Ok. I've been lurking on these forums for a good while, but it was a bit longer before I got an account, and longer still before I've much begun posting...Needless to say, more posts were going up on the Pictage forums than here.

I've been looking into other online proofing options, namely PickPic and RedCart -- I can't see PickPic's admin panels as a demo, but I DO like the fact that it is html-based...you can browse and buy from those galleries on an iPhone or iPod touch, for example.

I'm pretty familiar with how web hosting works. I have about 600 GB of webspace with HostGator at $9.95/mo. I understand I can bag a turbo SSL certificate through Go Daddy for some change; of course I need to make sure my current host can rock with PickPic's req's...

Which brings me to the gateway/authorize.net/midway transaction group/paypal question -- not sure if PayPal is the route I want to go (informed by the issues with them holding money that's mine), but I don't know too much about the gateway services (other than what I heard that Midwest offers nice rates to PPA members).

Would someone please educate me? I may not have put all the due diligence in the the forum search end, but I did drum up Jim Cook's post about the monthlies being roughly the same over a 2yr period and Tim Halberg's posts about it being pretty easy.

All feedback would be much welcome.

I have no feedback on the processing portion - I've used PayPal for 6 years now for client payment processing and have never had an issue.

That said, check out PhotoCart. I love mine, and at WPPI couldn't figure out what PickPik would do for me that PhotoCart doesn't ... for a lot lower price. And if you're curious, the access code is available on some of my galleries if you want to see PhotoCart from a client's perspective - my cart is the "Clients" link on any page on my site. I think there is a back-end demo on the PhotoCart site too.

Christine,

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate you sharing the client view for the galleries and you have wonderful work.

I didn't look long at photocart because I didn't like the interface... Looked too html generated for me. I guess I want a bit more "veneer" to it. Great price though. But...considering what I've been putting out for Pictage, it's not so unfeasible to consider PickPic; I've just been more concerned about what products I would offer in lieu of the proof books and the Picbooks they offer.

Someone? Anyone? Please?

Not exactly what you asked for, but I'll tell you what I use.

I decided it wasn't worth the time and risk of hosting myself so I signed up with zenfolio. I upload files, send out the link, and watch the orders come in. Only costs me $100 per year which is well worth it for the online backup of the finished jpegs. For albums, canvas prints, and other such items I do google checkout right now. I can set up these products within zenfolio as self-fulfillment options if I want to, but I'm not really pushing them right now so I've stuck with the KISS principle. I think I have 5 or 6 print size options online, and that's it.

Jameel,

Here's something else to consider too... if you go the PickPic route, you're not REQUIRED to process the payment online. The client's credit card info can be processed at a later time when the order is fulfilled offline -- for example, using QuickBooks Merchant Services which is a great way to automatically tie everything in to your financials.

David

I wanted more veneer too and about a year and a half ago purchased a cart from Into the Darkroom. It was all flash, really pretty and I thought slick looking. I noticed my print sales dramatically dropped. I started quizzing clients and a few said they didn't even realize it was a shopping cart. Older users like mothers and grandmothers had a hard time using it. They would often just end up calling me with orders saying, "your cart doesn't work" - when it does. They just didn't understand it.

I just purchased photocart. While it's a bit html for my tastes too - I'm thinking of the end user and what's easier for them. It's what they are used to, and it hits them over the head that is is a cart and not just a viewing system.

Fair indeed. For stylistic purposes, I'm hoping PickPic conveys the same impression. Of course, I still need to figure out if I want to do virtual terminal w/paypal, look at netbilling, or something with midwest... what exactly I would do about THAT aspect of it all.

Hey Jameel, welcome to OSP (finally!). I don't have any insight into your question at all (I am taking cash, checks, or those checks the credit card company sends), but I wanted to reply to your first post I am using a shopping cart that is integrated in my bludomain site, but like Sandra said I don't think people even realize they can purchase prints on my site. Sorry for not having anything to really contribute to the discussion, oh well, maybe next time.