website question

[BakingNana]

I don't have a lot of experience with this, but I am in the middle of developing my website. I tried 3 different so-called free sites, but as soon as you want a shopping cart, suddenly there's a charge -- a big one! I ended up going with Homestead and having them host. The prices were reasonable there and the support has been fantastic. Don't be spooked by their home page where the business site cost is listed at something like $999! That's for a pro designer. If you're interested, I suggest calling them and talking directly to a support person who can tell you what packages they offer. In fact, I'd do that no matter where you decide to go; you can test their support at the same time.

Good luck. It's been an incredibly frustrating but fun and challenging experience.

 

[Best Natural Soap]

Hi there!
So, with Homestead, is it a complete package? Domain/Hosting/Merchant Services/Gateway/Cart? I'd love to be saving some money!!

With a lot of the "Free Websites," they're not specifically Retail sites- so you have to use paypal, google checkout, etc., but not your own integrated checkout. I wanted to have my own checkout and not have to redirect customers somewhere else to pay. How does that work with Homestead?

We're building ours off of Magento Community Edition (it's free), and highly customizable if you know how... that's my current issue- the knowing how part!-- I have a graphic designer friend working on our new look right now- we haven't done A THING to make it look like our own yet. It's still very utilitarian- although, I've gotten a few comments from male customers who liked how clean and simple it is(?????)!! Sorry guys- but it's going to change...

Anyway- I had to get the domain (GoDaddy.com) $
get hosting (SimpleHelix.com) $$
get merchant services (Capitol One/Chevy Chase) $$$
get a gateway (capitol one/chevy chase bank) $$$
get PCI compliance scans monthly (Control Scan)- free
with gateway), but was $ if I had gone with Authorize.net

Anyway- I'm interested in your thoughts about Homestead..

 

[BakingNana]

The package we got is $24 a month and incudes everything except processing credit cards. I am having PayPal process my credit cards because there's no additional monthly charge with their Website Standard. If Homestead handled that, it would be another $10 a month with the per transaction charges the same as PayPal. My shopping cart and shipping is all through Homestead. Using PayPal to process the cards is just a one-page redirect and then right back to my site. Where it would be advantageous to use Homestead for that rather than PayPal would be if we went up a level to the "pro" package, where there IS an additional monthly charge at PayPal as well. I don't need that....probably never will. Unless I suddenly turn into the Donald Trump of the soap world. 8)

Homestead allows 3 levels of programming, from Basic "don't know nuthin" to advanced HTML. I'm sort of in the middle....but the customer support has been great. When something doesn't work and I know I've made a boo-boo, they zero right in on it and get me back on track. I'm sure there are others out there just as good, possibly better....anyone else have suggestions? Also, I need to figure out taking credit cards from a remote location before the end of October when I have a craft fair. I was told I could take them the old fashioned "manual slider" way and enter them in PayPal after the fair, but that some people may balk at having their cards used that way. It's my own church craft fair, so I may get a pass on that type of attitude at least at that one! What are you doing for remote locations and credit cards?

 

[Best Natural Soap]

I'm in the same boat as you on remote transactions. I'll have to imprint the card, and enter them at home using the online "merchant portal." There's the risk that the card may be declined... or that someone wouldn't want me to imprint their card... this will be the first year I've accepted credit cards- if they don't like my cred card set up, they can always pay by cash or check.

i could pay extra to have a little remote card swiper that will collect the credit card info to download when I get home... but I can't really afford to keep paying for "just one more thing." I've used up all my one-more-things!! Now, I need to make some money!

how close are you to having your site up? I'm nosey!!!

 

[BakingNana]

I thought I'd have it up by the end of this week, but the nonsense with the palm oil put me back. Plus, every time I open the store to test it, I find something I want to change. :roll: If you find a good deal on a remote credit card terminal, let me know. I'm at the end of my budget, too!

How is shipping going for you? That part is still kinda scary to me. I talked a few friends into placing test orders for me so I have a chance to go through the procedures before a "real" one hits. Nebraska tax laws are a pain in the you-know-what. They don't call it the "Tax-Me State" for nothing.

 

[Best Natural Soap]

does your program have a "sandbox" function? I have one- it lets me put the site "live" but not really. It functions just like it would if it was really live, but doesn't allow anyone but me in, and doesn't really process the money or inventory part. just a thought..

Shipping is really easy!! I have a Post Office right down the street (it's a nice, little small town one!), and have been using the Flat Rat small and medium boxes. I opened an account on line with USPS, and can print my labels at home, tape it all up, and just drop it off. If you have mail service to your house, they might even pick it up from you! (I only have delivery service, no pick up).
I also have accounts with fedex and ups, but found the post office to be the least expensive, and you get a discount for using the on line services. (14%?)

I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR MASTERPIECE!