e-commerce website/cart recommendations

[bb2000]

So I'm now getting close to setting my e-commerce store up and I have read and read all the various cart providers websites and I have 2 favourites so far.
Now before I spend money and waste time by using a bad provider I need some advice/recommendations

the 2 so far are

• EKM Powershop as they seem to offer everything I need and are also lower priced than many, I have read some people having issues with their sites (then again you don't hear so much of people who are not having problems). EKM are also mobile ready which is important for my needs.

• Bluepark again they offer what I need although you do pay that bit more and you need to pay extra for an ssl certificate (ekm give this free), also bluepark don't seem to be mobile ready? Although i have read lots of posts giving them praise, so those points can't be that bad?

Now the big issues I have with both (and it seems most sites) is a main part of my new business will be drop shipped from my suppliers, so I won't have the products as stock and most sites don't seem to be set up for that!

So I need some pro's and con's or recommendations (I have checked opencart and magneto but neither seem to appeal to me!). Luckily ekm and bluepark are both monthly contracts so I could try and then change at a later date (although no doubt that will create more issues later?)

thanks

 

[Press48]

There's quite a few different options that are open source and therefore won't cost you much. Dependent on how much content you want to add (i.e. text, not products), then a WordPress based cart like WooCommerce or WP ECommerce might do the trick.

There's also:

Prestashop
osCommerce
Zen Cart
Cube Cart
Zeus Cart

Personally, I've always favoured the WooCommerce option, as its easy to use, easy to administer and has loads of available plugins. The biggest benefit is to your site's design though, as there's hundreds of themes out there (free and paid for), and cheap customisation services.

Magento might be a little overkill if this is your first online store. It has every conceivable option you'd ever need, but this is likely to get confusing very quickly if you're only using 1/4 of them.

If you do want a paid-for solution thats simple, you can also try ECWID (which is incredibly simple to use and setup), or Shopify which has excellent theme options.

Hope this helps and hasn't just added to the confusion!

 

[bb2000]

I have had a look at ECWID and that would plug into my current website (via Wix) fine. Although I still think a fully hosted provider (also ideally UK based) would be best for me?

I am also with Namesco who also offer an online shop but can't find any comments about there store functionally, Does any one have any views on them?

 

[antropy]

What about OpenCart with this extension:
http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=extension/extension/info&extension_id=12170

 

[Nochexman]

So I'm now getting close to setting my e-commerce store up and I have read and read all the various cart providers websites and I have 2 favourites so far.
Now before I spend money and waste time by using a bad provider I need some advice/recommendations

Now the big issues I have with both (and it seems most sites) is a main part of my new business will be drop shipped from my suppliers, so I won't have the products as stock and most sites don't seem to be set up for that!

Given that there are some uncertainties about your business set-up I would choose a free option and cut my teeth with that before committing myself to a contract and a series of fixed payments for something that does not do what I need!

We do seem to get a lot of new businesses making this mistake who regret tying themselves into fixed contracts.

Whatever you do, good luck!

 

[bartonz20let]

I'm with EKM and some of the 'bad' news you read is simply unjustified, I've had very few problems that have actually caused me any real pain, the templates are (quite) good, its stable and very easy to use.

As has been mentioned, (external) template mods are quite inexpensive (EKM's are pricey) but I've learnt to modify my own template and again, thats an easy process of you put the time in.

The have customer support which some of the free stuff might not have and some great features too.

My only criticism is my current issue with the payment gateway not loading, its costing my money in dead carts, EKM are on it but that could mean it will be fixed tomorrow or in 2 years but I'm sure you will find issues like this with any provider.

The best thing about EKM is the unlimited product's, other providers might punish you for having x amount of products, I've got 1000's all at the same price as 250.

EKM are so close to offering a A1 service, perhaps frustratingly close.

Also no contract and a 24h trial so no need to worry about committing and changing your mind.

Plus, I drop ship.... just don't set a stock level and you won't have a problem.

 

[techplus]

I use opencart. Is very friendly-user.

 

[bartonz20let]

So with opencart, who does the hosting? Do you install onto an 3rd party server?

 

[Faevilangel]

yes, opencart is a downloadable cart software which you control yourself.

The benefits of software like OC is you have 100% freedom to do what you want with the site, rather than what the hosted solutions (like ekm) tell you, what you can do.

I am a fan of services like ekm but once you hit a few thousand products you need to be investing in a full on cart system which you control.

 

[bartonz20let]

yes, opencart is a downloadable cart software which you control yourself.

The benefits of software like OC is you have 100% freedom to do what you want with the site, rather than what the hosted solutions (like ekm) tell you, what you can do.

I am a fan of services like ekm but once you hit a few thousand products you need to be investing in a full on cart system which you control.

So what exactly (forgive my ignorance) is the benefit of say Magento or OpenCart?

What's different to say EKM that is critical to large product databases? What do they have that EKM don't?

When you say freedom do you mean design? Product specifics?

 

[Faevilangel]

So what exactly (forgive my ignorance) is the benefit of say Magento or OpenCart?

What's different to say EKM that is critical to large product databases? What do they have that EKM don't?

When you say freedom do you mean design? Product specifics?

Mainly design but also features, with EKM you're limited to what they allow you to do to the site, with a software such as Magento or OC you remove that limitation and can do as much as you need to the site,

EKM is great for simple sites with a few products

 

[bb2000]

-

I know the issues you have being having as i visit the ekm forum and that does worry me a bit and my decision will depend vastly on the speed ekm get the payment issues sorted

(oh and I know your store and my business is similar but targeted at a different brand!! I have got fed up of people asking on forums etc where to buy bits, so I'm going to offer them myself!)

 

[bartonz20let]

Mainly design but also features, with EKM you're limited to what they allow you to do to the site, with a software such as Magento or OC you remove that limitation and can do as much as you need to the site,

EKM is great for simple sites with a few products

Cheers, at present (strangely) I don't feel limited by EKM and at present I can't see that changing, there's not much it doesn't allow me to do that's not better than my competitors (obviously that could change). I do have a niggling problem with EKM though.

I know the issues you have being having as i visit the ekm forum and that does worry me a bit and my decision will depend vastly on the speed ekm get the payment issues sorted

(oh and I know your store and my business is similar but targeted at a different brand!! I have got fed up of people asking on forums etc where to buy bits, so I'm going to offer them myself!)

I've been at it a year and am planning a massive expansion in my business, I've learnt the ropes with a smaller site, made a decent enough profit and am currently working on a mult-brand site with 20x more products, if this issue I'm having doesn't get sorted soon I really have no choice but to go elsewhere.

 

[bb2000]

I've been at it a year and am planning a massive expansion in my business, I've learnt the ropes with a smaller site, made a decent enough profit and am currently working on a mult-brand site with 20x more products, if this issue I'm having doesn't get sorted soon I really have no choice but to go elsewhere.

That's good news and it sounds like fun times are ahead (we may be rivals soon! )
If you fancy a trade customer (I have about 1000 product lines in my database so far, and that's just the popular stuff for the ranges I'm looking at dealing specifically with! and I'm always on the look out for more suppliers if you want to deal with trade )

Reading through other e-comm providers sites/forums, ekm seems to cover all bases and the sites look way more professional than my rivals! Plus as it's rolling contract £25 a month hosted seems good. others look good but paying £100 each for some quite essential ad-ons add's the costs up!

 

[bartonz20let]

That's good news and it sounds like fun times are ahead (we may be rivals soon! )
If you fancy a trade customer (I have about 1000 product lines in my database so far, and that's just the popular stuff for the ranges I'm looking at dealing specifically with! and I'm always on the look out for more suppliers if you want to deal with trade )

Reading through other e-comm providers sites/forums, ekm seems to cover all bases and the sites look way more professional than my rivals! Plus as it's rolling contract £25 a month hosted seems good. others look good but paying £100 each for some quite essential ad-ons add's the costs up!

I wish I had the margins to do trade supply

EKM's good for what I need, I just need to get this issue sorted and I'll be happy again, I've spent all day looking into it and it seems that its an issue PayPal has with some servers.

I've even managed to replicate it now so hopefully EKM can get a grasp on it, its already cost me about 4K in sales!