E-Commerce Website Help

Banned 16 years ago

I own a number of ecommerce sites and have worked with a few platforms, but what you're describing should be a standard feature on most carts. I know for a fact that it is for Yahoo Stores. I also use shopsite, but my products don't need that feature so not totally sure if they have it or not.

Personally, I'd walk away and call it a lesson learned. They're doing what eban pagan describes as "building a black box" and will likely be charging you for every little change you want to make.

It's far easier to use existing software that already has the features you're looking for....and then have a programmer/designer just do the look and feel you want. For example, I use yahoo stores and have used this designer before. 1choice4yourstore.com

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E. Brian Rose

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Gnarx

My problem now is I am in need of a way to have the individual product pages to contain a drop-down to select options.. (example: Fly Rod length, the weight.. etc..)

I have used CubeCart many times. They have this exact option and it is very easy to set up and customize. There are a lot of easy to drop in plugins and mods available, as well. CubeCart basic is free. The pro version is $180.

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Gnarx

16 years ago

Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose

I have used CubeCart many times. They have this exact option and it is very easy to set up and customize. There are a lot of easy to drop in plugins and mods available, as well. CubeCart basic is free. The pro version is $180.

So on a specific product page.. I'll use my Fly Rod example again... You can select via drop down a 9' rod or a 10' rod etc.. and as soon as you select the length the price of the product updates?

That is the main problem I have with my website now. Different variables for specific products can increase or decrease the price.. and this crap company wants $1,100 MORE to just implement that. Which is beyond robbery.

Thanks
1 reply

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jjpmarketing 16 years ago

You might want to check out x-cart as well.

Shopping Cart Software & Ecommerce Solutions: X-Cart. Free shopping cart trial is available.

Dennis
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- Barbara Eyre 16 years ago
  
  Like previously mentioned, most shopping carts have this function, whether as part of their core code, or a script add-on - and add-ons are typically easy to implement.
  
  I know it can be done with X-cart, Zencart, and Oscommerce.
  X-cart is expensive, somewhat buggy, and support is in Russia - used to use them extensively.
  
  Oscommerce is free, support is open source = everyone helps everyone.
  
  Zencart is free, and is based on Oscommerce, but better scripted and support is better. I use Zencart extensively for my clients.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  DeadGuy 16 years ago
  
  Check out EcommerceTemplates. They have templates that will do exactly what you are asking for. I've used them in the past and they work great, are fairly easy to install and are not overpriced. (No... I will not be compensated if you buy one!)
  
  Thanks
  
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  You are making this work at home stuff way harder than it is. Ready for some sanity? Clear your head and start over.
  
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Myles Sinclair

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Gnarx

I can't afford to pay them the extra $1,100 to get what I want on my "custom" website. And if I ask for the FTP info and files that voids my contract with them they said.

You would be better off cutting your losses and tell them to take a hike. They're just going to continue holding you to ransom as time goes by. Without access to your files or FTP they've got you over a barrel. A great deal for them, but not for you.

As others have mentioned, there are numerous shopping carts available that will do what you want. Many of them are free and well supported. There will be a bit of a learning curve, but there is plenty of help on hand.

Good luck.

Myles

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n7 Studios

16 years ago

1. You mention that they are using a custom CMS. Do you know what it is called?
- If it is a well known / open source e-commerce solution, you may be able to find a developer who can do the work for less, or use the inbuilt functionality.
- However, this ENTIRELY depends upon what CMS they are using. Nobody here can make suggestions until we know the answer to that.

2. Have you paid for the work already?
- If so, can you not agree to the work done + receive the site assets, then get another developer to do the work (shopping around might get a slightly better price)
- If not, can you walk away from the project without any penalty (financial or otherwise)?

Until we have answers to the above, it's pretty impossible for anyone to go providing a solution.

Thanks
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Gnarx

16 years ago

Originally Posted by n7 Studios

1. You mention that they are using a custom CMS. Do you know what it is called?
- If it is a well known / open source e-commerce solution, you may be able to find a developer who can do the work for less, or use the inbuilt functionality.
- However, this ENTIRELY depends upon what CMS they are using. Nobody here can make suggestions until we know the answer to that.

2. Have you paid for the work already?
- If so, can you not agree to the work done + receive the site assets, then get another developer to do the work (shopping around might get a slightly better price)
- If not, can you walk away from the project without any penalty (financial or otherwise)?

Until we have answers to the above, it's pretty impossible for anyone to go providing a solution.

I believe the CMS is their own custom one. Although.. judging from how these guys are handling my project, they probably re-coded some other CMS and made it their own. Here is a screen-shot of the admin login, maybe someone will recognize it:

To answer your second question: This is exactly what I was thinking. They told me if they supplied me with the FTP info and files that this would void our contract.. I already paid the $2,000 however and they want even more money to further customized the site to my needs... So if I just jump ship with them and take my site and run I really don't see what I would be missing out on.

I would love be able to find someone who would be capable of adding the functionality of drop-down options on specific items that would update the price accordingly.. Like everyone is saying.. this is a pretty standard feature on most e-commerce website.. I am so confused as to why the didn't have this in the first place and further confused by the $1,100 quote they gave me to implement this feature.

I have already loaded a bunch of products and the site is up.. just not live or being marketed.. Ideally i would like to keep what I currently have but I just can't do it if I don't have the product drop-downs with price updating.

I could go into more details if someone is interested in helping me out or doing the job for what I need.. If you PM me I can link you to the current site and explain why it is not meeting my needs.

Thanks everyone for all the replies I feel like I am seeing a little bit of light in all this mess..

Thanks
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n7 Studios 16 years ago

Originally Posted by Gnarx

They told me if they supplied me with the FTP info and files that this would void our contract.

So what does the contract say?
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ARVolund

16 years ago

Jared

Have you already paid the $2k? If not I sure would not pay out anymore until you get this resolved.

What you are wanting should be either a standard option or easily added to any ecommerce site. Generally for most of my clients zen-cart is a good choice. I used to use osCommerce but a few years ago I moved over to zen which is actually based on osC but for most people works a little better.

As far as access to your files this should be standard. I always give my clients their ftp and cpanel info on a site as well as a zip file that includes all the site files. Basically they are holding you hostage with your own site that you paid for. If you paid for the site it is yours. You should have full access to all the site files and database.

It is hard to tell from the admin shot what platform the site is based on. If you want to pm the url I can take a look and may be able to tell. Knowing the platform can give you a good idea of how hard it would be to move your product info to something different.

Richard

Originally Posted by Gnarx

I will try to keep this short... I hired a company to develop an online e-commerce website for my business that already has a physical location and is in the fly fishing niche. I am extremely disappointed in how I am being treated with this company and they keep stringing me along. The original "custom" e-commerce website was $2,000 and it seems to just be a cookie-cutter template they use with their CMS.

My problem now is I am in need of a way to have the individual product pages to contain a drop-down to select options.. (example: Fly Rod length, the weight.. etc..)

This of course would change the price of the item and that would have to update on the fly.. I have seen this on countless other websites and seems pretty standard yet this crap company wants another $1,100 to just add this functionality. I can't afford that and I still haven't launched my website. Have been having a headache about it for over a year and am just 100% stuck now.

I can't afford to pay them the extra $1,100 to get what I want on my "custom" website. And if I ask for the FTP info and files that voids my contract with them they said.

I am desperately in need of some help or opinion on what I should be doing to move this project along. I really need to get sales going online.. I don't know if I should scrap this entire crap company I hired and start over.. or what. Please if you are good with these things or run your own e-commerce site I would love to talk to you. Please PM me!

I don't know what else to do.. I feel so trapped and stuck.. I really hope someone here can help me out.

Thanks Warriors.

-Jared

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Quentin

16 years ago

We find this happening all the time with new clients. Most of these companies come out of the media industry and will usually control your hosting and domain name so they have full control.

I would get out as if this is the case they could pull the pin on you at anytime.

Xcart is a great product to do this and would be very easy to set up yourself.

I have been doing the same thing for a customer selling sheds that wants all sorts of additions.

Have a look at this trial site to see how it works.

MSI Foundation :: Garden Sheds :: DAYLITE GARDEN SHED 3MX2.92M - COLORBOND

Quentin

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DIY Product Creation

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Mack W

16 years ago

It looks like you chose the wrong provider. The best thing to do is lick you wounds and move on. Testimonials and references are the best way to insure that the contractor is up to snuff.

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SeanFromSoCal

16 years ago

You are correct in that an attribute/option/size pulldown is standard now a days in most carts. It can be only a single pulldown and you'll have to list out your different combinations inside the pulldown:

Green 10ft
Blue 10ft
Green 8ft
Blue 8ft
Green 10ft gift wrapped
Blue 10ft gift wrapped
...

The screenshot does not look familiar to me. So they might have made their own CMS/ecommerce script. They might not have that bit of code completed for any previous clients and are charging you to build it. Or depending on the amount of products you have it could be time consuming to input the various option combations and relate it to inventory level tracking (or something else they have going on with their CMS/ecom software). Their price might also include searching based on the attributes which most carts do not have that and depending on meta tags or searching inside the description.

Thanks
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Gnarx

16 years ago

Right now I can create a drop-down and put in different attributes.. but ONLY if the price is the same.

See.. I am trying to get up and running a Fly Fishing online store to work hand-in-hand with my brick and mortar. Currently.. with how the drop-downs work it is fine for such thing as Wading Boot Size.. or Fishing Vests that stuff is simple.. just Size: Small, Medium, Large etc...

The problem is with the more detailed items.. for instance:

Fly Rods - Right now I have it so you browse by manufacturers then by the model...

Example: Orivs -> Helios (orvis is the manufacturer and Helios is the model of the rod)

But now the Helios can come in different weights, lengths, grip styles.. etc etc.. and these options affect the price of the rod.. Longer ones are more expensive etc...

So that is the problem.. as of now I just have the same product listed over and over and over again just because the price is different, depending on the features. There are like 25 Helios Rods listed just b/c the price varies. I want to have one image of the helios.. and then the drop-down with all the variances but when selected it updates the price on-the-go.

If anyone thinks if I take my site from the current company and tell them to bug off is there someone reading this whole could do some work on the site in order to edit the current drop-down and have the work with updating the price depending on what features you select. (please PM me if you can and need more details, I would like to get a quote from you)

Originally Posted by SeanFromSoCal

You are correct in that an attribute/option/size pulldown is standard now a days in most carts. It can be only a single pulldown and you'll have to list out your different combinations inside the pulldown:

Green 10ft
Blue 10ft
Green 8ft
Blue 8ft
Green 10ft gift wrapped
Blue 10ft gift wrapped
...

Thanks

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Gnarx

16 years ago

Still looking for someone who can program what I stated above into my website I already have. (drop-downs on product pages currently exist but I need them to update the price if it changes - depending on the attributes selected.)

Please PM me if you can do this or have a programmer I can borrow.

Thanks

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E-Commerce Website Help

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