Question
I have been trying for ages to get rid of Miva Merchant (expensive and not alot of ability to change the look and feel). It has worked for me, but my store is stale and needs a new look.
I can't think of how many shopping carts I have downloaded and tried. A great site I found for the php carts is here: PHP Resource Guide
If I were in the States, it probably wouldn't be as big a hassle, but finding a program that will cover 3 different taxes, (unless in US) and where shipping setup isn't laborious or difficult to get right, where small stuff gets charged too much and large orders too little.
So I was pleased when I installed Lite-Commerce. Install was easy. No problems. Did everything it was supposed to. And I am installing on Linux, and with some shopping carts that is sometimes a problem and a tougher route. And I can integrate the Canada Post shipping module right into it if I want, which really makes it appealing to me. Very few carts do that.
So the only optional modules I would have to buy on top of the software would be the product options modules and the Canada post module, so my total cost would be $125. Not bad.
One cart I really did like was Webcart, but had to have them upload a cart on their servers for you. Then they tell you the cart to buy is $1300, so wasted their time and mine. But they do offer free use of the cart if on their servers and have hosting plans, but I was looking for a cart that I own and can move from one host to another should I move my site.
Anyone else using Lite-Commerce? Would X-Cart be better or just more stuff I wouldn't use? Lite-Commerce seems to cover everything I would need.
Jill
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I looked at Lite Commerce and thought for the extra money X Cart may work for me. We need it for both stores. But, they are both good programs and made by the same. PM me with details.
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http://www.litecommerce.com/lc_manua...rce-manual.pdf
For those just interested in seeing what's required... Here's the manual.
http://www.litecommerce.com/lc_manua...rce-manual.pdf
www.litecommerce.com
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Jill did you get squared away yet? I'm considering a PHP Auction site.
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Hi Empires:
Well they never figured out my problems with Lite Commerce. Didn't like my security certificate or something, so I started in on Zencart, and have to admit I like it alot. Fairly easy to install. Offers tons and tons of features and the support forum is fabulous. Searching there will just about answer any of your questions and if not and you post one, someone will be along to give you the answer quite quickly.
I had problems at first with the securtiy certificate with this one as well, but that was on my webhosts end and they fixed that for me. Now I am just getting my product in the shop and the going to do the finishing look and feel to it.
Here is is at the moment. Don't have all the options on the products or many of the products in the cart yet, but that shouldn't take me too long to get done.
Carnafeagh Tack
Worth the effort. So far very pleased. My other site ends at the end of September and I don't want to renew it, so I have to have this finished by then.
If you decide to try it let me know and I'll give you some of the tips I figured out when installing mine.
It will work with a shared certificate which Lite Commerce wouldn't, although I am using my own certificate.
Jill
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Whoa! So are you not with the Lite Commerce software and only with Zen? Let me know and then I can assemble my questions.
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By the time my host had figured out my SSL problems, my 30 day free trial had ended and I had already got well into Zencart as I have this end of September deadline.
For a free cart I have to say I am exceptionally impressed. The install went flawlessly and it didn't take me long to get it sorted. I've tried so many carts my head spins and I desperately want to get away from Miva as I have had that for 8 years, and unless you want to pay a coder, you can't change the look and feel of the site. So my site was getting dead boring. Same old, same old.
I have used one of the free templates they offer over at the forums at Zencart. When I have time I will totally redo the header with some artwork (right now you can't tell my site is for horsie folk).
The only other cart I have been as impress with was Viart, except it didn't have any modules for Canadian taxes.
When I went to do my tax setup in Zencart, there was a step by step tutorial specifically for Canadian taxes. Had it done in about 15 minutes.
So call me sold so far on this cart. If I continue to be as impressed as I am so far, I will set up 2 more stores with it. One for embroidery downloads and the other for sports bags.
The install was easy. I did 2 separate installs under different folders. In one I included all the demo products so I could refer to them, and the other my acutal store. The cart does so much that trying to work with it with all the demo products in there is overload. I found it easier to work with a bare cart and refer to the full one to see what else it can do.
I gave up on osCommerce. Too much coding to do and not enought basic help for the newbie.
So call me converted to a Zennie.
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Dang it Lite should have been a breeze. One of the problems with Lite, X Cart etc are the requirements needed. I know OneandOne.com provides them with service and others. They would have signed you up again on the 30 day. I've been on and off a few times but, didn't realize the server requirements were so stringent so to say. I'll look into Zencart. But, I have so much stock I have to be careful about the particulars that the programs can contain.
Also, the PHP thing may work as well. I'm way out of my league on this stuff but I'm learning along the way.
You setup looked good. The backend Admin stuff is where you can really make a go of it. I'll be back!
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Jill, You should change your title on your site. It is still saying SophyBlue Free template. When someone bookmarks your site it lists your page name as the bookmark so you will want your name to be there.