Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Roland, you`re correct, Joomla`s marketplace is not what I am looking for. I need multivendor. Xcart does look attractive despite it`s high price($575 Pro). I may delve deeper into the UberCart`s open source offering first before looking to Xcart.

In your previous posts here, you mentioned you`ve had experience working with Xcart. Did you use Gold or Pro (marketplace)? How well did it meet your needs? Is it as customizable as open source offerings? Was it simple and straightforward to set it up how you wanted? In a timely manner or is there a steep learning curve?

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I am currently using Drupal 5.x to build a membership website for a client, with different levels of membership, i.e. basic, silver, gold.. I have added the Ubercart module, and I have to say that the Drupal/Ubercart combination is far superior to either Joomla or other open source CMS`s, such as XOOPS, both of which I have used. Having said that, there is a steep learning curve with Drupal/Ubercart, but the support communities are fantastic.

So my advice would be to get an inexpensive hosting account (I use 1and1.com) and start experimenting, first with Drupal, and then with either Joomla or XOOPS. Keep in mind that Joomla has NOT been designed for multiple levels of membership, whereas XOOPS has user groups you can create and provide access permissions, similar to Drupal, though from my experience Drupal is far more flexible, and with Ubercart, the membership is fully integrated. You can sell a membership product and have an account registration set up automatically after the sale has gone through.

You can create additional Roles for members where you can give them permissions to Add, Edit, Delete content, including Products, track sales, inventory, etc. I`m not sure however how this would work with multiple vendors who could only access their products and no one else`s. You will have to check with Ubercart to see if this is possible.


Keep in mind though that this is NOT plug and play stuff...there is a learning curve, and frustrations will occur...which is why the Drupal/Ubercart communities are priceless!

affinitymc,

Thanks for that, it was very insightful. I`ve seen some videos about Drupal basics and it doesn`t look too bad, namely drupaldude.com. I`ve been doing quite a bit of research, about CMSs and e-commerce solutions.

I`ve pretty much decided on Drupal despite the lack of themes. I have researched Magento and Ubercart. As of now, I`ve decided to run with Ubercart because they just released a module that pretty much exactly meets my needs - Ubercart Marketplace:

http://drupal.org/project/ubercart_marketplace

http://www.ubercart.org/forum/development/5344/ubercart_marketplace_developer_preview_multiple_seller_support

Although there are talks about a Magento marketplace in the future, Magento hasn`t been fully integrated with Drupal and vice versa.

From what I`ve come across, the different roles that can be created with Drupal does not really lend itself to a multi-vendor set up. I think the Ubercart module I noted above is what I am looking for. Joomla doesn`t really offer a marketplace like Amazon per se, more of a classifieds.

Is the website you are working on an e-commerce site? Is it online, could I have a look at it?

I noticed you are using Drupal 5.x? Why did you choose not to upgrade to Drupal 6.x, compatibility. I haven`t really grasped this concept, but what is the difference? Just bug fixes and stuff?

Most of modules for Drupal and Ubercart (including marketplace) have been designed for 5.x, and not yet upgraded for 6.x? Is it noticeable if a site is running a 5.x instead of 6.x, or am I looking at the this the wrong way. Does running an older version of Drupal put a website at greater risk of hacking or failure/crashing?

Thanks

affinitymc,

I have a quick question about starting with Drupal. It`s clear you are well versed with Drupal. I have found a Drupal theme that I like as well as modules that will be fundamental to my design. Both the themes and modules are for Drupal 5.x.

Since Drupal6.x has been released, when I go about downloading/installing/starting Drupal for the first, should I go ahead and go with 5.x so that I can get the functionality I need, or go with the latest and greatest(?) iteration, Drupal 6.x?

Thanks

Does anyone have any recommendations for Drupal hosting?

I`ll be in the design phase, so I won`t expect or seek high levels of traffic at the moment.

Will a basic package be enough to allow me to design and test my website with Drupal? I want to be able to implement and manipulate various Drupal modules as well as e-commerce solutions like Magento.

What should I look for in hosting?

Godaddy has a utility that will install Drupal for you if you host with them.  Plus you only need the economy package - in most cases.
But I like Joomla, just FYI.

Thanks for the insight, my domain name is registered with GoDaddy, I may look further into it.

yottazoo, I was looking at your signature, was Zlio created with Joomla? How hard was it to get the functionality you wanted? How much had to be custom coded?

Thanks

Drupal 5.x or Drupal 6? Well, you could install both on a test server or on your local machine and take them for a trial run.

I use 1and1.com - I have both shared and a managed dedicated server. They are WAY behind in their versioning of MySQL on the dedicated server, and refuse to update it for me...I`m not a happy customer. They suggested I switch to a Root server, but then I would have to a) pay more and b) manage the server myself...not something I want to do.

Check which version of MySQL GoDaddy are providing, and what their practice is in keeping their software up to date.

1and1.com also provide a utility that will autoinstall some software for you, such as Joomla...but here`s the catch...they don`t give you control of the files, so you can`t change the permissions on them (CHMOD), which is downright idiotic, as the installation is crippled as a result.