Why osCommerce?

[JoeS]

I've been spending way to much time looking at shopping cart solutions for my site and usually they are too expensive, don't support Paypal Website Payments Pro, or offer hardly any support at all for much of anything by lurking in their forums. So I keep gravitating here...

 

I'm just suspicious of free solutions. So can I ask what are your experiences using os Commerce?

I'm signed up with Paypal PP so I need that functionality (very important) which I saw this software supports without me configuring it, which is helpful since I tried setting up my own cart using Paypals documentation but got totally frustrated and lost.

 

What are the drawbacks using osCommerce?

 

Any limitations at all?

 

What do you like best about it?

 

 

Thanks for any answers. And admins, please don't delete this post if you don't like some of the feedback :)

[♥toyicebear]

I've been spending way to much time looking at shopping cart solutions for my site and usually they are too expensive, don't support Paypal Website Payments Pro, or offer hardly any support at all for much of anything by lurking in their forums. So I keep gravitating here...

 

I'm just suspicious of free solutions. So can I ask what are your experiences using os Commerce?

I'm signed up with Paypal PP so I need that functionality (very important) which I saw this software supports without me configuring it, which is helpful since I tried setting up my own cart using Paypals documentation but got totally frustrated and lost.

 

What are the drawbacks using osCommerce?

 

Any limitations at all?

 

What do you like best about it?

Thanks for any answers. And admins, please don't delete this post if you don't like some of the feedback :)

 

osCommerce is actually a very good and solid piece of ecommerce software, better than most commercially available alternatives, rivaling the rest with some provisions....

 

Todays latest 2.2 version does require you to do some manual editing to get the best out of it, but osCoimmerce can also have the largest collection of available functionality modules/contributions out there.

 

As osCommerce is a free solution, there is no support outside of the forum....But then again there are countless companies offering oscommerce support/customization against payment if you feel the need for it....

 

Conclusion....

 

A very good ecommerce solution, but it does require some basic knowledge of PHP and HTML ..or atleast the willingness to learn some........

 

Or if you are not in any urgent need to open.......

 

The upcomming release ms3 , will be more automated in regards to templates and module instalation...ie. easy drop in and no manual modding needed....

 

For info checkout: Planet osCommerce

[wheeloftime]

I'm just suspicious of free solutions.

Why ??? The answer probably is: because it can be gone the next day ? True, but the same can happen with paid software or worse, it is made so expensive in all kind of ways it is unuseable as well for the average joe :-)

 

So can I ask what are your experiences using os Commerce?

 

What are the drawbacks using osCommerce?

 

Any limitations at all?

 

What do you like best about it?

Thanks for any answers. And admins, please don't delete this post if you don't like some of the feedback :)

There is always something to desire which counts for paid and free software equally but with osCommerce you have total freedom. Of course you need to have the knowledge but even if tomorrow all development on osCommerce ceases to exist you have a functional and working shop.

Given all the contributions available which are free also and are also changeable to your own needs you can't ask for more.

 

The drawback is that you should be willing to invest time in it but anyone thinking to do business seriously, online or not online, should not even consider for a second that this is a drawback. There are technical limitations as for the moment osCommerce is tied to PHP and mySQL where the last however will change in the near future. And again, even if it doesn't you are not stuck.

You can discuss that osCommerce is not up to the latest standards anymore but personally I say I rather rely on a Lada as a Ferrari for a solid business. The last one is bound to be in the garage once a week although it is certainly much much more fun to ride when it works :-)

 

Best part I like about it is the total freedom to shape it together with a devoted team and an enormous user base to give and get feeback from.

 

Just my 2ct.

[JoeS]

Thanks guys, you talked me into it.

 

I'm a little familiar with PHP and I browsed over the install docs which seemed pretty straight forward, so I might be ok. I think my biggest hurdle will be whittling it all down to a one item cart which is all I will be selling.

 

Be prepared for a barrage of questions over the weekend! :P

 

Thanks again for your honesty.