Secure Ordering Web Site Help

[r6_philly]

well, with checks there are no charge backs, no fees, no disputes, and virtually no frauds.

if you can build the cc fee into your profit margin, then use that. with that kind of price range you can even do net 30 with a credit card hold or something of the sort.

If you would like more info build into the site to go with your products (more than pics and descriptions) then you need a custom app. A structure is set up and you can add the material yourself.

In the end you can still use whatever payment method you would like to use, but a robust site can cut down on live custom service as you probably can imagine. If documentation, product detail and many simple support can be done online, then there is no need to staff people just to answer phones.

[Jeff]

well jeff maybe you haven't met someone who can help you get it done.

That's pretty much the case.

I do resent the don't re-invent the wheel comment. I do not like out-of-the-box products because they rarely fit everyone's every need. and a nicely written custom app go a longer way than any out-of-the-box program. Thats why bigger companies all have custom apps.

My comment was based on an educated guess that he wanted to do it himself.  Developing an e-commerce system if you have very little development knowledge is near impossible and leads to frustration.

Hell, writing requirements for one is difficult enough! :)

Yes, most any company will go with a home-grown product to fit their needs, but there's a substantial budget involved in this.

you seem to have gathered a lot of frustration trying to set up something by yourself, yet you recommend others to go with a template based app. wouldn't they run into the same frustration you ran into? If you you can't find a readily made application/set up to suit your needs, why would you recommend it to someone else?

Yes - Frustration in trying to do it for free
Template based apps can be cheap and VERY effective.  I just never found one that fit my needs in my price range.  I ended up settling, which works fine, but I'd still love to land the 'correct' package.

For basic selling, a template based app is perfect.  For anything dynamic, it's not very feasible.  It's possible to use, but is extremely time consuming.

I am not dissing anyone's ability, but doing it yourself doesn't always get it done right. we are motorcycle racers, we should know this. A suspension kit doesn't fit everyone. It is the custom stacks and custom settings that works for each racer.

Not really true.  99% of it is common, and will work across the range.  I.e., an R6 setup will be for the most part common.  It will vary based on weight, etc, but the common mods will be the same.

The same is true in this application.  Most every type of e-commerce solution you can think of is available already, so why re-invent it?  Yes, I understand that you can make it EXACTLY the way you want it, but you're doing that at a pretty steep price usually.

In my particular case, what I need IS available.  However, the cost makes it unjustifiable for me to implement.

so getting something made for you business is not re-invent the wheel, it is just putting on the right size and type of wheel.

But since the wheels are already commonly available, why would I want to pay some one to "build" me one?  I'll just go out and grab the wheel that fits my bike and go!

and since I know I have to compete with $200 programs and services, don't you think I would price myself competitively as much as I would? A big corp may pay me $100/hr, but I have worked with everyone's budget who has ever interested in my services.

Yes, you would have to price yourself so that people will purchase your services.  Again, my recommendations are based on the comments from a person who did not appear to want to spend any money.  

So, working within the budget of a guy who doesn't want to spend anything, you're left with making recommendations, not developing a new system...

Now that that's all done, if I can dig up my original requirements on my e-commerce system, I'll shoot them over to you  8)  

(that is, if you'll still talk to me...)

[r6_philly]

no problem jeff, I was up from no sleep and you called me high... boy I wish I was high!!! I am just exhausted :D

ya sent me the requirements. I rather have good clients than make truckful of money, thats why I deal with clients personally. I can usually work within a budget, no matter how small it is. I don't want to give my services away, but I can always find a solutions for anyone....

so if you want to send them over, and we talk about it, maybe I can make it work for you ;)

[Lowe119]

I still have to see what the budget is. She may be able to spend enough to have the right site. I feel that she thinks she can save a ton if she has me do it. I try to tell her that I shouldn't be the one doing it. She feels that I can research it, learn it, and do it. I could make a crap site where people could call and order the items on the site, but that isn't what she wants.
I re-did www.loweman.com for a ton cheaper than the origanal 'programmer.' It is basic and is not dynamic. Now they think I can do a dynamic site that emulates dell.com or some multimillion dollar business.
I think if I have enough info to 'teach' her what she needs, she will have a better understanding of what I can do myself and what needs to be outsourced to someone with the knowledge.
So there are funds to be used, if the justification is there.

BTW what ever happened to that R6Philly message board I used to visit a couple years ago? Is it still up?

[Lowe119]

y'all should give some advice to my fiberglass supplier www.fiberglasssupply.com  :-/ ;) :)
I've always thought they could do so much more with that site. I guess they have grown immensly since they put their site up. I can't beat their prices, but could use a more informative site.

[r6_philly]

well the board was bombed and trolled by a well known internet entreprenuer in the aftermarket parts business. So people couldn't take the abuse and left. They formed the R6 messagenet. I opened up another site since then, but couldn't keep up the effort o keep it going. so I shut that down. It may be coming back again lol it was my original motorcycle project and I would like to keep it going. I will spend a weekend on the R6 site and bring it back to current life. I have 1000's owner pics on my computer. Even though the site is defunt right now, people still write me and send me stuff. I feel obligated to get them up. Look for them in a few weeks ;)

as for convince the boss. Thats usually the hard part. You have to convince them that the technology and knowledge involved is absolutely out of your range. I wouldn't think you want to take on that anyway, thats just more headache and work on your part...

[r6_philly]

y'all should give some advice to my fiberglass supplier www.fiberglasssupply.com  :-/ ;) :)
I've always thought they could do so much more with that site. I guess they have grown immensly since they put their site up. I can't beat their prices, but could use a more informative site.

advice? the site look like a word document or made in 1994. Add some graphics and change the font, then re-organize it a little and the company will look like 10 time as big. and it wouldn't event cost $1500 at the most to revamp it (without editing and updating info, just change how it looks and re-org and break down the sections, restructure)

[Lowe119]

Basic table borders and Comic Sans  ;D
Maybe someone could do a trade for some carbon fiber or kevlar.... I always thought about it, but I'm not confident enough in my skills  - MCSE remember :D

[r6_philly]

what carbon fiber and kevlar are we talking about?

[Lowe119]

http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/Reinforcements/reinforcements.html

It's where I get all my carbon and kevlar cloth and epoxy for bodywork

My current project requires about a $400 order from them. I'm enclosing my little trailer with a fiberglass/foam sandwich core design. We'll see how it works. I might be putting kevlar on the front for debris protection.

[r6_philly]

I wouldn't mind some carbon cloth... I am doing a couple or projects myself, usually bodywork related :D

[Lowe119]

There prices are about half of anywhere else I've seen. The 5.8 oz 2x2 twill is the 'carbon look' although I've seen a lot of carbon work done with the straight basket (plain) weave. I ordered some 11oz for a hood bracket and that stuff is beefy. I'd stay with the 5.8 oz and do a couple layers.
The hybrids (carbon/kevlar) are neat too. I'm sure you've seen it in some parts. They have the flexability and resistance of kevlar and the strength and lightweight of carbon - plus a cool look - yellow, red, blue, or silver kevlar with black carbon.

Maybe this should be a new thread - I'm sure there would be other racers interested in this stuff. I kind of kept it a secret before  ;)