osCommerce or ProductCart?

I just built a large website using ProductCart. However I just came across osCommerce and was wondering what the differences are, etc, and why is one $1500 and the other is free?

thanks
J

osCommerce is opensource and that is why its free. Opensource generally has community support. If you want personal support you usually pay, and that is how they make some money. It depends on the project, but generaly speaking opensource is not updated frequently. The osCommerce forums are a zoo and the add-ons very rarely work together. The software is almost impossible to modify because it is so convoluted. I have used osCommerce and a dozen other plateforms. osCommerce is at the bottom of my list. By the time you add up all the hours digging through the nightmare of code you have spent more money than just buying a nice well maintained system with good support.

Thats interesting, thanks. I am leaning towards using ProductCart again, but I am not crazy about going with a Windows Server again, and the License cost hurts my profits

Do I have any cheaper alternatives to ProductCart that I can look into that offer flexibility with design?

Thanks for the response!

-Joe

There are loads out there that you can use. A few off the top of my head are (not preference order):

• Your own design integrated with PayPal
• http://www.zen-cart.com/
• http://www.ubercart.org/
• http://www.prestashop.com/
• http://www.creloaded.com/index.php
• Joomla with http://virtuemart.net/
• and on and on

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Thank you sir -
I was just checking out Zen-Cart. How would you rank ZenCart compared to other options?

thanks

Hi BlackReef,

ProductCart is pretty cost effective for the features (695). Only with the Build to Order Add-on does it cost more. If you need BTO then you have to rule out something that is free.

If you are not a php programmer then I would not rule out windows based Shopping Carts either. They are some of the top rated out there.

ZenCart is a branch of osCommerce. The developer of ZenCart used to be very active with osCommerce. Creloaded is osCommerce, but with a bunch of Add-ons pre-installed. So here is the deal. They are free... so you should feel free to try them. ZenCart is the better of the three.

Ultimately, if you need your store to look a certain way, or if you need any customizations I am sure osCommerce based systems will send you running scared.

You should look for a shopping cart that has the features, support, and scalability you need. Its really all about finding the system that does what you need with the least amount of customizations. A couple hundred dollars is meaning less in the life-time of a store.

Ive never heard of ProductCart before. Have you considered CubeCart? There are two versions:

Version 3: Free to use if you keep the copyrights intact. Very basic in features but a huge community and affordable add on modules, see my banner

Version 4: Commercial product with many more features.

Both versions use the X-Template system which is basically html with php snippets such as {CATEGORIES}. Templates are seperate and you don't need any php experience to create/edit them, just html and css experience.

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Is CubeCart comaptible with Dreamweaver?

Personally i'm a Magento fan and the communities great, i've had few problems that weren't easily resolved HOWEVER i've not used it for any really taxing sites, or anything that needs to much beyond the core features.

The aesthetics are very very easy to customise (just take a look through the 'show off' section in the forum, some real gems in there).

But each to there own i suppose.

Yes and No. You cannot use Dreamweaver in the WYSIWYG mode, only code view so you can't actually view the changes you are making without uploading the changes first.

Magento is coming along nicely and i will consider using it myself once they start supporting digital downloads. The only thing that puts me off using any OS software is relying on a community to keep your website secure. I know Magento does have a company behind them but with their support packages starting at $2000 per year that does put me off a bit.

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Hampshire Web Design -UK Hosting & Web Design - 0208 144 5083
CubeCartSkins.net - Templates & Mods for CubeCart

Huh?

Just download off there site?

Right there in the middle column.

And support packages start at $500 per annum, which isn't too bad but personally you shouldn't need more than the forum (i just presume forum communities are generally slower than when you're paying for help).

I mean for supporting stores that sell digital content Currently they only support tangible goods although i know digital goods is in the pipeline.

$500 per annum is $1500 cheaper than they told me only a couple of months when i enquired and if they truly have brought the prices down that much then it would be back in consideration once they have started supporting digital content.

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Ans UK IT Ltd - UK Hosting & IT Solutions - 0208 144 5083
Hampshire Web Design -UK Hosting & Web Design - 0208 144 5083
CubeCartSkins.net - Templates & Mods for CubeCart

oh right, i get ya know... i've got no experience with digital goods, but i've seen that posted in the forum a few times. I think theres a 'to-do' list they published somewhere and last time i checked it was on there.

I have heard many pleasant things about Magento. Think you should try it too.