Hi everybody! I'm back! Modifing from classifieds to shopping web site

[mike1]

I don't know if you guys remember me but I used to run mycarseller.com and i was a frequant user of this forum and I remember how you guys were helping me all the time, so I want to thank you for that. I stopped that web site and now i'm starting over but i wanted to make a shopping web site. I was wondering, if there's any way to modify the script so that i'll be the only one placing ads and the customer will be able to buy a specific item by clicking buy button and paying for the item instead of the regular classified web site were customer pays for placing ads. I think you get the idea, just another shopping web site. I'd really appriciate if you guys could help me with this.

thank you

[Lhotch +]

68C was designed from the ground up to be a classified site which means it sells ads. Its product IS the ad nothing more.

If your looking for an online store I simply recommend you go with one of the many free online store scripts.

[Maffo +]

I agree with Larry. Cubecart is a pretty good piece of kit.

[Eric Barnes]

Yes unfortunately I have to agree. We have used EcommerceTemplates in the past and they give excellent support and a pretty nice shopping cart.

[seymourjames +]

A nice idea if it could be easily implemented is a module which would allow sellers (advertisers) to put a paypal button in their advert. Is that possible? It would then meet a raft of potentially new applications and allow us to offer some interesting services as well.

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by seymourjames

A nice idea if it could be easily implemented is a module which would allow sellers (advertisers) to put a paypal button in their advert. Is that possible? It would then meet a raft of potentially new applications and allow us to offer some interesting services as well.

anything is possible with enough know how and time but the question is, is it praticle.

Generall when you are selling something you have a finite number of what ever it is. So realistically the site would need to keep track of a quantity of what ever is being advertised. It would need to lower qty when one is purchased and when they are gone prevent someone from buying something that doesnt exist.

Then you have the issue of tracking payment, what if you have 1 widget for sale and someone clicks buy now, the site reduces qty by one and removes the buy now button but 5 minutes later the buyer goes into paypal and cancels the transaction before the buyer collects. Now he still has the item to sell butits not actually for sale any more on the site because the site thinks its sold.

Then we also have liability issues. What happens when someone buys something off your site and the seller doesnt deliver, you get stuck in the middle as more than just a lister of ads because you also provided a means to facilitate the sale.

Its all really a whole diffrent paradigm and the amount of effort to put something like that together would never generate enough return to warrent the labor involved in its creation. And honestly there are plenty of free or inexpensive scripts out there that allow multiple users to share a store front end.

I am sure the 68C team appreciates the loyalty but from a business standpoint it really doesnt make much sense....for 68C or a 3rd party developer.

[Maffo +]

I have been asked for this on many occasions and in all honesty its something I wouldnt touch.

We have all seen the issues with paypal on this board. Every user on your site would have to have their accounts setup with IPN's etc.

What if there is an error, who deals with it? What about fraud? Do you decline all responsibility?

[seymourjames +]

I see the points gentleman but what I mean is a simple paypal button that the advertisers can put into their advert. The back office, stock and fulfillment, etc is their responsibility. What they do with the email notification they get from paypal is again their responsibility (IPN or no IPN). They are doing the selling. Legally, it is not a problem for the site hosting the paypal button but for the seller who places it. Payment has been made to them and not the host web site itself. A legal disclaimer is also worthwhile. In general what I am asking about is can a standard paypal button be placed into the advert in the same way an html link can be. Simple code with a form action and inputs.

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by seymourjames

They are doing the selling. Legally, it is not a problem for the site hosting the paypal button but for the seller who places it.

That may be the case but you have the "buy now" button on your site so when things go south, who do you think is going to hear about it? Likely you. I certainly wouldnt put myself in that position. The exception would be if the site was only posted on by me offering my goods.

In the end, like Maffo, I wont touch a mod like this. Waaaay too much of a headache to develop.

[seymourjames +]

I see the point again. A disclaimer would be a good idea with a message to contact the seller and paypal if they have problems with a transaction. The hosting site for the paypal button has no responsibility unless knowingly supporting a fraud or whatever - that is called an accessory.

Paypal as they use visa/mastercard do offer lots of assistance to buyers who fall foul of one of their members. They act very swiftly and surely to protect buyers. Their credibility is at stake. They also have legal obligation to compensate in most territories. I once wrote to them and it was clear to me that the paypal account holder was told in no uncertain terms to send the item. Failure would result in unpleasant consequences for them.

The reason why the idea is appealing is that a visitor to a site can buy the product in a seamless manner without further communication. It opens up so many possibilities. Sure you cannot buy a house online but there are many items that one can from books to cars.

Anyway it works without any modifications. I just put a paypal button into an advert to try it out. I did this through the admin panel by putting in the code but it should work if the checkout settings allow the necessary html commands.