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As I did my research to start up an eccommerce store, I
learned many things. I found that:
- You can hire someone to build a site, pay them any amount of
money, and be indentured to them for any changes that need to be
made to your site. You are at their mercy (or time
constraints). Being the impatient person I am, I need it
now, but even if I can pay for rush service, I still am at their
mercy. I can't tell you how many people I speak with, who
say, "I have this web person, but I can't get them to do what I
want, and I don't know how to do it." It really isn't that
hard any longer, YOU CAN DO IT, and you will always be in
control.
- You can go to a seminar and give them $6,000 and $150 per
month to get a site. OUCH
- You can go to companies that have a 'free cart' later to
find that, it is not as customizable as you need and if you
decide to change it, or move your site to another host,
you must REDO your entire site over. Or pay $10,000 for a
licensed cart to move. DRATS
- You can sign up with a company that takes a percentage of
your sales AND charges monthly fees. EEK
- You can invest in your shopping cart
software, and have complete control of where you host, and what
you do, saving you thousands of dollars over the year(s).
Comparison Chart*
|
|
STOREeTail |
eBAY Pro Store |
Volusion |
Qbaroo |
Yahoo |
Storesonline |
|
Monthly Fee |
$25/Month -$15/Y-
$20/6mo-$22/3Mo
Billing Cycle |
$29.95/249.99 |
$49.95. $197.95 |
$49.95/$84.99 |
$39.95/$99.95/$299.95 |
$25 per store |
|
Setup Fee |
0 |
0 |
0 |
$199/$250/$500 |
$25 often waived |
0 |
|
Transaction Fee |
0 |
.5% |
0 |
10% |
1.5%/1%/.75% |
0 |
|
Yearly Cost |
$180-$300
$15/$20/$22/25 Mo |
$359.40/$2999.88 + commission |
$599.40/$2375.40 |
$599.40/$1019.88 + commission |
$479.52/$1199.40/$3599.40 + commission |
$3,000 |
|
Your own Domain |
Yes – Free w/12 month hosting plan |
Yes, Free |
Yes, Free |
Yes, $10 a month |
Yes, Free |
Yes, ? |
|
Email Accounts |
Unlimited |
50/200 |
?? |
10 for additional $10 Mo |
200/1000 |
?? |
|
Storage Space |
2000 GB |
5 GB/20GB |
?? |
?? |
20 GB |
?? |
|
Monthly Data
Transfer |
2000 GB |
50 GB/400GB |
2 GB/ 15 GB |
?? |
500 GB |
??? |
|
Accept PayPal |
Yes |
Yes/Yes |
|
?? |
Yes |
?? |
|
Credit Card
Processing |
Yes |
Yes/Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Products |
Unlimited |
Unlimited/unlimited |
100/unlimited |
unlimited |
50,000 |
unlimited |
|
Coupons/Promotions |
Yes |
No/Yes |
|
?? |
|
?? |
|
Server Type |
Unix |
?? |
Windows |
?? |
Unix |
?? |
|
Shopping Cart |
Agora
OS Commerce
PayPal
Or Purchase Licensed for $150 |
Yes, included |
Yes, free version included,
Licensed version $9995.99 |
Yes, included |
Yes, included |
Purchase $2700 |
|
Can I take it
somewhere else |
Licensed
YES |
NO |
NO
Yes on Licensed version |
NO |
NO |
NO |
* prices change frequently
None of the alternatives worked for me. I wanted a site
that;
- I could move if I needed to.
- Was fully customizable - I want it to do things I don't know
I need yet!
- I wanted to OWN the software, not rent it (monthly fee)
- There were no commissions paid to anyone
- I wanted it to run on a Unix Server (every web hosting
company told me this was better as it was more stable)
FAQs:
| Q.
|
I want a website, and don't
know what I need? |
| A.
|
Depending on your site, you
need different things. To have any site, you need a
DOMAIN, that is the www.YOURSITE.com (or org, net, etc).
You may go to any domain search engine to find if your dream
is available. You BUY the name on a yearly basis.
The price can vary from site to site.
If you don't
have a name yet, you may get the name for free, with your
yearly hosting plan. If you already have
a domain name, then there is a setting to 'point' to your
hosting service, or you may transfer the name to another
hosting company. Some charge to do this, so pointing
is an easy alternative without cost.
You then need to HOST it, this is
where you pay your monthly fee (but save a ton by doing it
yearly!)
|
| Q |
How do I sell something, and
collect money? |
| A.
|
Now you need that Shopping
Cart Software. This is a program that has a database
and keeps your products, and manages your store. It
can keep inventory, say when something is out of stock,
offer choices, sizes, has pictures, descriptions, and does
just about anything you need it to do.
To begin with,
the hardest part is starting. After the purchase of a
template, it needs to be put on your site, in the proper
folders, a database set up, connection set, and then you
start entering your stock. Because for me the hardest part
was 'starting' I am willing to do that first installation
for you (provided you purchase the cart offered) and can
also walk you through the beginning (Coaching option)
although you probably won't need it! I did this all on
my own, but do admit I am rather tenacious. When
someone says, "it can't be done," I start rolling up my
sleeves!
The shopping cart allows you to link a payment
processor, they can be merchant accounts, or for beginners,
PayPal can be an easy solution. But with the click of
a button, you can change it. So if you find the
current solution doesn't meet your needs, YOU are in
control, and have choices!
|
| Q. |
I just want a site to share my
hobby, what do I need? |
| A.
|
To have your OWN site, a
domain name, and a hosting plan! The hosting plan even
has templates and pages to get you started. |
| Q. |
How can you offer a domain,
hosting and shopping cart set up for $295 for the first
year, and $180 after that? |
| A.
|
I have a belief that when you
learn something, you should share it. I started many
years ago, selling Tupperware. Someone taught me, and
I in turn trained others. I was very successful, and
took someone who said "I don't think I could do that" and
helped them do it. Many of those I taught, are now my
life-long friends. We shared ideas, helped each other,
and even though we all sold the same product, we were all
successful. Sometimes it was friendly competition,
that kept us motivated. But together, we were always
able to accomplish more. So throughout my life, that
was the business that trained me to share. I make a
few dollars on reselling these items, but the amount is
consistent with the amount of work on my end! I can
sleep at night, knowing that you got a good deal, and I made
a few dollars. It is also my belief, that you
will be able to share this opportunity with your friends,
and hopefully, you'll bring them here, to our community!
Because having that friend who does the same thing you do,
will be your personal supporter!
I have a dream to
create a place that we can help each other, just as I have
done all my life.
|
| Q. |
You make it sound easy....is
it really? |
| A |
Yes, all you need is to decide
on a name, and invest $295 for the first year. What
you sell is up to you, I suggest you start with something
you love! It is so much easier to 'sell' as it comes from
your heart, with sincerity! |
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