Boat graphics site, please comment

[racelinedigital]

First, I would like to thank the OS Commerce team for such a great product and all the help this forum has provided.

 

I am not an experienced web designer (as you can probably tell from the site), but we cannot afford to pay someone to do the designing for us. Plus I am a control freak and like to be able to update my site when I want to and not depend on anyone else.

 

Since we already had an existing website, the store has become an addon for the purpose of allow customers to purchase online (over the phone was the only option previously).

 

Any advice is welcome, but my main concern is that there is a proper flow between the website and the store. I've been tweaking this site for so long that I really need some fresh experienced eyes to take a look at the site. I also need some advice as to what to put on the index page.

 

Well, here is My Site.

 

Thanks!

Lisa

[Guest]

First, I would like to thank the OS Commerce team for such a great product and all the help this forum has provided.

 

I am not an experienced web designer (as you can probably tell from the site), but we cannot afford to pay someone to do the designing for us.? Plus I am a control freak and like to be able to update my site when I want to and not depend on anyone else.

 

Since we already had an existing website, the store has become an addon for the purpose of allow customers to purchase online (over the phone was the only option previously).

 

Any advice is welcome, but my main concern is that there is a proper flow between the website and the store.? I've been tweaking this site for so long that I really need some fresh experienced eyes to take a look at the site. I also need some advice as to what to put on the index page.

 

Well, here is My Site.

 

 

Thanks!

Lisa

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I get a fault when I click on a link for the products:

 

Line 328

 

in product_info.php

 

I quite like your site although you could create a link between your front end graphics and your backend (i.e. create some click to buy buttons, then I dont have to go back and forth between graphics and ordering to find which one I need).

 

For your front end you could consider going down the flash route to produce interactive designs (i.e. show the two colours on the boat), I think this would add a great deal, and you can then link this to your backend (Im not sure you can pass the colours through though...) through the product number.

[racelinedigital]

Which link or product did you click specifically, because I've never come across the fault?

 

I had to think long and hard about how I would display the graphics. We are selling them by length and the actual designs you can pick are just an option. If I sold them by design and the size was an option, then I couldn't add proper dimensions and weight for the shipping modules since 1 foot of graphics would be much lighter and smaller than 40 feet. If I put an item in for each design (110 in all) and for all the available lengths (1 to 40 feet) then I would have about 4400 items. That wasn't really the problem though, since I could use MS Excel and upload into the database. The problem was all the options each item requires. I looked at this problem from every angle and this was the best solution I could come up with.

 

Thanks! ;)

Lisa

[Guest]

Ahh ok I see hadnt really gathered that, that makes it more difficult! Im not that OSC can accept attribute variables in the link to give you the right thing either which is a shame.

 

All the products throw up the same error for me, in your browser check in the bottom left to see if you have hazard warnings that arent coming up, otherwise im not sure why its a problem??

[Guest]

The only thing I would say is that Im not that keen on registering for things before I buy, in this case it may be possible to get away with it, but usually Im not a big fan...

[Guest]

Oh and I would still consider getting someone to write a flash "designer" for your graphics, it would be cool to be able to see what the different colours for each design looked like...

 

 

By the way im aware you do free mockups, , but theres nothing like doing it myself, would probably be quite simple too...

[racelinedigital]

I'm still not getting the fault coming up, everything is ok when I click on the products. I wonder if anyone else is having the same problem. Line 328 in product_info.php is around the same lines where I took out the right column info boxes. I cannot see anything wrong with the code:

 

<!-- body_text_eof //-->
   <td valign="top"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<!-- right_navigation //-->
<?php require(DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'column_right.php'); ?>
<!-- right_navigation_eof //-->
   </table></td>

 

I've just uploaded the Purchase Without Account contribution, I just haven't had a chance to add it yet.

 

We had considered setting up a flash "designer", but there are too many different types of boats, and most of our clients get a better warm and fuzzy feeling seeing the graphics on a photo of their own boat. Our graphics aren't cheap and they really want to see what it is going to look like, not just an estimation, before they spend that much money. the flash designer could be done for our boat lettering though. I've seen it done elsewhere.

 

Thank-you for your input simon. It is much appreciated.

 

:)

Lisa

[racelinedigital]

No more comments, anyone? I'm in the process of adding these contributions:

 

Header Tags Controller

PWA

Credit Class & Gift Voucher

 

BTW, I just had a client mention today that it would be nice to have a flash "designer" to view different color combinations, but he was also thrilled when I told him we do free mockups. So I'm still mulling over the idea.

 

Lisa :)

[Guest]

No more comments, anyone?  I'm in the process of adding these contributions:

 

Header Tags Controller

PWA

Credit Class & Gift Voucher

 

BTW, I just had a client mention today that it would be nice to have a flash "designer" to view different color combinations, but he was also thrilled when I told him we do free mockups.  So I'm still mulling over the idea.

 

Lisa :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes it may be sufficient to provide free mock ups, really you know your clients, for me I might not be sure if I like certain designs or not and being able to add my own colours may help me make a decision. However I understand it could be meaningless without my boat in there. I really dont know, I think this is something for you to make a call on!