Quick opencart question

[doubledutch]

Hi. I have searched and can't find the answer to my question although I'm sure it's been asked a thousand times...

How easy is opencart to use? I used to build small sites using HTML years ago so basically have no (or very little) coding ability. Would I be able to set up a good site based my complete lack of technical ability?

Or would I be better off with a hosted site like shopify or blue park?

Thanks

 

[jamieclick]

Go with OpenCart! drop me an email if you need any help.

Jamie

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

OpenCart is becoming more and more the developer's choice of cart it seems (along side the likes of Magento) and there are plenty of templates available to assist you - as well as plenty of UKBF members such as Jamie (above) who specialise in OpenCart development.

We have a free payment module for OpenCart for our Payment Gateway and are seeing more and more merchants using this open-source software. Especially with the recent v1.5 being launched which seems to have brought it up to the same level as Magento and other previously more popular open-source solutions.

 

[doubledutch]

thanks for the reply's guys.

The more I look at OC the more I want to use it... the templates look great, the multi store option looks good to, as does guest checkout...

my only concern is will I have to get someone else to do the coding or can someone with no technical ability like me use OC?

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

You don't need to code to use OpenCart, so if you're comfortable using applications then you should be fine, especially with all the guides and help available.

OpenCart is arguably the easiest ecommerce app to use.

It's far more cost effective, and you'll have more control using OpenCart with a decent web host than a hosted solution.

Any decent host will provide a one click installer so you can have it installed for you in seconds, after which it's not really any more complicated using OpenCart than a hosted solution.

You can try it out here:
http://www.softaculous.com/softaculous/demos/OpenCart

And here:
http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=demonstration/demonstration

And you can find lots of free and commercial themes (you can filter for that) here:
http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=extension/extension&path=1&filter_download_id=27

Installing a theme's pretty simple, but again a good web hosting company will be happy to do that for you.

So the skills you need are knowing how to use an application, not anything technical as such.

I hope that helps

Good luck

 

[Richard tj]

it's pretty easy to mod and the site's main template is in the form of a css file and html (not too dissimilar to wordpress). However, the engine itself calls up a number of templates that it uses for each "box" you see on the left and right sides- information, featured etc. These can be also modded with a little knowledge of php (not much knowledge though). They're .tpl files so you can mod them in a texteditor.

Other options include using templates which you just drop in to the site's various folders and the rest is modded using the admin control panel. Plugins are available for just about everything including Google Cart.

 

[doubledutch]

Thanks dan' that's decided it. Opencart it is!

Can anyone suggest a good company for hosting? What sort of price should I be expecting to pay? To start with I'm expecting low sales, I'd be very happy with 50 a week after the first 6 months!

 

[toolsandtimber]

Whatever you do DO NOT use 123reg we had terrible experiences on their shared hosting package.

we are with Vidahost for our opencart site, they know opencart and will work with you to get it setup properly. Also their basic option is sufficient to use for an opencart store, do contact them first if your not sure.

By the way I promise I'm not an employee of vidahost, we just had some terrible experiences with the big hosting companies like 123reg and godaddy, they restrict your sql database connections which cripples opencart.

if you need any help I'm also happy to help

 

[Curious]

Trying Vidahost for your hosting. Really helpful guys.

 

[Dmkths]

I would also give another vote for Vidahost, we have been with them for over 3 years now and all is great.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[jelly3]

Hi. I have searched and can't find the answer to my question although I'm sure it's been asked a thousand times...

How easy is opencart to use? I used to build small sites using HTML years ago so basically have no (or very little) coding ability. Would I be able to set up a good site based my complete lack of technical ability?

Or would I be better off with a hosted site like shopify or blue park?

Thanks

http://demo.softaculous.com/enduser/index.php?act=software&soft=70&tab=overview

Full Opencart demo here, less restrictive than the demo on the Opencart website.

 

[AmazingGiftBoxes]

Another vote for vidahost!!!

Jerry

 

[steveharman]

OpenCart all the way, it just keeps getting better & better.

We were able to install it, add products, configure PayPal and theoretically be accepting orders within the hour - actually within half an hour. Magento? Never got past the installation process and several cryptic error messages (I'm a system administrator in a former life....).

As to hosting - if you can, try and avoid 'shared hosting' accounts for e-commerce (PM me for a recommendation - we looked into many options). Shared hosting may be cheaper than having a server of your own but often slower and arguably problematic with security and SEO if any of the other 100 or so domains on the same server is doing something it shouldn't. Page-load-times can be critical to customer conversion; Google it for various research.

Big subject, lots of points of view - this is just my 2p. ;-)

Kind Regards,

Steve

 

[antropy]

Another vote for OpenCart here, it's a great piece of software with an extremely helpful and growing community of developers and users.

 

[zigojacko]

Depends what you want to get out of your ecommerce store really. If you're happy with an off-the-shelf pre-made theme that loads of other stores are using, then click and install and you're ready to sell. Anything further than this, then you're going to require an understanding of PHP/MySQL, HTML and CSS.