Selling Training Classes

[Papabjoe]

I am considering using ZenCart. I am having difficulty understanding if it will perform in the following way. If so can you give me a brief explanation of how and point me to the appropriate resources.

I offer training classes. I would like to list my classes by type. I only offer three "types" of classes. class 1, 2 and 3 for example. These classes are scheduled randomly and can only have a certain number of students.

From the admin, I want to be able to create a "product?" based on one of these class types. Schedule it for a certain date. Limit it to a certain number of "registrants". When the class fills up, I don't want it to be available for purchase any longer.

The problem I want to avoid is having to recreate the same class over and over again, when only the date changes. I suppose if the class were a product, it would be available in certain quantities at certain times.

Can you give me a breif idea as to how zen cart can make this happen?

[Kunal]

Here's how I would do it with Zen Cart:

I could create my three classes as products. Then, have my quantities (stock) be the number of students allowed in the class. Once it sells out, it can't be purchased to fit another student.

I could name my product the name of my class & date, for example:

"Tuesday Yoga Class" or even in more detail. That way I can re-use the product simply by re-naming it instead of creating new ones over and over.

Does this make sense?

[Papabjoe]

Yes but what if I class type 1 scheduled for saturday the 1st of the month. But I have another class type 1 scheduled for saturday the 7th of the month. They are the same class but on different dates. Different students.

[Kunal]

Then you could still have the following:

Product 1 Name: "Class Name 1/1/09"
Product 2 Name: "Class Name 1/2/09"

Then once it sells out, you could leave up for a few days, or simply rename it with a new date and replenish the stock (which is your number of students)

Would this not work?

[Papabjoe]

I guess it could work. I'm still looking at it from a database point of view. Where I have a "classes" table with records for each class. Then I have a "students" table with records for each user/registrant. Then I have an "events" table where I as admin create an "event" using one of the classes from the classes table. Restrict that event to a limited amount of "students". I'd like to be able to generate a report on each individual event. I'd like to avoid creating a class description every time I create a new event - or in this case a "product".

[Kunal]

I understand. If you have another site in my that is organized to fit your needs. You could always just use the Zen Cart for the "checkout process".

But I still think ZC is more than enough to handle your case. It will require some effort, but nothing too far out there.

The description of the class doesn't have to change if it's the same class over and over. You'd just need to change the name to suit the date. You could even have them download a ticket or something to appear after they have paid. Events can be done in a similar way with a few tweaks.

In the end though, you should use a platform you are comfortable with :-)