Most hosting companies offer the osCommerce shopping cart free with their web hosting packages. I know that ThirdSphere and HostGator do, and I assume most of the major hosting companies offer it as well.
osCommerce is an open-source shopping cart script which enables you to create an online store and fully customize it. Of course, that's easier said than done for most people - and custom programming and template designs can get pricey...
Installation is simple - especially if your host offers Fantastico like the two mentioned above. You simply click the Fantastico icon, choose osCommerce, and click New Installation. That screen will also give you details that are related to the script and installation:
Short description: A power-user shopping cart with a big variety of modules and support of almost every payment gateway. A big developers community is ready to offer custom solutions depending on your needs.
Homepage: http://oscommerce.com/
OS Commerce support forum
(We are not associated with the support forum)
New Installation (2.2 MS2 (051113))
Disk space required: 5.34 MB
Disk space available: 4975.5 MB
But once you get it installed, it's time to customize your new store and give it a unique look and feel. This is where most people run into problems.
A great solution - and especially so if you are developing multiple stores on the internet - is to use The osCommerce Cafe. For only $89 you can access their entire library of custom osCommerce templates, as well as their support & knowledge base.
The 'cafe' was set-up by Myles O'Reilly in March of this year. Myles is also the author of the popular book titled The Programmers' Guide to osCommerce. Another good resource you may want to add to your collection if you are going this route!
You'll be able to download as many osCommerce templates as you like, which is a great deal if you need several. Since you can get the actual script free through your host (or download it free from other sites), this creates a great all-in-one solution for professional looking e-stores.
They also have an affiliate program which pays 25% per referral - which I am off to sign up for myself 😉
Best,
Technorati Tags: oscommerce, shopping carts, online stores, selling online
About Lynn Terry
Man...I think I am in over my head! I have just registered my domain and set up my hosting account with Thirdsphere. I have successfully installed osCommerce on my site. I was able to start to build the data base with the products I am selling with relative ease. But now I have hit a wall. I cannot seem to get any of the functionality of the site working. I have gone through the processes for installing the payment modules I am using (paypal) but I cannot get the checkout or the member login areas functioning.
Hi Troy - did you try the support forum?
I have joined the forum today! I cannot believe the degree of dificulty this one has. I need osC for Dummies or The Idiots Guide to osC!
Thanks for the suggenstion.