Hi! I would concentrate on *.XLS (Excel) based DB for the simple cart. As soon, as you will become confident to use DB, an expansion of all yours and your friends’ items online will become unstoppable.

Val (London)

 

[Xirgo]

I suggest you use Magento, you can always edit the theme and remove the features you don't need so it matches your site.

Alternatively, you could get one that is custom coded - it wouldn't be something hard to wrap up if you're familiar with jQuery.

 

[awebapart.com]

I'm shortly going to be creating a new e-commerce site, which will just be pretty basic. THere is no need for fancy features such as displaying the cart contents on the page, logging in or registering, or any of that.

But one thing it does need is a 1 page checkout.

If you don't need a basket how about PayPal buy now buttons?

I'm not sure whether a 1 page checkout without any logging in or password entry is feasible anymore, what with the extra login requirements required by 3D secure, and even if you want to take payments via paypal, google checkout, etc there is still the logging in requirement for existing paypal or google checkout users. In these cases logging in or password isn't a bad thing, it is there to provide extra security.

 

[jxm28788]

If you don't need a basket how about PayPal buttons?

screams amateur, and I wouldn't trust paypal payments - or indeed paypal themselves (they can freeze your account at any time for 'security reasons' and hold onto thousands of pounds of your money for months and there's bugger all you can do about it)

I'm not sure whether a 1 page checkout without any logging in or password entry is feasible anymore, what with the extra login requirements required by 3D, and even if you want to take payments via paypal, google checkout, etc there is still the logging in requirement for existing paypal or google checkout users.

I'm not bothered about the 3d page, and to be honest even if the card payment was on a 2nd page I would still count that as an almost 1 page checkout.

I'm just used to actinic which has about 4 pages, THEN the payment screen, THEN the 3d screen.

I'd be happy with the following -
1) All the cart stuff (delivery/invoice addresses, delivery charge etc)
2) PSP Payment screen (choose card, enter details)
3) 3d authentification password if applicable

Does that widen the scope a bit further for other carts?

 

[awebapart.com]

(PayPal) screams amateur, and I wouldn't trust paypal payments - or indeed paypal themselves (they can freeze your account at any time for 'security reasons' and hold onto thousands of pounds of your money for months and there's bugger all you can do about it)

You're quite entitled to your opinion and perhaps you might have had a bad experience with PayPal in the past too, but this is not the norm and there are plenty of businesses which use PayPal successfully without these sort of problems. PayPal is not just for the ebay masses, it is also used as a payment option for large company ecommerce sites like Harrods, Boots, Monarch Airlines, dabs.com, down to small business ecommerce sites, and even UKBusinessForums uses only PayPal for their membership payment processor.

Account freezing usually happens when there is some verification issue at the start (bank accounts need to be verified before funds can be transferred out), or when there are some security compromise issues later (phishers getting hold of your login details), or when there are other suspect things happening with your account (either customer complaints, or moving into product areas not covered by their terms and conditions, or large out of the ordinary fund transfers). If PayPal is used correctly, most of these issues can be avoided, and it can be a useful tool for a business. If problems do occur and the account is frozen, then in most cases there is something you can do about it, and this usually involves a re-verification process.

Generally though I wouldn't recommend having any major build up of funds, 'thousands', in any accounts like these from any payment provider, you should transfer the money into your bank account at regular intervals, as soon as you can, for cashflow and interest purposes too, as well as for minimising risks.

 

[jxm28788]

PayPal is not just for the ebay masses, it is also used as a payment option for large company ecommerce sites like Harrods, Boots, Monarch Airlines, dabs.com

Sure...as an option, to add choice for the customer... but a 'paypal only' checkout does look amateurish (simply because anyone can do it, where-as getting a 'proper' PSP involves getting a merchant number and signing up a PSP which all takes time and effort and implies a certain level of credibility - have you tried opening a bank account these days, let alone trying to get a merchant number!)

So for the purposes of my original question, assume that paypal is not an option.

ps. in my case the 'suspicious' activity which imediately froze my account was me trying to transfer the balance out to my bank account because I noticed the balance was getting rather large...

 

[awebapart.com]

but a 'paypal only' checkout does look amateurish (simply because anyone can do it)

Almost anybody can open up a PayPal account, since PayPal is not just a tool for ecommerce shop owner sellers, it is also a tool for the general public who are buying online.

There is a difference between the PayPal Personal accounts, the ones that the general public might have, and the PayPal Business accounts, the ones that shop owners require in order to accept credit and debit card payments direct via the PayPal site from those buyers who do not have PayPal accounts. PayPal business accounts, although they are still free, require a more stringent verification process (entering company details, business bank details, etc).

Saying that, there is still a difference between those who have PayPal business accounts which are unverified or in the process of being verified, and those that have PayPal Business verified accounts who have gone through the further verification processes in order to be able to transfer funds from PayPal to their business accounts.

So all in all, it is not as easy as you suggest for businesses to set up fully with PayPal and be able to move money into their bank, and it looks like you also have first hand experience that it is not that easy to do this too with your unfortunate first-hand experience with PayPal.

have you tried opening a bank account these days, let alone trying to get a merchant number!

The last time I had to open a new business bank was back in 1998 when my company started, so I cannot comment on this now with first hand experience. What I have noticed with some of my start-up clients though, is that their bank advisors/managers will fall over themselves in a rush to provide a new business with a merchant account, which I do find odd, since in some cases they are overkill for what a start-up needs - maybe it has something to do with the fact that the banks make a nice few hundred quick bucks when they do so. Maybe it is different for different banks, different branches, different advisors, and different company circumstances.

 

[castilejewellery]

I use volusion which has a really good one page checkout system, The cart aint half nice as well.

Regards
Jon

 

[amaze]

Magento looks great, the beta is a little slow from what I have seen though... Certainly if they create a stable\fast version it will do very well indeed.