Advice Required please

[azzik]

Hi I am newbie and require some advice.

I would like to start selling products online. I have bought my domain and contacted the supplier to get things started. However I am stuck on what eCommerce website to use. I am after something simple that I can add my products too and it looks good at the same time. I would like it to have some payments gateways integrated already for use if possible. I am looking at using paypal and a credit/visa card option. I will be setting up a merchant account with amazon to sell the products there and maybe ebay. With all the extra costs I am looking at paying £15 pounds a months. I don't have the funds to pay someone to create a online shop for me.

Can you please advice a suitable eCommerce website to use which is straightforward and easy to use.

The items I will be selling will vary on weight wise from 1kg to 8kg. Can someone recommend a good parcel courier service who are cheap and reliable.


Thank you in advance for help

 

[faradaykeynes]

I would suggest Zencart or even better Prestashop. Easy to setup and manage, prestashop have inbuilt quite a few gateways including Google checkout, which is lot better then paypal

 

[Alan]

OpenCart - free, more modern than ZenCart. Prestashop is also good, but OpenCart is my preference.

You will need a hosting account, ideally get one that advertises a one click install most do, OpenCart & Prestashop feature in most 'one click' scripting packages.

You can get a basic hosting package and upgrade as your needs grow.

Vidahost come recommended here on this forum, and you can start at a silly low price of £17 per YEAR https://www.vidahost.com/web-hosting/overview

 

[ShallWeStart]

Hi,

I agree with Roibot, OpenCart would be my preference. Very easy to setup and get the hang of and is full of features.

There are also a great selection of themes available at decent prices.

--
Want to sell online?
ShallWeStart.co.uk

 

[Bart Simpson]

In addition to these, you might to check out hosting provider that offer their own site builders. You can build your own eCommerce site quite easily and get a good deal on hosting as well. It might save you some cost.

 

[UnifiedM]

Hi I am newbie and require some advice.

I would like to start selling products online. I have bought my domain and contacted the supplier to get things started. However I am stuck on what eCommerce website to use. I am after something simple that I can add my products too and it looks good at the same time. I would like it to have some payments gateways integrated already for use if possible. I am looking at using paypal and a credit/visa card option. I will be setting up a merchant account with amazon to sell the products there and maybe ebay. With all the extra costs I am looking at paying £15 pounds a months. I don't have the funds to pay someone to create a online shop for me.

Can you please advice a suitable eCommerce website to use which is straightforward and easy to use.

The items I will be selling will vary on weight wise from 1kg to 8kg. Can someone recommend a good parcel courier service who are cheap and reliable.


Thank you in advance for help

Hey, I tried to post a useful URL here but I am unable to..Please google search "diy ecommerce websites" you'll get an article in mashable. Check thaat link out..i am sure it'll be useful for you...

 

[dx3webs]

Our starter package will get you up and running with a magento installation and as much help and advice as you need for 15 quid a month. Stick with PayPay for the moment till you get your feet on the ground. There are free extensions for Magento which will allow you to talk to ebay / amazon.

If you want to do it for next to nothing you will have to roll your sleeves up and dig in but it will be worth it in the long run.

pm me if interested

 

[ZipserSir]

I would like to start selling products online. I have bought my domain and contacted the supplier to get things started. However I am stuck on what eCommerce website to use. I am after something simple that I can add my products too and it looks good at the same time. I would like it to have some payments gateways integrated already for use if possible. I am looking at using paypal and a credit/visa card option. I will be setting up a merchant account with amazon to sell the products there and maybe ebay. With all the extra costs I am looking at paying £15 pounds a months. I don't have the funds to pay someone to create a online shop for me.

Can you please advice a suitable eCommerce website to use which is straightforward and easy to use.

The items I will be selling will vary on weight wise from 1kg to 8kg. Can someone recommend a good parcel courier service who are cheap and reliable.

Hello azzik.

As a newbie with an unproven business model, you should use a free ecommerce package like freewebstore.org.

You should try to avoid committing myself to any recurring charges; £15 may not seen much, but who needs that if their business does not pan out?

Find pay-as-you-go suppliers and then use your time as you build up your business to find suppliers that support your business model - not the other way round!

If you have some success from the start then I would want an alternative to PayPal fairly smartly. And, I would be reluctant to commit myself to Amazon; I would not want to be reliant on a supplier that is competing with me!

Finally, I would be looking for suppliers who are able to provide practical advice (forget call centers). You can't get enough expert help when you are starting up and cheap is not always best.

Good luck,
- ZipserSir

 

[KateCB]

couriers - try courier logistics/APC - they do have a member on the forums, however my local depot number is 01709 369369 - they will be able to give you a number for YOUR local depot. They will need numbers you think you will be sending though from you to give you prices

 

[WebiProg]

No doubts - OpenCart!

 

[azzik]

Thanks everyone for your advice and help really appreciate it. I am looking at freewebstore.org and do like it. I am a bit confused as I cannot see what the difference is between freewebstore.org and Go Ecommerce which is a link on freewebstore.org.

 

[azzik]

On second thoughts looking at opencart which looks much better. Can someone explain how it works. Is this correct I pick a theme purchase the template modify it and then get someone to host my website and add it all in for me. Will this allow me to track my purchases shipping labels etc.

Is there anyone that can set this up for me for a small price?

 

[Alan]

Yes lots of people do that sort of thing for a living - including us - depends, what your definition of a small price, if you are thinking £15 set up forget it, but a couple of hundred plus hosting then that is possible.?

Actually even the default theme can be made to look OK with a couple of images and settings here is one we knocked up using the
basic theme as an example for someone considering opencart http://smokeecig.llocally.info/

 

[HostXNow]

Thanks everyone for your advice and help really appreciate it. I am looking at freewebstore.org and do like it. I am a bit confused as I cannot see what the difference is between freewebstore.org and Go Ecommerce which is a link on freewebstore.org.

Looks like freewebstore is free where as Go Ecommerce is a paid service (usually better).

 

[azzik]

Thanks everyone for your help. I am thinking of using a theme from themeforest with opencart. Do I need to have a lot of technical skills or do you think I will be OK with the documentation and be able to do it myself.

 

[number42]

Opencart has a lot of good reviews.
But also checkout hosted carts for eg bigcommerce, we currently use this for one of our stores, simplifies things no end.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[apricot]

I've been using Magento software and I am quite happy with it. It seems opencart has a lot of good reviews as well. I am not quite sure what's the difference, it might be worthwhile to check both.

 

[Metalfrogboss]

Both OpenCart and Magento are good, but no e-commerce freebie is great "out of the box". For the site to work properly you need great design, great re-configured coding, complete understanding of user patterns and buying trends, and a great search engine optimisation, social media, link building strategy. Simply building a cart will never cut it as a vehicle for making money. Equally, have a business plan for where the site is going, profit and loss and whether it is going to be your baby forever or whether you want to sell it in the future.
Hope that helps
Chris

 

[landrovermad]

I use APC to send landrover winch bumpers

 

[mailboxexpress]

Hey,

If you need a courier for larger one off items we would be able to help should you start to expand your product ranges: http://www.mailboxexpress.co.uk/

 

[P4D | Parcels4Delivery]

Hi I am newbie and require some advice.

I would like to start selling products online. I have bought my domain and contacted the supplier to get things started. However I am stuck on what eCommerce website to use. I am after something simple that I can add my products too and it looks good at the same time. I would like it to have some payments gateways integrated already for use if possible. I am looking at using paypal and a credit/visa card option. I will be setting up a merchant account with amazon to sell the products there and maybe ebay. With all the extra costs I am looking at paying £15 pounds a months. I don't have the funds to pay someone to create a online shop for me.

Can you please advice a suitable eCommerce website to use which is straightforward and easy to use.

The items I will be selling will vary on weight wise from 1kg to 8kg. Can someone recommend a good parcel courier service who are cheap and reliable.


Thank you in advance for help

Good morning,

Sorry we're a bit late to the party!

We're a reseller for courier services, so you can use international B2B couriers at a fraction of the price - instant quotes, full customer support and a designated contact for business account (once you're shipping high volumes).

We're also a software company, so we have our own API and integrate with eBay, CubeCart etc. We're currently looking in to Magento. Either way, our software systems will save you some time.

If you'd like to know more get in touch with [email protected], he'll be happy to send you some information

Good luck!

Nat

 

[andy@ecomus]

Have you thought about Magento Go. This is set up for new starters like yourself and you get to use the best ecommerce package available.

 

[andy@ecomus]

Would suggest having a look at Magento Go. Set up for people like yourself and you get to use Magento.