Hi all,

As some of you know, I've been driving myself crazy lately trying to do everything myself. Many of you have given me some great advice, and I'd like to do the right thing here. I'm finally ready to outsource something...(there. I said it). What I need help on is this....

I am going to be teaching several classes this year and I have created the informational webpages, but I need help with the last step. The 'e-commerce' page that allow folks to sign up and pay for the classes. I have downloaded zen-cart (which my web-host supports), but in looking at it--it is WAY more involved than I want to get. I need this done, but I think it'd be much smarter to find someone who is familiar with this to hire to finish this project. So how about it, anyone out there who'd be willing to help me with this step? I need to know how long you think it will take to build and how much you'd want to charge. (We're talking a simple registration and payment for classes page, nothing too fancy.) I'd like it to be seemless with the workshop pages I've built. (See below)

Even if this isn't your thing...if you know and like someone who has done this for you, let me know. Just reply here or pm me if you're more comfortable. And thanks.

Ginger

Ginger - is Zen Cart the only one they support? My fiance has done some stuff with another of the cart software programs (also open source), as well as Zen Cart, and really liked the other, I believe. He may be willing to help you out, either way, but just curious if that's just one they auto-install, or if you're limited to that, or what? I'll ask him and send you a pm about it...

Just go with a hosted solution. Web providers (like GoDaddy) have shopping cart applications all ready to go. In fact, with GoDaddy, you can get a shopping cart for up to 20 items for 1 month for only $10 (and upgrade to fancier plans later).

https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/ecommerce/ca...ci=278#features

They have a very clean application, so it should be easy to make it look like it fits in with your site design.

...I think the idea is for it to integrate with her site. Hosted solutions are fine, but if you want it to be seamless, and match your site, you gotta do a little bit with it.

Thanks for the input guys, I will look at changing hosts, but right now I am looking for a seemless cart that I can get up and running right away.

Kaitlin, I think it's the only one they support, but I could be wrong. I'll call and check. And I'll look forward to your pm.

Any other tech types out there with a quick and easy solution?

A very simple solution that is easy to set up is Paypal.

You can see how the "buttons" work here on my tutorials:

http://www.rickrosen.com/tutorials/access

Click on a "buy now" button and you are directed to Paypal. Very easy to set up.

I am also working on a e-commerce site through my hosting service, ValueWeb. They have been very helpful.

But for quick and easy you really can't beat Paypal's system.

Rick

pretty slick rick. I like it.

Thanks Chris.

I never really wanted to use Paypal but the setup was so easy and the follow through so simple that it is hard to NOT use their system. I can transfer funds into my bank accounts and even print out shipping labels with postage automatically. They even sent me a Paypal ATM card, which I have never used.

Rick

Rick, that is slick. I have a paypal account and would love to know how to create those buttons for specific items. Can you elaborate more on how to set those up? Or can you point us to some Paypal page that explains this? Thanks.

Thanks Rick,

I looked at PayPal yesterday but didn't get very far 'cause I was a little unsure (and overwhelmed) that a system so large could be easy. Thanks for setting me straight.

Ginger

Google also offers a checkout system.

I'm very wary of paypal. We had some unauthorized charges, and while the credit card company was VERY quick to respond, Paypal wasn't, and couldn't explain what had happened...it wasn't on our end, as we checked all of the things done from within our account...All this to say, I would be careful how you attach, for example, bank accounts - if there's a fraudulent charge or anything, you have to wait to get money back, and you don't have the added layer of protection from a credit card company.

https://checkout.google.com/seller/why.html

...they're also processing orders for free until the end of 2007.

First, you have to have a Paypal account and I believe you need to be verified but that part is easy.

Then poke around in the "merchant services" area and you will find a link to create a "button." Just follow the directions and it generates the html. You then copy and paste that html into your page's html and you're good to go.

You can use any html editor. On the Mac I use TextMate.

Rick

"Seamless" means you can customize it to keep the look of your main site. That doesn't mean it has to be on the same server or with the same host. PayPal, while quick and easy, is not seamless. But it depends on how many products you have and how you want to present them.

Can you elaborate a bit? What happened?

I do not use Paypal to make purchases, I use it only to accept payments from others for my tutorials. I am sure if there is a way on any e-commerce option someone will try to hack into it.

I am not waving the Paypal flag. I have found it to be quick and easy and so far it has been problem free. I am also creating my own e-commerce shopping cart.

One of the problems I am beginning to see is that I am getting orders for the FotoMagico tutorials from around the world. The costs for me to fulfill those orders by sending a DVD is prohibitive so I am looking for a resource where people can purchase and they will be directed automatically to a download page. There are seven tutorials totaling almost 4 GB. Paypal offers that but so do many others. That is what I am investigating now. Anyone have any suggestions?

Rick

call my buddy Jason he's an internet genious! www.magiclamp.net
Miguel