Jumping e-commerce system (Woo? Opencart? Summat else?)

[japancool]

Welp, that's Woo installed. Now for the fun bit.

 

[AlanJ1]

I'll admit that's my personal choice. I find bright white sites unusable and they hurt my eyes, so I altered the theme to use primarily black. I could go to a grey background as a compromise, but it does give the site a look that is different.

You tend to find brighter colours psychologically work better than darker. (Again this can depend on industry and target market).

 

[Shopclicks]

Welp, that's Woo installed. Now for the fun bit.

Well done. You're using a staging domain? And you used Let's Encrypt?

 

[fisicx]

And you used Let's Encrypt?

Most decent hosts now offer free SSL.

 

[Shopclicks]

Most decent hosts now offer free SSL.

Yes, Krystal do. cPanel > Let's Encrypt

 

[DuckOnWater]

I currently use BigCommerce. Very happy with it, it's lightning quick and does more or less everything I want.

I don't want to move, but I've exceeded their sales limit and my costs have gone from $109 a month to $399 a month.

So I'm considering other solutions. I've used Woo before, and didn't really have an issue with it, but have no idea what spec a server I would need to self-host. I've never used Opencart. I prefer, if possible, to work with Windows systems (don't yell at me), but I'll work with Unix if I have to, although I would need help configuring it to make sure all security holes are patched.

What sort of cost would I be looking at to replicate my current site in Woo/Open/AN Other system? And what about ongoing costs, besides the server?

Trying to figure out if it's worthwhile, or whether I just swallow the cost increases. I don't want this to crop up again when and if I breach their next sales threshold.

I recommend Shopify. WooCommerce is ok for small shops but if you want to have the convenience of a powerful and easy platform that scales, Shopify is the way to go.

 

[japancool]

Well done. You're using a staging domain? And you used Let's Encrypt?

Yes.

 

[japancool]

I recommend Shopify. WooCommerce is ok for small shops but if you want to have the convenience of a powerful and easy platform that scales, Shopify is the way to go.

Well, for one thing, I don't want to be tied to Shopify Payments.

 

[fisicx]

WooCommerce is ok for small shops but if you want to have the convenience of a powerful and easy platform that scales…

Which woo can do. As do many other standalone platforms. Shopify scales but the bigger the store the more you pay.

 

[LPB 123]

Well, for one thing, I don't want to be tied to Shopify Payments.

Is it just the price that's your issue with Shopify Payments? Or something else?

You can have Paypal Express for no extra charges, but this is more % than Shopify Payments anyway.

 

[japancool]

Is it just the price that's your issue with Shopify Payments? Or something else?

You can have Paypal Express for no extra charges, but this is more % than Shopify Payments anyway.

For one thing, I want to offer Klarna, and other methods not offered via Shopify Payments.

Neither do I wish to take the risk of payment holds. And were I ever to need Shopify Advanced, I would end up paying the same as what BigCommerce want to charge me, and the whole point of the exercise is to reduce costs.

 

[LPB 123]

For one thing, I want to offer Klarna, and other methods not offered via Shopify Payments.

Neither do I wish to take the risk of payment holds. And were I ever to need Shopify Advanced, I would end up paying the same as what BigCommerce want to charge me, and the whole point of the exercise is to reduce costs.

You can offer Klarna, Shopify just want an extra fee lol. What other methods do you accept that they don't offer?

I've never had a payment hold from Shopify FYI. Why do they do this?

Yeah if you're looking for cheap it's definitely not your option. I was just curious about your issues with it as everyone on here seems to hate Shopify but I think it's great.

 

[japancool]

You can offer Klarna, Shopify just want an extra fee lol. What other methods do you accept that they don't offer?

According to Shopify's website, Klarna is only available to merchants in Germany, Sweden and Austria. I also offer Open Banking payments via Super Payments.

I've never had a payment hold from Shopify FYI. Why do they do this?

Other than requiring more info about your business, there are other reasons which they don't explain, but I imagine it will be risk-based.

Yeah if you're looking for cheap it's definitely not your option. I was just curious about your issues with it as everyone on here seems to hate Shopify but I think it's great.

BigCommerce does everything I need it to do at the moment, and I'm paying $399, so there would be no point in moving to Shopify if I just end up paying roughly the same amount.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you site is not demanding on resources, why not move to a good shared hosting or even WP/Woo dedicated hosting - all of the technical stuff is sorted out for you and all you ficus on is the site.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

BTW, why not sign up for Amazon AWS?

They will give you a server (albeit low powered) for free (with other services) where you can (almost) one click install of the OS and framework - you could event use Litespeed (I am trialing) which does seem to speed things up a little.

Happy to help you get that going.....

 

[japancool]

If you site is not demanding on resources, why not move to a good shared hosting or even WP/Woo dedicated hosting - all of the technical stuff is sorted out for you and all you ficus on is the site.

I've already signed up with Krystal for £!9 a month.

 

[AlanJ1]

According to Shopify's website, Klarna is only available to merchants in Germany, Sweden and Austria

I have Shopify sites in the UK using Klarna.

 

[Russ Michaels]

I currently use BigCommerce. Very happy with it, it's lightning quick and does more or less everything I want.

I don't want to move, but I've exceeded their sales limit and my costs have gone from $109 a month to $399 a month.

So I'm considering other solutions. I've used Woo before, and didn't really have an issue with it, but have no idea what spec a server I would need to self-host. I've never used Opencart. I prefer, if possible, to work with Windows systems (don't yell at me), but I'll work with Unix if I have to, although I would need help configuring it to make sure all security holes are patched.

What sort of cost would I be looking at to replicate my current site in Woo/Open/AN Other system? And what about ongoing costs, besides the server?

Trying to figure out if it's worthwhile, or whether I just swallow the cost increases. I don't want this to crop up again when and if I breach their next sales threshold.

Have you tried ECWID, this is what I use for most of my clients, who love it.

 

[japancool]

Have you tried ECWID, this is what I use for most of my clients, who love it.

No. What does it do that the other systems already mentioned in this thread don't?

 

[dx3webs]

err keep in mind that your hosting bill will be dependent on your traffic levels. A small VPS is not going to handle 2m page views / month .. so bear that in mind

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

A small VPS is not going to handle 2m page views / month

If you get that many views and even poor conversion, the cost of the server is unlikely to be a top issue!

 

[antropy]

The main concern would be the ongoing costs for hosting/support etc. The aim of the exercise would be to significantly reduce costs - if I can't achieve that, it's not worth moving.

Plenty of our clients pay nothing for support/maintenance each month. Others pay thousands. It depends on how much work you need doing.

Paul.

 

[wayzgoose]

I recommend Shopify. WooCommerce is ok for small shops but if you want to have the convenience of a powerful and easy platform that scales, Shopify is the way to go.

Got 8400 products on our WooCommerce site and it works just fine.

 

[japancool]

Well, trying to get to grips with Woo, and not liking it one little bit.

Probably because it's different from what I'm used to, but I added categories and the default theme provides no way to navigate them.

Added a test product and it doesn't appear.

The back end is *very* slow. Shop page is ok but I haven't added anything yet.

Plus, when I try to preview a theme on Themeforest, my damn Avast antivirus reports a suspected iframe-inf infection and aborts it.

This might take some time, if I do decide to progress with it.

 

[japancool]

Added a test product and it doesn't appear.

Looks like I didn't click Publish. Thought I did.

 

[Shopclicks]

Probably because it's different from what I'm used to, but I added categories and the default theme provides no way to navigate them.

Have you added a menu? If you have, go to the menus page and Screen Options (top right of screen). Make sure Product Categories is ticked.

Plus, when I try to preview a theme on Themeforest, my damn Avast antivirus reports a suspected iframe-inf infection and aborts it.

You don't need a theme from Theme Forest. Use a fast theme like Neve & Neve Child from the WP repository.

 

[japancool]

Have you added a menu? If you have, go to the menus page and Screen Options (top right of screen). Make sure Product Categories is ticked.

I can't seem to find that option. Click on Appearance just takes me to the Themes page.

You don't need a theme from Theme Forest. Use a fast theme like Neve & Neve Child from the WP repository.

Here's another issue - you know Neve is fast, but I don't. I'm not even sure where I would look for that info. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Shopclicks]

I can't seem to find that option. Click on Appearance just takes me to the Themes page.

Hover over Appearance and go to Menus in the dropdown.

Here's another issue - you know Neve is fast, but I don't. I'm not even sure where I would look for that info. Thanks for the info though.

https://shopclicks.co.uk/shop/household/ That's just a demo site.

 

[antropy]

Well, trying to get to grips with Woo, and not liking it one little bit.

Indeed, we also found it pretty awful.

The back end is *very* slow. Shop page is ok but I haven't added anything yet.

And the front-end is slow.

Plus, when I try to preview a theme on Themeforest, my damn Avast antivirus reports a suspected iframe-inf infection and aborts it.

Doesn't surprise me one little bit, Themeforest themes are mostly pure rubbish, we've tried plenty and they code is usually pretty disgusting.

Have you tried OpenCart yet?

Paul.

 

[japancool]

Have you tried OpenCart yet?

I don't think I would have the expertise to install OpenCart. I'd be willing to give it a go, but it's all about cost.

 

[antropy]

I don't think I would have the expertise to install OpenCart. I'd be willing to give it a go, but it's all about cost.

If you use cPanel with Softaculous, it's pretty easy as described here:

What's the Quickest Way to Install OpenCart?

One of the fastest ways to get a functional ecommerce website up and running very quickly is to get some web hosting that provides cPanel (such as ours here).

www.antropy.co.uk

Do you have hosting? I'd be tempted to set it up for you just so you can see how good it is ...

Paul.

 

[japancool]

Do you have hosting? I'd be tempted to set it up for you just so you can see how good it is ...

I opened a hosting account with Krystal, as Shopclicks recommended them for Woo. I'd have to look up the specs, so I'm not sure how suitable it is for Opencart.

My personal feeling, based on absolutely no information whatsoever, is that a system that was original built for e-commerce would be superior to a system designed for the same but built on top of a CMS.

I can be convinced either way though. I've been in the IT game for far too long to be passionate about any particular system (except maybe SQL Server, because that's what I do).

 

[antropy]

I opened a hosting account with Krystal, as Shopclicks recommended them for Woo. I'd have to look up the specs, so I'm not sure how suitable it is for Opencart.

OpenCart runs fine on pretty much any server. But if you have cPanel and Softaculous it's a 1-click install.

My personal feeling, based on absolutely no information whatsoever, is that a system that was original built for e-commerce would be superior to a system designed for the same but built on top of a CMS.

Well it's perfectly logical - a system built from the ground up for a specific purpose is *likely* to be better at that purpose than a system built for something else and then adapted. Of course that's not always true, but generally speaking it is.

I can be convinced either way though. I've been in the IT game for far too long to be passionate about any particular system (except maybe SQL Server, because that's what I do).

So does your hosting have Softaculous? If so you might as well set OpenCart up and give it a go ...

Paul.

 

[japancool]

OpenCart runs fine on pretty much any server. But if you have cPanel and Softaculous it's a 1-click install.

I'll take a look.

 

[Shopclicks]

I'll take a look.

All I'll say is that if you want your store to look as it does now, then Woocommerce + Elementor Pro will do it. OpenCart is not going make the job any easier. And as far as speed goes, I've demonstrated that Woo does not slow a site down.

 

[japancool]

All I'll say is that if you want your store to look as it does now, then Woocommerce + Elementor Pro will do it. OpenCart is not going make the job any easier. And as far as speed goes, I've demonstrated that Woo does not slow a site down.

OK, but I'm sure OpenCart won't slow it down either. My requirements are very basic, so I'm sure pretty much any system will do what I need.

It probably comes down to which system I find easier to use. I haven't made a decision yet as I haven't seen the OC backend. I might hate it.

 

[antropy]

I haven't seen the OC backend. I might hate it.

Administration

opencart.antropy.co.uk

user: demo
pass: demo

Paul.

 

[japancool]

Administration

opencart.antropy.co.uk

user: demo
pass: demo

Paul.

Interesting. It's quick but the first impression I get is it seems basic (not that I need anything particularly advanced). I assume there's a visual editor plugin?

 

[antropy]

Interesting. It's quick but the first impression I get is it seems basic. I assume there's a visual editor plugin?

There is a theme called "Journal" which provides that kind of functionality but unfortunately it's quite bloated and most experienced OpenCart developers don't recommend it.

We offer these themes but they don't allow visual editing I'm afraid:

OpenCart - Antropy Electron Theme

OpenCart - iStore Theme

OpenCart - Antropy Multipurpose Theme

Paul.

 

[japancool]

There is a theme called "Journal" which provides that kind of functionality but unfortunately it's quite bloated and most experienced OpenCart developers don't recommend it.

We offer these themes but they don't allow visual editing I'm afraid:

OpenCart - Antropy Electron Theme

OpenCart - iStore Theme

OpenCart - Antropy Multipurpose Theme

Paul.

Gotcha. That could be a problem. My HTML/CSS isn't that strong. I can edit and do most changes I want to do, but designing a responsive theme from scratch might be beyond me.

Dammit Jim, I'm a database programmer, not a web designer!