Let it go.  If someone wanted to inquire about Apple Cart, they would have done so by now. 

A good suggestion to you, would be to start an Apple Cart blog.  Then the people that wish to read about it can.

Good luck in your biz

Oscommerce "Quick Price Updates", installs in 3 easy steps - you don`t even have to understand PHP coding to install.

Well thank you. Now can you provide a link to the program or to a web site that is currently using it? (Not that I don`t beleive you  - since in your words folks that use AppleCart are "idiots". And I don`t want to seem like an "idiot".)

blondieblue,

I`ve made this thread to discuss the pros and cons of osCommerce, not AppleCart.  Thank you for hijacking my thread.

I am a bit confused as to why you feel the need to defend AppleCart so vigorously when no one is attacking it to begin with.  Nowhere in the thread was it mentioned that AppleCart is junk or that folks who use it are idiots.  You`re the one saying these things.

You feel like the "gurus" have some hidden agenda in promoting osCommerce or Zen Cart?  No one has a hidden agenda in promoting open-source software, as no one directly benefits from it.  On the other hand, you seem to have some kind of agenda in promoting AppleCart.  My guess is that either you are somehow affiliated with Spads, or trying to convince yourself more than anyone else that you`ve picked the right product.  Or do you just like to argue for the sake of arguing?

Regardless, if you do have any experience with osCommerce, I will be glad to hear about it.  Otherwise, feel free to start your own thread for singing the praise of AppleCart.

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Oleg Issers | StartupNation.com Web Team

50% of computer programming is trial and error. The other 50% is copy and paste.

Thank you for coming back to your thread -

As far as an open discussion about osCommerce - a true open discussion allows for differing opinions and options vs an osCommerce solution. (I guess I was mis-informed that that a discussion forum is just that - a discussion forum - with the ability to offer differeing opinions - not a bunch of "group think".

As far as you accusing me pulling name calling out of thin air - please review the following post from Page 3 of this thread ...

TwilightPics posted on May 13, 2007 ...

"The only good thing about AppleCart and similar programs is it allows complete idiots to build and run a website.Which is a great thing for the idiots, but not such a great thing for developers and even some buyers (visitors to the site)."

I, in fact, brought this name calling to the attention of the forum ---

Blondieblue posted on May 13, 2007 --

"I didnt think that an non-emotional discussion could get so emotional on your(TwilightPics) part - especially when you (TwilightPics) violate the terms here at SuN by calling folks complete idiots simply because they have a difference of opinion or are asking questions."

I`ll post more soon in response to your post ...

 

Oleg,

I`m sorry that I had a hand in the hijacking... I got back to my senses a lttle too late.

OsCommerce does work, but in selecting an ecommerce solution you need to think of any and all the potential things you may want the program to do. So, you can select the most appropriate ecommerce solution. As I said before, I prefer Zen Cart to osCommerce if you want to sell music or videos via downlaod because it is a fundtion that is alread built in.

The drawbacks to osCommerce and Zen Cart is they are sefl-supporting, in that you have to do some research in thier respective forums and documentation to find answers (unless you have an experienced osCommerce or Zen Cart web designer working to set up your site.

The advantage, once set-up, you can manage the site, products, pricing, specials, sales, newsletter...etc fairly easily.

If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to email or PM me.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

Thanks Roland.  Good to know about the built in file downloading capabilities. 

I guess what I liked about osCommerce the most is how well written and organized the code is.  I was able to skin my first osCommerce website in a matter of hours; and I haven`t even looked at php in the past 5 years.

On the other hand I don`t know what its functional capabilities are from the business standpoint, and was curious if it has any known drawbacks - hence the reason for this thread... (Though one of the benefits of an open source solution is that functionality can easily be added or modified as necessary - unlike a "canned" perl/cgi script).

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Oleg Issers | StartupNation.com Web Team

50% of computer programming is trial and error. The other 50% is copy and paste.

Well what is your opinion of osCommerce then?  You never offered one!  I would like to hear negative opinions as well as positive ones; instead you`re off talking about a completely different product.  If you had any experience with osCommerce and are dissatisfied with it for some reason, let`s hear it!

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Oleg Issers | StartupNation.com Web Team

50% of computer programming is trial and error. The other 50% is copy and paste.

First of all, the term  "easily added or modified" is a falsehood - since the need for "beta testing" is integral to any software - prior to implimentation. Canned programs have the fiduciary responsibily & obligation to be "beta tested" prior to release - vs - "open source" where the "retailer" could become the guinea pig.

With all that said  -

Lets look at capabilities (since that is one of your criterea)-

Lets start with a clear chalkboard and start to design a shopping cart/data base - this way we can see how osCommerce currently measures up.

When looking at a shopping cart/data base there are 2 sides of the equation - front of the house & back office.

Lets start with back office -

I would want -

1. The ability to manage the "entire" product catalog - without effecting the look of the store - till I want to change the "store". (off-line vs on-line)
2. The ability to change prices across a wide latitude of criterea - catagories, sub-categories, departments, price ranges, vendors (all user defined) (ie. "Global Search & Replace)
3. The abilty to have unlimited vendors, with able to select if that vendor is a drop-shipper or if the product is carried within inventory.
4. The ability to keep a product in the data base - even when that product is "back-ordered" or not available - and then able to reactivate that product when available or "in-stock" with a simple click.
5. Able to "Re-sort" the order of products within the store, depts, categories, sub-categories, or other user defined basis. (Analogy: the "end-cap" in a physical store is the "hot selling area".)
6. Able to create a "catalog" of selected items - for printing, file making, emailing or burning onto a cd and have that catalog available in .pdf format - with direct click thru`s of products listings and images.

I`ll leave it at that for now ...

Lets see if others can add to the "wish list" of the perfect shopping cart data base - and then we can see how osCommerce measures up.

Having worked at both canned software companies as well as custom solution providers, I can tell you would be surprised at how little "beta testing" goes on in either place.  And software consultants providing a custom solution have just as much responsibility and obligation to test their work as a traditional software company.

That said, you can easily modify an open-source solution. How well you test it is up to you and the developer you choose to work with.  With a packaged software solution you simply do not have that option.  If you are completely happy with all the features that it offers - perfect!  If you want to add a new feature tomorrow instead of hoping it will be included in the next service pack which is already 6 months behind schedule - well you`re just SOL.

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Oleg Issers | StartupNation.com Web Team

50% of computer programming is trial and error. The other 50% is copy and paste.