Your business open 24/7 (osCommerce E-Commerce Solution)

Member Name: freetimeaction

Product:	osCommerce E-Commerce Solution
Date:	30/10/08 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Never closed | FREE | Fully custom | Professional

Disadvantages: None

I'm a webdesigner, and OSCommerce is a must have for any business.
I've set up dozens of sites using OSCommerce, and it's a fantastic free open source software which gives you the freedom to customize your store without the need to purchase additional add ons.

The cost + set up costs:
The software itself is free, and can be downloaded directly from their website. You'll then need a web based server to upload your files to, for your URL to point to. This is called hosting, which will vary in price depending on the service you choose, but on average you'd be looking at spending around £5-£10 per month.

The installation:
This part is easy, simply dragging and dropping your files onto your webspace, and navigating to your new website address will automatically start the installtion.

The functions:
Within the admin panel you can add / edit and remove products / categories.
You can view orders and registered customers, along with who's currently online.
You can change your store name, address, and prefferences such as how many products are allowed in the basket, or the minimum order quantity for free shipping.

Modules:
There are hundreds of additional add on modules to choose from, which are all free. It will require some understanding in HTML and PHP to edit files and add the modules, but all add-ons do come with a step by step guide.
Additional modules include - Discount coupons at checkout / Customer discount / Live chat / Search engine friendly URLS and many more.

Products:
You can sell what ever you want, and it doesn't need to be a physical item. You could sell your services online too. You choose how much you want to sell the item at, and how many you have in stock. You can also decide if the item can still be purchased and placed on back order if it is out of stock.

Shipping:
Delivery options can be calculated in 3 different ways.
1. Flat rate - meaning no matter what is ordered, there will be a one off charge for shipping.
2. Price dependant - The shipping will be calculated on the total price of the basket / cart.
3. Weight dependant - The shipping will be calculated on the total weight of the items in the basket. (e.g. 1kg = £2, 2kg = £2.50)
All these options are available in the admin panel.

Payments:
You can decide how you wish your customers to pay, including Paypal, Google checkout, cash on collection, cheque and many more.

Styles:
There are only a handful of styles available to choose from, but it can be fully customized by you. From colours, to text font and style.

This is a great piece of kit for any website, and a must for any business. I recommend this product to all.

Summary: Fantastic free software, a must have for any business wanting an internet presence

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