Any problems with Zencart?

[baldrn]

Being new to Zencart and E-commerce, I've been asking around about the possibilities.
I got this feedback from another webmaster concerning Zencart:

"i wont ever touch a free shopping cart software again
nightmares security holes, updating software, hacks, etc
oscommerce is the same problem "

He says that Zencart is really a hassle. I surely don't know. He recommends Volusion, but that is $25.00 a month!

As I said, I'm totally new to E-commerce and don't know one thing about setting up and maintaining shopping carts.

Any feedback on this from you guys here?

[stevesh]

The only way you will know is to install Zencart and try it. I wouldn't put much stock in what one 'webmaster' says, and you won't find anyone here in the Zencart support forum who will tell you not to use it.

It is, in my opinion, the best of the free open source shopping carts, by far, and I've tried them all.

Any chance this guy sells Volusion (which I've never heard of)?

(And that's $25 a month for a cart with 25 products.)

[schoolboy]

Your choice depends on things:

1. Do you want to fully manage and control your own website (and by definition, whatever is hosted in it)?

2. Do you have sufficient knowledge / skill to manage it yourself?

3. Would you prefer to pay someone to do it for you?

I have used several systems (and still use some in addition to Zencart), but I prefer to build sites in Zencart. Mostly because it is a good, robust system, but also because peer support is excellent.

If you feel you are not up to the task of managing the technical side of software, then a hosted solution is the route you should take. While I do know of Volution, it may interest you that in the last 4 months I have had 3 enquiries from people who use Volution, with a view to moving from them over to Zencart.

[baldrn]

Your choice depends on things:

1. Do you want to fully manage and control your own website (and by definition, whatever is hosted in it)?
I manage my own sites now, but they are not ecommerce. I make updates and changes as needed as I built them from scratch in DW. They are hosted at Hostgator.

2. Do you have sufficient knowledge / skill to manage it yourself?
Again, I'm proficient with DW and basic CSS coding. For lack of a better phrase, in regards to shopping carts 'I don't know what I don't know...yet'. :)


3. Would you prefer to pay someone to do it for you?
I'd rather do it myself for my client. I can do anything if I have instructions.

I have used several systems (and still use some in addition to Zencart), but I prefer to build sites in Zencart. Mostly because it is a good, robust system, but also because peer support is excellent.
I can see the good peer support here for sure.

If you feel you are not up to the task of managing the technical side of software, I wished I knew what that 'task' entailed then a hosted solution is the route you should take. While I do know of Volution, it may interest you that in the last 4 months I have had 3 enquiries from people who use Volution, with a view to moving from them over to Zencart.

Thanks for your insights. I would wonder if they gave you reasons for moving from Volusion to Zencart?

[schoolboy]

Thanks for your insights. I would wonder if they gave you reasons for moving from Volusion to Zencart?

They want more flexibility... they find the Volusion environment too restrictive...

If you have some skills in website design and management that helps considerably.

However, if you have no experience of dynamic content sites, then your learning curve is steeper...

The first thing to appreciate about zencart (as with all other database CM systems) is that they are not flat HTML pages.

In fact, there are no "true" HTML pages in a CM System at all - so you cannot call up a html page like you can in Dreamweaver, tweak the layout, move a picture, etc, and then save it and away you go...

The pages are dynamic... they don't exist until a link or button calls for them to be created. This is done by the PHP code. It "assembles" a page (sometimes using hundreds of component pieces), parses everything into HTML, and sends the page to the browser.

When a new link is clicked, the page disappears completely - it "evaporates", and a new page is assembled.

So... get a bit of grounding in the templating system and how PHP assembles a page. You don't need to become an expert, but spend a few hours getting to grips with the overarching concepts behind PHP and databases.

NB: All CM systems work on this principle, so whether you choose zencart of any other database-managed cart, you will have to develop the same understanding.

[baldrn]

So... get a bit of grounding in the templating system and how PHP assembles a page. You don't need to become an expert, but spend a few hours getting to grips with the overarching concepts behind PHP and databases.

NB: All CM systems work on this principle, so whether you choose zencart of any other database-managed cart, you will have to develop the same understanding.

GREAT information! I will because I've had several people inquire as to shopping carts. but, I ran away..:)
Although I have developed some forms based on php code that a buddy gave me, so I've 'experimented' with php some...copying and pasting/editing as needed.
However, I didn't know that php pages 'disappeared'. wow.
Obviously, you've done your homework here. I know I can find lots of people who think they know what I need to know. But, seeing as I've laid this out, do you have any specific links that might help me learn php to the extent that I need to learn?
Thank you,
Mark