Considerting osCommerce

[mrextremes]

I am considering using osCommerce for a new commerce site I am launching. However, before I go down that path I have a list of questions I am trying to get answered to make sure this will be the best solution for me.

 

What would be the best way to get my list of questoins answered?

[sam6]

Ask them and read http://wiki.oscommerce.com/Top

[mrextremes]

Thanks sam6. I will go to the link you suggest and read. Here is my list of questions:

 

1. From my reading I am under the impression to upload or download a product database to your store there are add-ons that allow this for import/export via a CSV file. If I am getting inventory feeds from a different system and want to upload those inventory feeds can I set up an automatic chron job to do this a the same time(s) each day?

2. Are there any limitations to setting up Product Description Fields or any limits in assigning an unlimited number of keywords per Product?

3. I am under the impression that you cannot place additional thumbnail graphics for products, is this the case. Can?t you just link to another hosted image?

4. Is there a way to split ship an order, in other words ship items within a single shopping cart to multiple addresses? Also, can an order be shipped from multiple warehouses?

5. Can you take orders over the phone, fax and mail and then input them using osCommerce, is there an administration tool to be able to do this?

6. Can the osCommerce Order System be translated to any language?

7. I am under the impression to limit customers from countries that only defined currencies are supported. What does this mean when it says ?Only defined currencies are supported??

8. Is there a way in osCommerce to not take orders from customers of certain states in the US and certain countries in the world?

9. Can a shopper from another country order with a foreign credit card with the credit card company or the payment gateway making the conversion? Are there any limitations around this?

10. Will osCommerce work with third party affiliate networks? Most third party affiliate programs are based on either passing order files (a la linkshare) or passing a transparent pixel with the order information at the :?Thank You Page? (a la CJ).

11. Is there accessibility to the ?Thank You Page? in osCommerce for marketing purposes or passing information to Affiliate Programs? Is there the ability to pass a one by one pixel in the ?Thank You Page??

12. I am under the impression that osCommerce supports an ?E-mail Newsletter? function. Are the records of the newsletter customers stored in the same data store as the customers who have purchased products from the store?

13. Can an autoresponder be hooked in with the osCommerce system?

14. I am under the impression that you can only import/export orders from the osCommerce system via E-mail and Web interface. Can you also set up osCommerce to import/export orders via FTP or XML? Also, can you automatically set the frequency with which to import/export orders? Say that we output an order file to our distribution center and they fulfill during the day. Can they then upload a file to update order status, tracking numbers, etc.?

15. Can osCommerce easily be integrated with a Third-Party Order Management system?

16. Can osCommerce easily work with a third party accounting package such as QuickBooks. Any other Accounting packages that can easily work with osCommerce?

17. Is there a model for osCommerce for Gift Certificates? If not, can osCommerce easily handle Gift Certificates?

18. Returns processing. How are returns processed with issuance of credits and debits, change of order status, etc.?

19. Marketing Tracking and Analytics: Can parameters be stored and passed for marketing and advertising tracking? If so, how is this done? What third party marketing and/or advertising analytics tracking package works well and integrates easily with osCommerce?

20. Does osCommerce support for different colors and sizes of the same product. Other product attributes?

21. I am under the impression that osCommerce supports Product Reviews. How are these handled?

[djs]

You'll probably find most questions have already been asked. Do a search on this forum and see if you can find what you are looking for.

 

Next, look through the docs. Lots of answers there.

 

Install and run oscommerce. Price is right, it's pretty easy to take for a test drive. This will bring the question and answers together, since it will start to make sense.

 

Finally, for any other questions, simply ask. Post it to the forum, be clear and exacting on what you want, you'll get replies.

 

Dan

[sam6]

did you read this one

http://www.oscommerce.com/solutions