K22
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« on: January 28, 2007, 10:11:46 AM » |
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I have been using PayPal for a long time. I am thinking about upgrading to a new platform to make our website more efficient. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which system is the most user friendly and cost efficient? This is the website that I want to redo. Pagoda Koi and Pond Supply www.pondkoi.com and you will see that it has an SMF forum attached as well. Starting in about Late March to mid May the website gets busy as all get out. So if I do anything to change the website it will have to be done in the next few weeks or wait until perhaps late fall/winter. I would love any input that ANYONE has as I have looked around and I just don't have the experience in any one particular application to know if I would be getting into a nightmare or making my life easier. Easier is preferred. I see it is not allowed to post a URL and I understand. But I think someone should look at the site to make educated comments. Thanks. . Paul |
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Gł Solutions - Technology Defined
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« on: January 28, 2007, 10:11:46 AM » |
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KGIII
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« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2007, 10:36:20 AM » |
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URL fixed and welcome to the Gł Solutions Forum.
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K22
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« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2007, 10:44:44 AM » |
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URL fixed and welcome to the Gł Solutions Forum.
Thanks!!! I hope in the future I can contribute. My strengths are in graphic presentations and internet marketing if anyone needs help. My web skills are just good enough to get in trouble. |
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KGIII
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« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2007, 11:42:05 PM » |
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If it is profitable enough then I would recommend the investment in a true merchant account. I would avoid those that had minimal monthly sales and the likes. If it isn't then I would stick with PayPal as most of the companies that offer similar services come and go and people end up losing money because of it. PayPal is at least well funded, grounded, and likely isn't going anywhere except to screw you out of money here and there. Google's got a new service that is in beta. I haven't tried it nor have I heard many good things about it.
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K22
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« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2007, 05:48:00 AM » |
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Yes the merchant account is a savings over PayPal and there are quite a few people who will not use PayPal no matter what. I get email from people all the time stating that they would purchase stuff if we didn't have PayPal.
BUT - Paypal takes all cards and it is hard to find a merchant account that takes all cards and eChecks.
Google ticks me off. (Random Rant) They have totally sewn up the search engine market and you cannot be successful selling stuff unless you spend money for AdWords. Believe it or not we spent $17,000 on Google PPC word bidding wars. That ate up about 65% of our profit. Since about September we have not used AdWords because the cost doesn't justify the visitors as we are a seasonal business so that $17K figure was accumulated from about Mid March to August of last year.
So what I am looking for is some application with a merchant account that is a total integrated package. Basically a new website totally and while keeping the look and feel of the present site splice in a more efficient ordering and inventory management system.
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Gł Solutions - Technology Defined
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« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2007, 05:48:00 AM » |
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KGIII
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« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2007, 06:05:28 AM » |
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OSC is supposed to have all sorts of integration with various merchant accounts. I don't personally use it for anything but it does well enough for many people.
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squeeks
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« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2007, 12:19:45 PM » |
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if you do decide to use osCommerce as a solution you might want to wait till after your season to convert your store to it --- reason > osC v3 is still in testing phase, and i personally think it would be worth the wait... osC v2 ("milestone 2.2") is strong, osC v3 seems it'll be much stronger - and very different, so although maybe v3 can use the data generated with v2 > any custom work on v2 itself would be lost in an upgrade - also its looking like osC v3 will be easier to customize than v2... some more osC info: http://forums.osc...225889&st=260 |
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K22
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« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2007, 12:31:27 PM » |
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if you do decide to use osCommerce as a solution you might want to wait till after your season to convert your store to it --- reason > osC v3 is still in testing phase, and i personally think it would be worth the wait... osC v2 ("milestone 2.2") is strong, osC v3 seems it'll be much stronger - and very different, so although maybe v3 can use the data generated with v2 > any custom work on v2 itself would be lost in an upgrade - also its looking like osC v3 will be easier to customize than v2... some more osC info: http://forums.osc...225889&st=260Good call.. I am basically afraid to learn anything new anyway. I have screwed up so many good things by trying to get cute. |
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KGIII
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« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2007, 12:49:15 PM » |
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Do we have an OSC beta up anywhere squeeks? If not and you two want to play... Dump one up in dev.kgiii.info/osc/ or something?
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squeeks
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« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2007, 06:36:09 PM » |
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v3 > still "alpha" reddsimpson of the osC forum was nice enough to give access to his installation - see: his post (post #274) and the post directly after it for the admin's user/password info (page 14 - all of the same thread mentioned earlier)....  |
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K22
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« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2007, 08:29:39 PM » |
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Thanks for the test drive link.
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KGIII
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« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2007, 10:35:52 AM » |
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As for payment gateways I am currently looking at 2CO. If that doesn't work I am likely to just start going through my bank shortly.
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