There are free shopping carts, and pay-for shopping carts. Often, the more functionality needed, the more you have to pay for it.There are free shopping carts, and pay-for shopping carts. Often, the more functionality needed, the more you have to pay for it.
Two free shopping cart systems include PayPal and Mal’s e-commerce. Both sites allow for some setup and then provide HTML code that needs to be inserted into a web page.
HTML code for PayPal shopping cart item might be something like
<form target="paypal" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="image" src="../../images/cartbutton.gif" border="0" name="submit2" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!"> <input type="hidden" name="add" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_cart"> <input type="hidden" name="business" value="fork@myvanitydomain.com"> <input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Wonderful resin painted bay"> <input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="id1234-5678"> <input type="hidden" name="amount" value="800.00"><input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="2">
<input type="hidden" name="return" value="http://www.myvanitydomain.com/thanks.html">
<input type="hidden" name="cancel_return" value="http://www.myvanitydomain.com/looking.html">
<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD"> <input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US">
</form>
HTML code for Mal’s e-commerce shopping cart might be something like:
<a href="http://ww123.aitsafe.com/cf/add.cfm?userid=D123456789&product=Wonderful+resin+in+bay+id12345678
&price=800&return=mydomain.com/shopping/">Buy this item now</a>
Pros of using PayPal free shopping cart: Basic shopping cart functionality is free (from business PayPal account type).
Cons of using PayPal free shopping cart: Settings for shopping cart can override settings on other sites when making payments (e.g., setting flat shipping rate for a small item that fits in an envelope may mean that customer does not pay correct, larger amount, for item that ships in a box). PayPal contact email is embedded in shopping cart button making it easy to harvest for nefarious purposes. Difficult to use global changes in website editing software to effect buttons (i.e., resulting in more time/effort to maintain website).
Pros of using Mal’s e-commerce free shopping cart: Shopping cart settings are totally separate from PayPal defaults. Identification/account is obfuscated (no email address is included in shopping cart button). Allows for easy “previewing” and testing of features. Allows for checkout using PayPal or other payment forms including checks/money orders. Easy to use global changes in website editing software to effect buttons.
Cons of using Mal’s e-commerce free shopping cart: Sales tax and shipping options (i.e., domestic, international) are not very straight forward.
Pros of using PayPal paid shopping cart: All the features of the PayPal free shopping cart, plus it includes a “virtual terminal” for phone orders or in person orders (US only). No setup, cancellation, monthly reporting charges. (Virtual terminal is also available as a stand alone product.)
Cons of using PayPal paid shopping cart: Monthly fee, plus per transaction charge.
Other shopping cart systems can be found by searching for “shopping cart system”. A couple of reviews of shopping cart systems can be found here (paid) and here (free).
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