Will This Work?

[motarque]

I'm starting a small computer consulting business. The plan is to start small and maybe if it all works, use this as my primary business. What I need now is a website that can house all the info I need for placing configurations of computer systems, servers, networks, etc. on the site and having a way for someone to place orders on my site. I don't have or plan on getting a merchant account. I'll probably use Paypal for the time being.

 

Anyway, what I'd like is:

1) a way to have the customer choose a configuration

2) send an email to me with the exact configuration

3) bill their credit card to my paypal account (doesn't have to be automatic, the can do that themselves)

4) send them a confirmation email of their order

 

Now, to me (being inexperienced at web design), this sounds like an incredibly daunting task. Am I right with this, or will I be able to use this web hosting site to accomplish this?

[TCH-Rob]

motarque,

 

You can do that here. Even the free script we offer osCommerce has the capability do do the type of configuration you are looking for as well as the PayPal and email part.

 

I don't think you will have an issue doing what you want to do.

[motarque]

Hey, that sounds great. I own Frontpage 2003 and I would love to use that as a web-editing tool, then upload the pages to the server. Regarding the ecommerce stuff that I'm wanting to do; is that tool you spoke of an additional fee that I would have to purchase, or is it inclusive in one of the packages?

 

Here's what I'd like to do: design my own website and make updates as I see fit, but leave the underlying ecommerce section untouched (i don't wanna screw it up, basically). Do you see this as being a problem? Basically I don't wanna purchase the wrong package and afterwards realize the mistake I made. I'm just trying to get the most information as possible.

 

Thank you for your reply. I hope my questions don't sound too elementary or redundant.

[TCH-Rob]

Pick your package, osCommerce is with all of them and I have seen websites created that integrate osCommerce into it. You don't have to do it that way but can if you wish.

[motarque]

Awesome...man, this is gonna rock.

 

How about what I said about the Frontpage thing? This question might best be answered later on. Regarding the uploading thing...when I update my pages, I presume I'll be uploading my FP pages to the server (ftp?), correct? That's how things worked at my last place of business. Anyway, you've been a great help so far, I appreciate it. Thank you.

[TCH-Rob]

It would be the same. You may want to install the osCommerce and play with it to get a better feel for it first. See how you can create the products and add attributes to them. See what the default install looks like and get an idea on how you can customize it and create FP pages to integrate with it.

 

Keep in mind as you create your pages in FP and they are HTML that osCommerce is PHP. Not an issue as far as linking goes, my first run with osc was integrated into a FP home page.

 

If you have more questions just ask.