OpenSource eCommerce Platforms - Some Info

#1

In my wanderings I accidentally ran into the SourceForge.net and Bossie award-winning Open Source ecommerce software Magento. I believe the software and many of the add-on modules are free, though there are service/support subscriptions available as well.

It is possible that this software might be very useful to online sellers, and I welcome any and all input from the PSU community for everyone's education. Google searching Magento mostly gets Comic Book hero hits, so it's hard to know if this software is great or not.

The home website is http://www.magentocommerce.com/

Let's hope it's a great new resource for online sellers...

*edited to correct spelling*

#2

purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › In my wanderings I accidentally ran into the SourceForge.net and Bossie award-winning Open Source ecommerce software Magneto. I believe the software and many of the add-on modules are free, though there are service/support subscriptions available as well.

It is possible that this software might be very useful to online sellers, and I welcome any and all input from the PSU community for everyone's education. Google searching Magneto mostly gets Comic Book hero hits, so it's hard to know if this software is great or not.

The home website is http://www.magentocommerce.com/

Let's hope it's a great new resource for online sellers...

Magento looks great, and it is what I originally wanted to use for my website. But, my hosting company does not have any servers that have one of the extentions that is required to run Magento, and they can't add it because it would put their other websites at risk. So I'm using osCommerce instead. Magento looks great, but not yet usable for everyone.

Now what I REALLY REALLY want is for sites (my own website and other venues) to have a feature where I can set listing prices to gradually lower themselves until sold. Like a reverse auction feature. THAT is at the very top of my wishlist today. So I can list an item once and not have to keep going back and adjusting prices on thousands of items to try to keep up with changes in their value due to changes in the marketplace or the economy.

#3

Oooh, now that is a clever thought - kind of like a stockmarket floor thingy. I would want there to be seller-controlled interval, scheduled start date, lower by set amt or by % of current price, and a floor not to lower beyond. I think an automatic "10% off" flag/banner might be nice to be able to trigger as well...

In the meantime, scheduled sales that a few sites offer might help...

#4

purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › Oooh, now that is a clever thought - kind of like a stockmarket floor thingy. I would want there to be seller-controlled interval, scheduled start date, lower by set amt or by % of current price, and a floor not to lower beyond. I think an automatic "10% off" flag/banner might be nice to be able to trigger as well...

In the meantime, scheduled sales that a few sites offer might help...

It can be really simple for me. Something like $0.01/day or $0.10/day depending on how quickly I need to sell that particular item. Or a weekly interval would work. Just so I can do a good listing ONCE and not ever have to work with the pricing again. Just move on to the next item and rest easy knowing that everything will sell when the right price bumps into the right buyer. Very Happy

#5

purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › In my wanderings I accidentally ran into the SourceForge.net and Bossie award-winning Open Source ecommerce software Magneto. I believe the software and many of the add-on modules are free, though there are service/support subscriptions available as well.

It is possible that this software might be very useful to online sellers, and I welcome any and all input from the PSU community for everyone's education. Google searching Magneto mostly gets Comic Book hero hits, tso it's hard to know if this software is great or not.

The home website is http://www.magentocommerce.com/

Let's hope it's a great new resource for online sellers...

Magento (not Magneto), is one of the newer open source e-commerce scripts along the lines of CubeCart, ZenCart, etc.
BTW, lots of folks seem to refer to Magento as Magneto. It has happened to me many times LOL. Smile

It has amazing features, looks very, very professional, but is difficult for newbies to use, and does have special server requirements that some web hosts can not, or will not provide. Additionally, it can be quite slow compared to the others that are out there. It's definitely one to watch though as it evolves further. The Magento site for those interested is here. Those interested in trying Magento may download the software here.

One open source cart that I recommend folks look at is PrestaShop. Similar to Magento with respect to the excellent look and feel, PrestaShop has a slick interface, and also comes across as being very professional. This is also new, it has a very rich feature set, doesn't have any special server requirements, and it's relatively easy to use. PrestaShop is under constant development, and with it's busy group of developers, it is rapidly evolving. Look for PrestaShop to become a very major player in this arena, probably overtaking OsCommerce and ZenCart. The PrestaShop site is here. The PrestaShop forums are here, and those interested in trying PrestaShop may download the software here. Additionally, you can also see a demo of PrestaShop here.

#6

Oooh, thanks Sciencefare! As I said, I found it accidentally and tried SO many searches to find it again. I likely got the misspelling from an article I finally found, and just utterly failed to notice. I like the name Magento better anyways. Thanks even more for the other links to PrestaShop. This kind of information actually seems to be lacking around here. Even more than what alternative site do I use, the answers to how can I REALLY set up my own webstore for the noob to the geek would probably be very helpful.

I am changing this topic to OpenSource eCommerce Platforms - Some Info to open the discussion to what folks think or know about other ones. All I ever see here is "How do I get my Zen Cart to...?"

#7

purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › Even more than what alternative site do I use, the answers to how can I REALLY set up my own webstore for the noob to the geek would probably be very helpful.

I am changing this topic to OpenSource eCommerce Platforms - Some Info to open the discussion to what folks think or know about other ones. All I ever see here is "How do I get my Zen Cart to...?"

Agreed on the need for a "how-to", or tutorial that covers everything from A to Z on setting up a store for beginners. This is something I've been meaning to tackle, but lack of time always seems to get in the way. Surprised

Perhaps it could be done in chunks, starting with A, or the very beginning, getting and registering domain, getting web hosting, etc., and then finally all the way to Z, configuring the store. Cool

#8

Ok - I have collected some links to various Resources in my spreadsheet which I will put here for a start, though most will be off topic, but some of this info already exists scattered here and there.

Blog and RSS Directory List
Google Services
57 Useful Google Tools scroll down to web development section
SEO That Works - Keywords Content & Links
W3 Schools - HTML Lessons and Site Validation Tools
Tips for Designing a Stellar Website
Question on Taking Credit Cards
WYSIWYG Question - HTML Editors
Shipping Comparison USPS UPS FedEx DHL
Free Webhosts Directory and Ratings

However, none of these except possibly Stellar Website really addresses the process of building the site itself, from how to choose a host to what to look for in the software. Many of them address what to do to improve site visibility and traffic. This is actually the main reason I keep the link to SiteSell in my signature. They seemed to me to be the best help-you-build-it solution I have run into, and at least the advice there seems genuinely useful.

#9

Good stuff there, and a good place for the curious to begin. Cool

**#10**

Cross-reference to Be independent with your host, xppman! Very Happy

**#11**

Ok, I was looking for this thread. Huurah. Thanks guys. I'm definitively checking into the open source stuff and prestashop.

**#12**

After briefly looking Prestacart over - I liked it. I like the demos. I think it will integrate with Google Checkout as well.

Found this in their forums:

Module Developed by Alpha Media Donated by Project14 & ChrisRabkin

Goggle Checkout v0.3 is now available to download!
Currencies bug now resolved!

Google Checkout Payment Module Prestashop Based on the PHP API Integration Method
This module in time will be capable of the full Level 2 API, in fact it has defferently gone beyond
Level 1 integration – your suggestions for improvements can only make this module stronger wink

You must first setup your Google Account to use this payment module.
visit: https://checkout.google.com

Quick & Easy Setup Instructions

1) Unzip & Upload the folder “googlecheckout” to your modules directory
2) Install this payment module through Prestashop Back Office & then click Configure
3) You will then be asked to enter your Merchant ID & Merchant Key

To locate your Merchant Key & Merchant ID:

a) Sign in to Google Checkout.
b) Click the Settings tab.
c) Click Integration.

Link ---- instructions

**#13**

Well, blurry-eyed and delirious - I integrated the presta store with my website. When I get the whole store inventory set up and the check out - I'll post a link. I'll also be completely in a mental hospital by then. I think I'm making it harder than it is.

**#14**

Well, keep us posted on your adventure - we're pulling for you!!

**#15**

I guess I have a "thing" for open source stuff. But I've never integrated a cart myself - only used BIN buttons in the past. Thanks sciencefare for recommending prestashop. Will post my opinion after I actually have customers using the system. I got a little confused on directions with regards to using a Windows server (I reside on a Linux). But I think I got it straight. A little PHP knowledge helps. <sigh> Any good places on the web to start learning more about PHP?