I'm going to build an online store and need advice! (noob)

BigToe · 5 Apr 2007 at 10:16

Hi guys,

The extent of my web design experience is messing about with Dreamweaver to make a few simple sites. I have a very limited amount of experience with coding HTML (we're talking the most simple bits of code) but due to my programming background I could no doubt pick it up pretty quickly if it was absolutely necessary. I've never done PHP or anything like that. Actually, I possibly did a very small amount in uni, but it's long forgotten now.

So... what's the best route to take? Maybe some sort of free shop template? If so, any recommendations?

Perhaps a complete shop package that does everything for me?

What about taking payment? Should I use something simple like PayPal, or should I go the whole hog with a secure server (of which I know nothing about!) and some sort of credit card processing system?

What about domains and hosting? Should I get one of those domain names that points to my BT webspace (although I'm guessing I couldn't do that if I wanted a secure server), or should I pay for a "proper" hosting package?

Just looking for advice really - which route would you take in my position? Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Mark M · 5 Apr 2007 at 11:19

Cubecart for the shopping cart software

Protx for the payment gateway

Domains and hosting - look at the sticky, but I personally use b-one.net for my sites and never had any problems with them.

celliott · 5 Apr 2007 at 11:20

Get some proper hosting from a reputable hosting provider and use a script called OSCommerce.

Mark M · 5 Apr 2007 at 13:40

Dont use oscommerce its crap

BigToe · 5 Apr 2007 at 16:12

Cheers guys, I'll take a look at those

celliott · 5 Apr 2007 at 22:31

Mark M said:
Dont use oscommerce its crap

Care to explain why? For a beginner its great because it provides the basic layout which can be customized, as well as built in payment gateway's and so on. This is going to me much easier for a first time user than having to implement seperate systems into a website.

One of the clients than I host (<Ry@n> on these forums) uses OScommerce for his/his dads motocross business and they are happy with it. www.mxmadness.co.uk

chris74 · 6 Apr 2007 at 09:41

Hi

definitely go for cubecart. Especially as your new to this.

Oscommerce although it has various scripts can be a bit daunting for the beginner. there are great skins available for cubecart and they are quite cheap also the backend in which all the admin stuff is, is laid out and more simpler for the beginner.

Check out my store i started a few months ago although i never found the time to finish it.

www.digitalyard.co.uk

Chris

Mark M · 6 Apr 2007 at 11:24

celliott said:
Care to explain why? For a beginner its great because it provides the basic layout which can be customized, as well as built in payment gateway's and so on. This is going to me much easier for a first time user than having to implement seperate systems into a website.

One of the clients than I host (<Ry@n> on these forums) uses OScommerce for his/his dads motocross business and they are happy with it. www.mxmadness.co.uk

I may have the wrong guy and sorry if I do, but Im sure he posted a little while back that he is going to change to cubecart?

Ive used oscommerce for some time now and have recently switched to cubecart. It does everything oscommerce does, well that I need anyway, but I find it much much easier to customise. OS too me about 6 weeks to get right and then I still had some tinkering to do. Cubecart took me about 2 weeks.

For a beginner I would personally say cubecart is the easier, but thats just my opinion.