Seeking Website "Online Ordering" Setup Help...

[Sean Roe]

I've been talking with a company here in the Jacksonville area about helping set my business up with a secure online shopping cart. Before I give much more consideration to signing a 3 year contract and paying 100% up front (I don't like either of those at all), I thought I should check here in the Viper Community for some assistance. I like the simple website we have now using the templates supplied by the provider. However, it limits us and we cannot add secure online ordering. That's about all I really want to add other than perhaps thumbnail size pictures that can be clicked on for a larger picture of the product.
Are there any VCA members out there that can offer any assistance? I'd like to improve our website and trade retail value of service for parts or services from us. If anyone's interested or has any information on how this can be done at a reasonable cash price, please let me know.

Thanks,

[Sean Roe]

Thanks Roy,
I've had some other folks e-mail me with advice also. I'd like to make ordering easier than having to call or fax, especially if someone already knows what they want and have no further questions. While I've never had a problem with e-mail, I understand it is not the most secure way to send credit card information.
The main thing is to improve the efficiency and convenience for everybody involved without incurring too much expense. I don't want to do something that will require me to raise prices in order to cover the additional expense.

[Tpup]

I will call you on Tuesday or Wednesday. There are several "off the shelf" packages that will do that in addition to hosting options that will handle that for you for just the monthly hosting fees and a small % of the transaction.

I have been meaning to call you anyway about having you do some work on my car. Joe Kent is a friend of mine and recomends you highly...

Happy new year.

Roy

[Mamba man steve]

Sean I have done a little business with you and I have no problem giving you my card #. I think that you are known by the Viper Community and they probably will call you any how. I don't think you need to spend the money. You can give me as reference. p/s I got the red Smooth tubes I sent you 2 black back THANKS FOR THE CLUTCH ADJUSTER.

[phiebert]

Looks like you already got a lot of advice but I'll throw my pitch in. I have a software development company (www.epikos.com) that builds E-commerce web sites, mostly for Energy companies. Usually big scale custom ones but I'd be happy to make an exception and give a good deal to a Viper guy! We're based in Canada but all our clients are US based. That way you get a good rate because our expenses are in Canadian dollars and we can charge a lot less.

Anyway, for your purpose the off-the-shelf packages or using a pre-built store like Yahoo should probably do the job. If not though, give me a call. A 3 year deal and 100% up front is ridiculous!

Even if you just have questions I'd be happy to lend a hand at no charge...or maybe in trade for a good deal on some mods!!

PS. I would suggest you do make it possible to buy online though, regardless how you do it. I for one have become so accustomed to purchasing on the net that if I have to make a phone call or a fax I usually go to another supplier. The easier the better.

[Sean Roe]

Thanks for all the info and offers,
I stopped by Comp USA yesterday to see what some of the "off the shelf" programs looked like. Wow, I didn't know there was that much out there.
My wife and I are going to look at the options, posts and e-mails that have come up from this and try to choose the best solution for everyone. It looks like even if we bought a program and set it up ourselves that it would not cost us too much time or money. Some of the e-commerce programs were only $69 and offered free hosting for a year in addition to many of the features we needed (mainly secure shopping cart processing).
Thanks for all your input and help so far.

Have a safe and happy new year,