13 replies to this topic

[WebKat]

Hi there,

I was told that PrestaShop would do everything I needed it to do and so I jumped in feet-first, spent a lot of time configuring it...only to find out that it won't do what I need it to without modules, and most of the modules are in French so I can't even tell what they do. Plus the modules are all expensive. So I decided to come here and ask if oscommerce can do what I need before I waste all that time again. Hope you don't mind.

What my client's business does is manufacture replacement parts for certain commercial equipment. They sell these parts worldwide. The shipping is like this: each part has a fixed shipping rate (I don't know what it's based on--size,weight,price,whatever, but it's already set in stone that X is the shipping price for Y product and C is the shipping price for D product, etc.). If you order multiple items at one time, you pay the highest shipping amount from your cart, then only $1 each for each additional item in your cart.

So that's hurdle number 1. Fixed shipping rates, with the highest +$1 for combined shipping on orders of multiple parts.

Hurdle number 2: International shipping. Again, it's a flat rate: one rate for priority, and another for express. But it's essential that if the shipping address is other than the US/Canada, that the buyer MUST choose one of the international shipping options.

As their site is currently set up it's a madhouse of emailing international customers and getting them to Paypal more money to cover shipping, etc.

To simplify things, they only ship USPS and only accept PayPal or personal checks for payment.

I'd like to be able to create informational pages (like a CMS) as well as product pages, as there is a lot of information that they need to pass on to customers other than just "here's our stuff--buy it."

So those of you who know oscommerce well--can it do what I need it to do? If it can't, do you know one that can? I'm getting desperate. I wasted 2 weeks on PrestaShop and I can't keep doing that.

Thanks so much in advance.

Your new buddy
WebKat

[DunWeb]

@WebKat,

You can use THIS shipping module for your flat rate plus X amount per additional item.

I suggest installing CKeditor to make all your information pages and product descriptions WYSIWYG and use the Info Manager to manage your information pages.


ALL of the above links are FREE !

Welcome to osCommerce


Chris

[WebKat]

Thanks DunWeb! Will oscommerce do the international shipping, too? (Not let international shipping addresses check out without chosing one of the international shipping options)?

[Xpajun]

Internationalo customers will only see the international shipping rates while local customer only see local rates.


However if you have a international customer that wants to ship to a local location then they will see the local shipping rates... or a local customer that wants to ship to a international destination then they will see the internatinal shipping rates

[NodsDorf]

@WebKat

In the past 8 years using Oscommerce, I have seen very little that Oscommerce doesn't already do, and almost nothing it can't do if you have time to code.

[WebKat]

NodsDorf that's good to hear--is the community good at helping those of us who aren't natural coders? I'm a designer not a coder, though I can mess with stuff if it's already written--just don't count on me to write code (except HTML or CSS) from scratch.

[sydjeii]

I am a designer myself and kind of oscommerce beginner..so far I liked it.. If you mess up something, don't worry.. Oscommerce has a very good support, which what I really like as a beginner.. and almost all add-ons are FREE..

[toyicebear]

Quote

What my client's business does is manufacture replacement parts for certain commercial equipment. They sell these parts worldwide. The shipping is like this: each part has a fixed shipping rate (I don't know what it's based on--size,weight,price,whatever, but it's already set in stone that X is the shipping price for Y product and C is the shipping price for D product, etc.). If you order multiple items at one time, you pay the highest shipping amount from your cart, then only $1 each for each additional item in your cart.

There is no module that will cover this one "right off the bat" , you will probably have to modify one of the existing modules.

You will need a combo of the functionality in this and this add-on.

[14steve14]

I have been using oscommerce for my own site for years. I am not a programmer and i find the free support from these forums excellent.

[iankil]

I agree, osCommerce is actually the only cart that does exactly what my customer wants and needs, I’ve used osCommerce for about10 years and many other carts to, but i always find my way back to osCommerce and this forum... You need to work and tweak osCommerce a lot, but once you figure it out it’s the best cart out there.

[burt]

Agree with all the others - there is very little that osCommerce cannot do.

However, a word of caution; osCommerce has a VERY steep learning curve, and you will be frustrated beyond belief sometimes.

Another point; don't get free as in GPL mixed up with FREE as in no money. osCommerce WILL cost you a lot of money in terms of your time.

[mattjt83]

I agree with Gary about the steep learning curve. There is lots of help available on the forums but at first none of it makes sense! It took me about 6 months of playing with the code to really start understanding the functions. The end result now though is that I am starting to have a pretty good understanding of PHP and MySQL. Once you are used to everything it is pretty fun to work with and you can create pretty much any functionality you can think of.

[WebKat]

Thanks everyone for your supportive comments and answers! I know that any CMS/ecommerce solution I choose will have a steep learning curve... it's something I've accepted and I'm ready for (though I may ask a lof of newbie questions!)

toyicebear, on 21 January 2012, 00:37, said:

There is no module that will cover this one "right off the bat" , you will probably have to modify one of the existing modules.

You will need a combo of the functionality in this and this add-on.

Is there any reason that the first one won't do what I need? The description looks like it would...?

--edited to add--oh, is it saying one cost for the first item (regardless of what that item is) and another cost for each extra item? If so then I see your point.

Would just using both add-ons together work or would I have to frankenstein them together? And if so... um... would people help me? Since I have no idea how to do that?

Edited by WebKat, 24 January 2012, 17:27.

[DunWeb]

WebKat, on 24 January 2012, 17:26, said:

Thanks everyone for your supportive comments and answers! I know that any CMS/ecommerce solution I choose will have a steep learning curve... it's something I've accepted and I'm ready for (though I may ask a lof of newbie questions!)



Is there any reason that the first one won't do what I need? The description looks like it would...?

--edited to add--oh, is it saying one cost for the first item (regardless of what that item is) and another cost for each extra item? If so then I see your point.

Would just using both add-ons together work or would I have to frankenstein them together? And if so... um... would people help me? Since I have no idea how to do that?

@WebKat,

You would have to combine the two contributions and SOME support is offered here but, all in all, most of it will be up to you and / or you can hire a developer to help you. "Web designers make it look good, web developers make it work good."



Chris