eCommerce Site Package - I Need Your Opinion

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I am considering making an eCommerce website package for resale to those looking to get into eCommerce without paying a substantial amount of money for a custom site and shopping cart.

I wrote a site for selling products (the site is listed in my signature). Currently, it is a pretty simple design. I am considering writing an admin panel and selling it for around $50.00 USD. The price would include the entire site, installation, training on how to use it, and my support through email, etc.

If you are looking for an eCommerce website, what do you think? Do you think it looks good enough and includes enough features to sell?

I figure the package would provide lots of value to people by allowing them to get into eCommerce for $50 opposed to 100s or 1,000s. I also think it would benefit the buyer because they would have access to the creater (me) and would have a knowledgable coder on hand to add features, customize, ect as needed. It will also be SEO friendly (many carts aren't).

Thanks for any input.

Adam
#cart #dropshipping #ecommerce #shopping cart
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Does it store stuff in MYSQL, use other gateways also, support lists and affiliates, and in a standard language, is the cart stored in a database? If so, and you DO provide training installaton, and support, I think you COULD pull it off. About 7 years ago, HERE in fact, the bar was lowered. What WOULD be $1000+ was lowered to less than $400. Of course, a few years earlier, if you were ok with installing it yourself, you could install oscommerce for free.

    If you sold this before about 2003, it probably would have been an EASY $100 sale, given the right responses to what I asked earlier. I once paid over $30 for one of the first carts that came with source, and was DISGUSTED when I found that it stored the WHOLE cart in a cookie! That limits EVERYTHING, isn't compatible, and is hard to modify.

    BTW the reviews section certainly sets it apart.

    BTW Cookies are now essentially WORTHLESS!!!!! Between viruses, antivirus programs, antispyware, multiple browsers, and "affiliates" insisting that you clear cookies, etc... Cookies may be GONE! Store the cart in a cookie, and EVERYTHING may be lost. The customer may give up and go elsewhere. Store it on the system, and they can pull it up if they log in, and MAYBE you can remind them via email!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author bocceman
      Seasoned,

      Thanks a lot for the feedback! All the product information, etc is stored in a mySql database. The front end is PHP and Javascript and currently does not utilize cookies. If I sold it, I would leave the code unencrypted so the user can make modifications.

      The one drawback I see now is the site utilizes eJunkie (which does include affiliate logic), so the person purchasing the package would need to pay a monthly fee for eJunkie. I am currently doing $12/month for up to 60 products, so the price is low. eJunkie offers Google Checkout, PayPal, and Authorize.net, so it is a decent option.

      Thanks again for the feedback. Maybe I could package it and sell for something like $19.99 instead of $50.00.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by bocceman View Post

        Seasoned,

        Thanks a lot for the feedback! All the product information, etc is stored in a mySql database. The front end is PHP and Javascript and currently does not utilize cookies. If I sold it, I would leave the code unencrypted so the user can make modifications.

        The one drawback I see now is the site utilizes eJunkie (which does include affiliate logic), so the person purchasing the package would need to pay a monthly fee for eJunkie. I am currently doing $12/month for up to 60 products, so the price is low. eJunkie offers Google Checkout, PayPal, and Authorize.net, so it is a decent option.

        Thanks again for the feedback. Maybe I could package it and sell for something like $19.99 instead of $50.00.
        YIKES! Yeah, ejunkie is a deal breaker. You should have this package at least have the OPTION to work without ejunkie. As for cookies, t is OK to use them, just not for data that might be used long term. Typical proper uses are login info, last state, last referring affiliate, maybe an id(that should be validated against other data).

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    I would say you need an SEO module so instead of

    bocceballssets.com/bocceBallSets/bocceSet.php?id=9&mode=read

    bocceballssets.com/bocceBallSets/Halex_107mm_Resin_Bocce_Set.html

    I am not sure whether it is still that important as before but many would want this as a feature.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      I would say you need an SEO module so instead of

      bocceballssets.com/bocceBallSets/bocceSet.php?id=9&mode=read

      bocceballssets.com/bocceBallSets/Halex_107mm_Resin_Bocce_Set.html

      I am not sure whether it is still that important as before but many would want this as a feature.
      That stuff is best handled through rewrite logic:

      mod_rewrite - Apache HTTP Server

      And requires VERY LITTLE to no changes in the main code. I would suggest a parameter search using Halex_107mm_Resin_Bocce_Set instead of 9, and you could practically automate this whole thing in 4 lines, and people would hink your site was FAR larger than it is.

      Good point though.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Centurian
        I have an option you can bundle with this for free gateway and approved bankcard merchant account with no monthly fee. I'm currently setting up turn-key systems for global warriors.

        Send me a PM if you're interested.
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  • Profile picture of the author bocceman
    Thanks for the feedback guys. I definitely agree with the mod rewrite of URLs. I will make sure to add that. I should be doing it now, but never got around to it. I also agree that there needs to be more options for payment processing than eJunkie. This is my first eCommerce website, so I went with a cheap, simple option because all the payment gateway, processing stuff had me really confused when I was researching it.

    Centurian,

    I am definitely interested in hearing more. I tried to PM you, but I only have 10 posts and cannot PM until I reach 50. Could you send me a PM if you are still interested in talking further.

    Thanks again guys. You have provided me with very valuable feedback!

    Adam
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