Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    16
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Hi,

    I'm new here.
    I do PHP, MySQL, CSS & XHTML.

    A client has asked me to build a shopping cart so they can:


    - Create categories/sub-categories.
    - Upload products to those categories.

    - The customer can add items to his/her cart then complete an order just by completing and submitting a form, no checkout payment required. The contents of the form are emailed to the client who then prepares the product for collection/delivery.

    - For Delivery, the client can have different prices for the different area that the customer is from. The client has a rate to say(£5 if 3 miles away, £10 if 10miles away etc.)

    - The customer chooses either to collect or have the item delivered.

    - The client can create special offers(discount codes etc.)
    - Use an existing SKU coding scheme.

    - It must allow registered members(user groups) AND these registered users can then view more categories when logged in.



    Many thanks for any help, really appreciate the time given to a newbie :)


    InvisionII

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Dartmouth, NS Canada
    Posts
    2,378
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    All of this is possible in Zen Cart, though some bits are harder than others.

    Have a look at the Tutorials/FAQ section to get started. Download and install Zen Cart locally for testing. (Use XAMPP or MAMP as local servers.)

    Ask lots of questions here.

    Rob

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Cumbria, UK
    Posts
    10,262
    Plugin Contributions
    3

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Yes... all of this is possible.

    For the shipping, you may need to consider a commercially available module (Advanced Shipper by ceon) that handles shipping by geo-location. This module allows you to configure shipping charges by DISTANCE from your warehouse (set by entering the warehouse's postcode).
    19 years a Zencart User

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    16
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Many thanks for the speedy replies guys. Seems like a friendly lot here :)

    OK, so on the surface the only 'tricky' part which may require extra work would be the Shipping part.

    What's your thoughts rstevenson, what parts do you feel would be more time-consuming than others?

    I am currently installing ZenCart as we speak and may be back :)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Dartmouth, NS Canada
    Posts
    2,378
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    ... what parts do you feel would be more time-consuming than others?
    From what you've descrbed, setting up the (non) payment in a way that your customers will understand will be, um, interesting. It's not that ZC does not have the options you'll need, it's more a matter of communicating to the customer. I think you'll be doing a mix of settings in admin and customizing the language defines to make it all look sensible. But very doable.

    Rob

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Cumbria, UK
    Posts
    10,262
    Plugin Contributions
    3

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Quote Originally Posted by invision2 View Post
    ... OK, so on the surface the only 'tricky' part which may require extra work would be the Shipping part...
    Conor Kerr (aka ceon in this forum) did a HUGE amount of work developing a one-size-fits-most shipping module. I know it took him a couple of hundred hours. I contributed to its development, because at the time (November 2006) I needed a shipping module that would cater for shipping based on the distance between the delivery depot and the customer's address.

    Conor started with a Region Tables module that embodied geo-location (initially for UK postcodes but now includes many other countries). This module was then further developed into the Advanced Shipper.

    By all means, try configuring a geo-location module yourself - (Conor proved its possible), but why re-invent the wheel? OK, so Conor sells his mod - but I believe you will save yourself a lot of hassle, time and money using the Advanced Shipper.

    PM ceon for further details.
    19 years a Zencart User

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    16
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Again, can't thank you guys enough for your help with this.

    By all means, try configuring a geo-location module yourself - (Conor proved its possible), but why re-invent the wheel? OK, so Conor sells his mod - but I believe you will save yourself a lot of hassle, time and money using the Advanced Shipper.
    Yes, I would never have taken on the dev work when an existing module already works.
    Thanks, I will pm ceon for more info on this.

    A couple more questions if you guys can help...

    - Can customers view their own past orders and current orders to see if they're 'pending' or 'complete'(?)
    - Should I buy: e-Start Your Web Store With Zen Cart eBook ?
    - Do I need CURL for any of the above? I assume not.


    Thanks again!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Cape Town & London (depends on the season)
    Posts
    2,975
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Quote Originally Posted by invision2 View Post
    - Can customers view their own past orders and current orders to see if they're 'pending' or 'complete'(?)
    Yes


    Quote Originally Posted by invision2 View Post
    - Should I buy: e-Start Your Web Store With Zen Cart eBook ?
    Yes


    Quote Originally Posted by invision2 View Post
    - Do I need CURL for any of the above? I assume not.
    cURL "may" be necessary - it's also used in things like updating currencies - not just to talk to payment gateways. You'll need a ZC "expert" to fully advise here - I'm just a novice!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    16
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Thanks fairestcape! Great signature too :)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    16
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Questions before I use Zen Cart...

    Hi,

    I'm testing adding a product but a little unsure what these fields are for:

    Product Qty Minimum:
    Product Qty Maximum:
    Product Qty Units:

    Product Qty Min/Unit Mix:
    Products Quantity:

    Thanks again guys!

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Registration before able to use shopping cart
    By Garlydog in forum General Questions
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14 Apr 2014, 11:57 PM
  2. Replies: 16
    Last Post: 22 Jun 2010, 01:33 PM
  3. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 3 Apr 2008, 01:21 AM
  4. Replies: 7
    Last Post: 1 May 2007, 10:16 PM
  5. A few questions before I make the switch to Zen Cart
    By Three Sisters in forum General Questions
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10 Nov 2006, 04:28 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
disjunctive-egg
Zen-Cart, Internet Selling Services, Klamath Falls, OR