total noob

[shobuz99]

hello zen masters,

I'm new to Zen Cart. It's the first cart I plan on installing for one of my clients.
I've done several web sites, but never a shopping cart.
Zen Cart (v1.3.8a) is offered on the host server, as part of the pkg that my client signed up for.
I would like to install Zen Cart for him and set it up to basically allow him to do business, selling his product line. he currently has a PayPal account and wants
to be able to track everything and provide shipping capability as well.
Q1: Should I read this forum and many of it's postings before I install Zen Cart to his host server?
Q2: Once installed, does Zen Cart require much maintenance by the webmaster (me) or the sys admin?
Q3:If I have some sort of emergency with Zen Cart, that involves a customer problem, and I can't fix it, can I contact someone quickly?

Probably too much to ask for a noob, but I want my client to be happy with Zen Cart, and I want it to work for him, consistently.
I do have experience with many other programs and packages; but I never have worked with shopping cart software before.
What's your advice for a noob like me?
Shobuz99

[daneh]

I am still fairly new, but have successfully set up 3 zen carts.

Read as many FAQ's as possible. You will find the link at the top of the page.
search for answers using the search feature. Sometimes you may not find the answer to your question....rephrase the question and search again.
Ask questions here. this is a great forum...lots of knowledge here.

My sites do not require much maintenance. I do update my .htacess files to keep unwanted visitors away, and back up my files frequently, but that is about it. Of course, when you get an order, you need to take care of it through the admin, but that is to be expected.
I would recommend using CAPTCHA on your site to keep the bots at bay.

As far as the emergencies, post a question here....like I said, there are a lot of great folks here with lots of knowledge.

Good luck.

PS.....BUY THE BOOK!!!!! It will save you a lot of time. I waited, and wished I hadn't.

[shobuz99]

daneh,
thanks for your reply.
I will take your advice and read the FAQs before I install it.
One comment you made has me confused..
You said "Of course, when you get an order, you need to take care of it through the admin, but that is to be expected."
Do you mean that as site webmaster, I would have to constantly monitor all the transactions that occur; or did you mean that I need to setup (admin) Zen Cart to automatically direct the customer to PayPal for payment, and notify the seller that a transaction has been made?

Thanks
Shobuz99

[afo]

PayPal can send a response to your Zen Cart and let you know payment has been received. Someone will have to update the status of the order once the merchandise ships. There's a mod in then downloads section (I forget the name) that will allow you to give the store owner limited access to the admin to perform functions like that without allowing that user to tinker with admin setting he/she doesn't know anything about.

[shobuz99]

Mary Ellen,

Thank you for the clarification.
I guess that makes sense. The customer would want to know when the item is shipped.
My client is computer savvy for the general stuff, but not web sites and the ins and outs of web transactions...
so what you said about the mod in the download section
that would allow the store owner (my client) to perform those functions is a great feature, to me.

I'm still reading FAQs and trying to envision a trouble free install at the server;
and a relatively simple setup in the code.
I haven't read far enough yet to find some answers regarding the actual code for the buttons, prices, etc.
Can it get complicated while setting that part up?
I suppose I sound a bit paranoid; but I just want to make sure that my client can take orders,
fill them and ship them and all paperwork, etc. is tidy and the transaction goes smoothly...

Thanks again for your advice and recommendations.
Shobuz99

[stevesh]

The standard Zencart installation, once you've created your products and selected your payment and shipping options in Admin, will allow your client to 'take orders, fill them and ship them and all paperwork, etc. is tidy and the transaction goes smoothly...' right out of the box.

Everything else you see in these forums and the download section are about enhancing the customer experience or making things easier for the site owner.

The basic shopping cart functions are rock-solid if you do your part, which mainly consists of following the instructions.

I've installed Zencart at least 50 times, without one problem with the basic functions.


Be sure you install the program manually, rather than through Fantastico or something like it.

Make sure you have a good FTP client, like Filezilla.

Make sure you have a good hosting company who takes you and ecommerce seriously.

Make sure the first thing you do before attempting any changes is create your custom template.

Be sure you bookmark this forum - you'll be back, and we'll be here.

[shobuz99]

Thanks stevesh...

I already see a problem.
The host service uses "Fantastico Deluxe" and has Zen Cart as part of their apps in that list.. How do I reconcile that? Should I request specifics from the Sys Admin?

I've been using WS_FTP32 for years with no problems..

The hosting company is robohostingsolutions.com
So far there have been no problems.. should I expect any from these guys?
They didn't know anything about any of the carts that they offered through their Fantastico section, such as Zen Cart, Cube Cart, and OScommerce....
is that a bad sign?
I will definitely create the custom template, when I figure out how...
I'll read the FAQs for tips on that...

Thanks for your help.. really. This is great!
Shobuz99

[afo]

It may or may not be a problem that they don't know much about the carts they offer through Fantastico. I first found Zen Cart because the hosting service I was using at the time started offering it because Fantastico had included it for them. From there, I found the Zen Cart site and this forum and realized that the Fantastico version was behind, so I downloaded the latest (1.2.6 at the time, I believe) and have bypassed Fantastico since then.

[stevesh]

Just forget that Fantastico exists and install Zencart (and any other program) manually. That assumes that you have FTP access to the site's folders and files. If not, you certainly need a different host.

[shobuz99]

What problems do you run into if you use Fantastcio?
I can't install Zen Cart manually.
If I can't do it from Fantastcio, then I simply can't do it.

Please tell me what to expect from the Fantastico installation.

Shobuz99