Best E-Commerce Shopping Cart?

brad · Post by **brad** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:10 am

turnkeye, please read the forum rules and refrain from breaking them with self promotion posts like that.

We provide plenty of resources for you to 'market' your products, like: http://extensions.joomla.org as well as http://resources.joomla.org please use them, and not this forum.

CrAzYtheDj · Post by **CrAzYtheDj** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:53 pm

This is an enlightening thread - a very good read...

I'm currently an osCommerce user and am in the midst of moving hosts from a managed windows server to a shared linux host. I set up my shop over a year ago and made a lot of customizations to osC. Now in the middle of my move I'm realizing that it's not going to be an easy transfer. I'm going to have to go back and most likely edit a lot of my site and I'm not certain I want to stick with osC if I'm going to have to spend a lot of time in the code again.

I feel my requirements are relatively simple, I need integration for:
- PayPal Website Payments Standard
- Google Checkout
- FedEx Shipping Calculator
- USPS Shipping Calculator
- Google Base
- Product Attributes

I REALLY want to leverage Joomla for CMS and want a seamless option between content and ecommerce. I'm willing to leave osC behind, so I've been looking at VirtueMart and JooZen. I'm interested in hearing others suggestions and thoughts on my current situation.

pirateRN · Post by **pirateRN** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:21 am

Does anyone know of an e-commerce solution that has multi-vendor capability, allowing users to sell digital files? I know IXXO Cart is one, but am not sure of the reliability based on previous posts.

corwin120 · Post by **corwin120** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:35 pm

Check http://www.interspire.com/ it's a non Joomla commercial solution that supports both multi-vendor and digital content.

airomic · Post by **airomic** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:03 am

Alright anyone that has used VirtueMart could you please explain to me the problems you had with it? I am trying to make a site, so this would be helpful before I establish a shopping cart for my site. Indepth answers would be appreciated so I can grasp problems before hand.

DivaVocals · Post by **DivaVocals** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:14 pm

airomic wrote:Alright anyone that has used VirtueMart could you please explain to me the problems you had with it? I am trying to make a site, so this would be helpful before I establish a shopping cart for my site. Indepth answers would be appreciated so I can grasp problems before hand.

If you look back through this thread, I've posted twice my experience and opinion of VM..

airomic · Post by **airomic** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:29 pm

I was hoping you might go into more depth about the program problems, I should've clarified that more in my post. I read through the forum, and the specific VM problems a few times to fully understand what issues I may deal with in the future.

DivaVocals · Post by **DivaVocals** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:24 am

airomic wrote:I was hoping you might go into more depth about the program problems, I should've clarified that more in my post. I read through the forum, and the specific VM problems a few times to fully understand what issues I may deal with in the future.

Like I said if you read back through this thread I believe I did list some of the program problems I had..

DivaVocals wrote:I built ONE VirtueMart site, struggled to keep it together for two years, and finally converted the client FOR FREE to Zen Cart. There were two features that NEVER worked well or never worked at all (states for countries where there are no states NEVER worked as it should, and the PayPal module was a NIGHTMARISH piece of hell that cost my client money in terms of lost sales.. (VirtueMart's notify.php script is a complete piece of garbage as far as I'm concerned.. ) The VirtueMart forum was no help because every search I did revealed hundreds of un-answered questions from folks who were having the EXACT SAME issues I was seeking answers to.. Since the conversion to Zen Cart, my client has never been happier.. In fact she was soooo happy she gave me two of her PayPal stores to convert..

This was not enough information?? I guess I'm not sure what more you want me to elaborate on.. Are you looking for a list every single error message I got?? If so they are too numerous to list, and now that I'm no longer using the program I certainly don't have them committed to memory..

If you want to see examples of unanswered questions on the VM forum, search for "notify.php" See how many questions for the SAME problem have been posted.. See how many go unanswered.. For the ones that are answered, see how helpful the responses are.. Lookup my user name there (Pixiepie) see how many questions I asked, and see the quality of the responses I received..

Read the VirtueMart reviews posted in the JED.. My old review is still there (from approx Sep/Oct 2006).. In fact the lead developer (Soren) tried to call me out on the VM forum about my review because he didn't agree with it.. He accused me of having unrealistic expectations.. Apparently expecting support from the SUPPORT forum is an unpopular concept in the VM world..

Now here's what I noticed looking at recent reviews (last few weeks).. It's three years and at least 4 or 5 versions later, and I see all of the SAME issue still being reported (including the issues with PayPal notify.php script)

Anything else you need me to elaborate on??

airomic · Post by **airomic** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:57 am

Besides for the things you listed out, were there any other benefits you found in Zen Cart that weren't present in VirtueMart?

DivaVocals · Post by **DivaVocals** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:48 pm

airomic wrote:Besides for the things you listed out, were there any other benefits you found in Zen Cart that weren't present in VirtueMart?

* Working USPS shipping
* Working UPS shipping
* Working FedEx Shipping
* Working PayPal IPN and PayPal Express modules
* Working Authorize.net support
And when I say WORKING I mean working in that I don't have to hack away at the code endlessly to get it to work..
* Support forum where both the developers and the community SUPPORT the application and the add-ons, and more importantly both the community and the developers KNOW that's how it's supposed to be. (Apparently the VM community and it's developers do not feel the same)
* Improved inventory management
* Improved product attribute management

Let me put it this way.. For TWO YEARS my client had DAILY issues with VM. Orders not processing, processing incompletely, abandoned carts due to errors, etc. Since switching to ZenCart (10 months ago) I've heard from her exactly ONCE and that was to help her with a client who did not know how to use PayPal..

And before anyone brings up the new version of VM, the new version is plagued with some of the same problems VM has always had.. Nicer looking Admin though..

I HOPE VM gets better.. It certainly has potential, but even if the app improves, the attitudes of the developers and that community with regards to support will always make this app undesirable to me..

Questions on the VM forum go routinely unanswered or the answers are vague or the answers are un-necessarily snarky (and not so helpful..) The general community feeling is “too bad too sad”. AND the community at large seems to feel that the developers have NO obligation to provide ANY support for the app they wrote and released.

kobudoguy · Post by **kobudoguy** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:59 pm

Love this thread, lots of opinion that is helpful.

I didn't see any reference to http://www.kryptronic.com/ and their http://www.kryptronic.com/Shopping-Cart-Software software. I've seen references to it on Rockettheme, but wondered if anyone here had an opinion.

Thanks!

airomic · Post by **airomic** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:03 am

Thank you for all the input DivaVocals, I really appreciate it! Additionally, I had yet another question for you. How did you integrate your ZenCart with Joomla? That is one of the issues I consistently keep encountering. I found bridges so you membership data is the same, but I wanted to be able to place the actual items on Joomla as virtuemart does without having to use a wrapper.

DivaVocals · Post by **DivaVocals** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:14 pm

airomic wrote:Thank you for all the input DivaVocals, I really appreciate it! Additionally, I had yet another question for you. How did you integrate your ZenCart with Joomla? That is one of the issues I consistently keep encountering. I found bridges so you membership data is the same, but I wanted to be able to place the actual items on Joomla as virtuemart does without having to use a wrapper.

For one site I built using Joomla and Zen Cart I used a Zen Cart template to "visually" make the two "integrate".
See: Using Joomla with ZenCart - My solution

Now there are modules and components which will integrate Joomla with Zen Cart systematically. There is a thread which discusses these options more in depth. See: Integrate Zen Cart into Joomla

mokelly · Post by **mokelly** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:12 pm

If you need a shopping cart that is a bridge to your accounting package, have a look at CARTwebERP integrated with webERP. It is in Bridges-ecommerce under Joomla! Extensions. My first client did 10,000 orders in 6 months. When you have high volume you need a strong back end, like an accounting package.

Alextampa · Post by **Alextampa** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:45 pm

virtuemart all the way baby

unleash.it · Post by **unleash.it** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:00 am

Agree with Alextampa. Virtuemart is a great choice if you're going to be using Joomla. Some run into some problems, but for plenty of others, even a lot of total beginners, it's just plug and play. It's a complex app and it could be built better to be more bullet proof for beginners and all of their many options and hosting setups... but if you know what you're doing or are willing to learn (you don't have to be a major PHP nerd, I'm not) it's a GREAT tool. Sure Magento has more features, but unless you truly have the need for an advanced store Joomla and VM are a joy to template for a designer. You get Joomla's extensions, menu and module systems, and can have create hybid ecommerce, social networking and information sites... stuff that both people and seach engines love.

* Working USPS shipping
* Working UPS shipping
* Working FedEx Shipping
* Working PayPal IPN and PayPal Express modules
* Working Authorize.net support
And when I say WORKING I mean working in that I don't have to hack away at the code endlessly to get it to work..
* Support forum where both the developers and the community SUPPORT the application and the add-ons, and more importantly both the community and the developers KNOW that's how it's supposed to be. (Apparently the VM community and it's developers do not feel the same)
* Improved inventory management
* Improved product attribute management

DivaVocals, I've had quite a different experience then you. I've never had trouble getting either Authorize.net or paypal to work. Not everyone even needs live shipping quotes, but I have got UPS working with a simple hack (I do wish they'd fix that if they haven't already). Don't know about Fedex or USPS, but others on the forum seem to be getting it to work.

Product types? Two easy solutions. Have you seen: http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=53087.0? There's a free addon to remedy the situation. Also jseblod, a new all-purpose CCK extension integrates w/Virtuemart.

Accounting/inventory: besides CSV Improved, there are various accounting solutions (most commercial) including several flavors of [spam] sync available. Inventory is basic, but with CSV improved it's simple to make large scale adjustments from a spreadsheet. My guess is that most smaller sites don't even use an online inventory function much anyway.

As for support... that's the perennial beef about VM. The way I see it... is with all the money you save... if you need support, than hire someone. There are a ton of VM experts willing to help. I will never understand how anyone can expect something out of someone else's free time!

I'm not some kind of Virtuemart fanboy, but it's truely a decent software that is often underestimated and under appreciated. Just wanted to add that here, since the false reports were adding up.

Spats139 · Post by **Spats139** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 2:14 am

A question from a newbie...

After reading the previous 100+ posts, I'm sure my eyes are glazing over as my brain is becoming numb from trying to decide which way to go here.

Would I be correct that in some ways the choice of a shopping cart will be dependent on projected volume? My site will probably not have more than 200 items for sale at a time, so I don't think I need the same thing as someone who has thousands of sales a month.

So, is the choice of shopping cart any easier given the following conditions:
1. New Joomla! user, self-taught with a couple "how-to" books;
2. Low volume sales projected;
3. Want PayPal "Website Payments Standard" Compatible;
4. Want Canada Post shipping calculator integration.

Also, can someone give a short explanation of what is meant by using a "wrapper" for the cart.

Thanks, I'm off to read more posts, and follow some of the links that have been provided above.

peterleando12 · Post by **peterleando12** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:10 am

brad wrote:Have you looked at: http://www.openfreeway.org yet?

S he is right the site was awesome and defines more about a shopping cart.

sndev7 · Post by **sndev7** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:31 am

o.O nice suggestions.

wjspoel · Post by **wjspoel** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:26 pm

I created a VM store which took a lot of extra unnecessary time. I am programming for 8 years now in PHP and created 10+ joomla website, but because of the reasons mentioned by corwin120 (see quote below, especially the spaghetti part) it was a real nightmare getting the store work without mistakes in the checkout process.

But on the other hand, if you want a basic store, you can download the joomla pack at VM website in which VM is already integrated. This is one is working correctly (in my case). But if you want to do extra’s like:

SEO

Changing login procedure while checking out

Chance some specific VM layout/func

A lot of problems will rise and because of the "spaghetti code" it isn't easy to find the source of the errors/solve them

corwin120 wrote: ...
I’ve found VM has quite a lot of bugs and new updates are slow to come out and not very well tested. (eg upgrading VM from v1.1.2 to 1.1.3 (current version) has introduced more problems for my clients than we had with 1.1.2.) There are a few good objective reviews of problems that VM has and the most common of them are:

Poor support and updates

Spaghetti code, which is a challenge to troubleshoot and/or modify

The framework is written with a mixed use of classes and procedural flow and MVC pattern is disregarded completely (some of HTML code is produced by the core system, which makes it hard to work with VM templates).

Lack of man power
...

corwin120 wrote: ...
Don’t get me wrong, VM is the most feature-rich shopping cart extension for Joomla and there are valid reasons behind its problems; however, when it comes to using Joomla as a commercial solution, I want an extension that is easy to use, well documented, reasonably easy to modify and is being actively developed and supported. It does not have to be free.
...

Indeed, but although the problems I will stick to VM for now...

Spats139 wrote: ...
Also, can someone give a short explanation of what is meant by using a "wrapper" for the cart.
...

In joomla you can create a menu item which is a wrapper. In that wrapper, you can show another website, in this case a store. So the store don’t has to be a joomla component. See more at http://help.joomla.org/content/view/331/148/ or the following quote:

joomla help wrote: The Wrapper Menu Item creates a shortcut to a display page that wraps an external web page. The new display page appears as a 'page within a page'. If this is an external web site, all of that site's functions, menus for example, will be operable from within the Wrapper.
Other potential uses for a Wrapper are:
Displaying an internal web page,

Displaying non-Joomla! scripts, galleries or directories for example, within the Joomla! web site.

Displaying Content written in specialised web languages that the current crop of Joomla! Editors could not handle.

tbto · Post by **tbto** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:38 pm

If one has a Jomla, then virtueMart is the good solution, but for standalone shopping carts it is better to select OsCommerce (or Zencart which is OsCommerce based script) and Magento. The last one is most modern but requires more server resources and it is better to run it on dedicated server.

saurabhshyara · Post by **saurabhshyara** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:18 pm

VirtueMart is the best one according to me if you are using Joomla. Otherwiser Wordpress eCommerce cart is good one. For standalone cart, I'll prefer to use OsCommerce OR PrestaShop.

elefsis · Post by **elefsis** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:45 am

I just came across a post that there is a joomla component for PrestaShop developed by ixxo and named IQ CART.
It will be a hammer if this integration works because PrestaShop is a powerful ecommerce application.

Here is the link for those who are interested:
http://www.php-shop-system.com/products ... oomla.html

There is a also a free trial available and I will definitely give it a try.

didge · Post by **didge** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:47 pm

Amongst all these is there a Joomla ecommerce solution that can give the clients a credit balance? I want to award points which can be spent.

elefsis · Post by **elefsis** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:16 am

IXXO Cart Plus for Joomla supports this feature (Point System). Its commercial

anduril3019 · Post by **anduril3019** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:59 pm

I have a ZenCart store and I am pretty happy with it, but looking to rebuild it in Joomla. I haven't seen anyone mention Jstore from joobi, it looks pretty good, does anyone know anything about it. My store is not huge, but I need a lot of control over the features, that's what I like about ZenCart, but it is even missing a few things I need. Not complaining, it's great for being free (but not as great as joomla!). I am willing to spend a little for a shopping cart component ($50-$200) but we are not at the level to spend a lot.

http://blackbirdandcompany.com

GOGOGO · Post by **GOGOGO** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:59 am

I am thinking about vitumart

davidluzsi · Post by **davidluzsi** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:30 pm

Well I use 1click shoppingcart... They are awesome!

Regards
David

KIK101 · Post by **KIK101** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:39 am

I have just changed jobs and the new company is using Joomla as their CMS. They are now looking at installing a shopping cart to sell following types of items:
- Membership Fees (with various groups and prices)
- User Fees (for tools)
- Event Registrations (with various groups and prices)
- Reports & Articles (downloadable)
- Inventory items (only 1 item)

I have read all this thread and it doesn't look like I can decide which solution is the best. From the examples mentioned that I seen, I haven't yet seen a solution that integrates the current articles (in Joomla) with the shopping cart. I would like to have an integration where the article on Joomla is directly saleable. Any suggestions please?

Thanks in advance.

DivaVocals · Post by **DivaVocals** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:18 am

unleash.it wrote:DivaVocals, I've had quite a different experience then you. I've never had trouble getting either Authorize.net or paypal to work. Not everyone even needs live shipping quotes, but I have got UPS working with a simple hack (I do wish they'd fix that if they haven't already). Don't know about Fedex or USPS, but others on the forum seem to be getting it to work.

Perhaps YOU don't need live shipping quotes.. MY clients expect realtime shipping quotes to work.. So having WORKING shipping modules with realtime shipping quotes was an awesome come up when I began working with Zen Cart

The Virtuemart PayPal notification worked INCONSISTENTLY from the day we went live with VirtueMart until the day we shut VirtueMart down.. Since moving to Zen Cart my client has not had ONE ISSUE with PayPal transactions. However IF she did have an issue, I could pose a question on the support forum.. AND instead of my question (and MANY more JUST LIKE IT) going unanswered, I would get a response from not only the developers, but the community at large.. This may not be important to you, but it allows me to CONFIDENTLY support my clients..

unleash.it wrote:Product types? Two easy solutions. Have you seen: http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=53087.0? There's a free addon to remedy the situation. Also jseblod, a new all-purpose CCK extension integrates w/Virtuemart.

Nope.. and since I'm unlikely to build another VirtueMart site, not really gonna check it out now..

unleash.it wrote:My guess is that most smaller sites don't even use an online inventory function much anyway.

Oh yeah?? Some of my SMALLER clients do in fact use/need online inventory functionality.. So what do I tell clients that DO want/need this feature?? I'd rather be able to offer my clients solutions to their problems versus trying to convince them they don't need features (especially features --like inventory management -- that should be part of an e-commerce solution IMHO)..

unleash.it wrote:As for support... that's the perennial beef about VM. The way I see it... is with all the money you save... if you need support, than hire someone. There are a ton of VM experts willing to help.

I know when to hire help.. It's not like I was asking for customization information.. Asking questions about BUGS requires me to hire a VirtueMart expert

Asking a question about a software bug shouldn't require me to HIRE someone to fix the bug.. No sir.. I NEVER needed VirtueMart experts.. I need a support forum that provides SUPPORT.. I need to be able to ask questions, and get answers.. The VirtueMart developers and the community alike seem to think that this is an UNTHINKABLE and UNHEARD of concept.. (and apparently based on your response, this is STILL true) Apparently "support forums" are a foreign concept in the land of VirtueMart. Makes you wonder why they bother having a "support forum" at all.. Heck, why call it a "support forum" if all that's REALLY being offered is either non-responses or snarky responses from the developers and community members alike..

unleash.it wrote:I will never understand how anyone can expect something out of someone else's free time!

I don't expect ANYTHING for free, but I do expect that if you put up a support forum, that the intent is to offer SUPPORT.. I don't expect to be rebuffed when I ask for something that is being OFFERED.. And guess what?? In the 3 years since I've been using Zen Cart, I've hired developers/experts to help me build CUSTOM code when I needed custom code.. but NOT ONCE have I EVER had to hire a developer/expert to answer simple SUPPORT questions.. I've freely asked questions and have ALWAYS gotten help from either the DEVELOPERS (

shock!!) or the community members.. In that same spirit, I have given back and shared information with the community as well.. In the time I was using VirtueMart, that kind of community and developer support was NON-EXISTENT!! (and STILL is..)

unleash.it wrote:I'm not some kind of Virtuemart fanboy, but it's truely a decent software that is often underestimated and under appreciated. Just wanted to add that here, since the false reports were adding up.

Really?? Because your answer sounds JUST like the kind of responses I saw on the VirtueMart forum EVERY SINGLE TIME anyone DARED bring up the OBVIOUS when it came to the LACK of support.. So because my experience with the sacred VirtueMart is different than yours, that's somehow a "false report"?? Gosh, that sounds just like the party line that's spit out regularly on the VirtueMart forum..

If you like VirtueMart, then use it.. I don't like it.. I'm entitled to MY opinion.. I will CONTINUE to share MY experience with VirtueMart with anyone who asks about VirtueMart.. Now if not having a pleasant experience with VirtueMart is a "false report", then so be it.. You are entitled to YOUR opinion of MY experience, but don't call MY experience a "false report". It makes you sound like the fanboy you claim you are not..

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