When operating an online store with a diverse range of products, it's crucial to have a shopping cart feature. This tool allows customers to select their desired items and store them until they're ready to finalize their purchase. The shopping cart then calculates the total cost, including any applicable taxes and shipping fees. There are several ways to incorporate a shopping cart into your website, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
There are three primary methods to add a shopping cart to your website:
Let's delve into each option and evaluate their respective pros and cons.
Third-party shopping cart services are user-friendly and can be operational within hours. They don't require any software purchases or installations but typically charge a monthly fee. Most offer a secured server and a merchant account option, making them a cost-effective solution for small businesses.
Here are some popular third-party shopping cart services:
VCart.com: Offers a 30-day free trial, after which you pay $90 for 3 months, $150 for 6 months, or $249 for a year. Supports 1 to 10,000 products and doesn't require CGI configuration. You can use your existing merchant account.
FreeMerchant: Prices range from $19.99 to $40 per month with a 30-day free trial. You can build your store using their web-based interface.
Yahoo Store: Known for its reputable service, Yahoo Store offers an easy-to-use point-and-click interface for building your store. The cost for up to 100 items is $100 a month. You can use your existing merchant account or apply for one through them.
Marketers Choice: This free service calculates totals, taxes, shipping charges, and notifies you of new orders automatically. The catch? They display business-related ads on all of your cart pages.
If you're proficient in CGI programming, there are countless scripts available for free or at a low cost. If you're not, you can hire someone to configure the script for you. Here are some resources for shopping cart scripts:
CGI EXTREMES: Offers a variety of CGI shopping scripts ranging from free to $300. Each script is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for guidance in selection.
CGI Resource Index: To find scripts, navigate to the appropriate category. Click on programs and scripts, then Perl, then shopping carts.
PERLSHOP: This free CGI script is for sites hosted on a Unix system. It is free to use with their logo on the pages.
PAY PAL SHOPPING CART: This free CGI Shopping cart script passes all of your credit card sales over to PayPal for easy processing.
SALES CART: Specifically for FrontPage users. Cost is $179. Easy to set up using their step-by-step wizard.
PDG SHOPPING CART: Completely customizable to fit your needs. Integrates easily with FrontPage software or Dreamweaver. You can also use this cart to set up your own associate program. Works on Unix, NT servers, and others. It is a little pricey at $750, but worth it for the features you get.
Your E-Ware: Fast and easy to use, with a low price that gives this software an edge. It will hold up to 2,500 products in up to 20 product categories. Works on Win 95.98 and Mac. Download the free demo and take it for a spin. Final cost is under $100.
Before diving into the world of e-commerce, it's essential to evaluate your options and select the one that best suits your needs and budget.
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