Top Ecommerce Platforms
69My Three Favorite Ecommerce Platforms
I have tried many, many ecommerce platforms over the years. While all of them have their positives and negatives there are three that I prefer above all others. Yahoo Merchant Solutions, X Cart, and ShopSite. I'm not dissing the other solutions that are out there like Volusion or OSCommerce, I just happen like these better.
Yahoo - A2 Armory
Yahoo Merchant Solutions
I started using Yahoo back when it was called Yahoo Stores. My medieval weapons and swords store, A Squared Armory, is built on the Yahoo platform. I think it is the best ecommerce solution for those just starting out. You can easily build a decent Yahoo Store with no knowledge of HTML which is a huge bonus for newcomers. You can also get as advanced as you want by creating your own pages and uploading them. I used a third party HTML editor to create all of A Squared Armory and the same level of customization is possible using Yahoo's build in editor called Store Builder.
Yahoo Merchant Solutions has database upload functionality and partnerships with many other companies to help you build quickly and get your site out there. Adding things like a blog or managing your email marketing is very simple with Yahoo as many features come as part of the merchant solutions package.
X Cart - Tapestry Standard
X Cart
If you're just straight up building your store using the built-in templates X Cart is as easy as Yahoo. It quickly gets complicated when you start customizing but if you're comfortable with HTML you'll be able to change the entire look of your store rather easily. X Cart runs off Smarty PHP which is daunting the first time you see it but nothing to get worked up about. What makes X Cart complicated is the system of includes it uses to build pages. There can easily be fifteen includes being called on a single page and it is sometimes difficult to figure out which files to alter when you are making changes.
Once you get the hang of it, it becomes pretty simple although not always intuitive. X Cart also has excellent database functionality which saves a ton of time when adding products or making changes. My tapestries and wall decor store, The Tapestry Standard, is built on X Cart. FinestShops is a very good X Cart provider.
ShopSite - Sports Collectibles Store
ShopSite
ShopSite also builds pages using includes but it is a bit more intuitive than X Cart in my opinion. It also has the most simple database functionality of all three. The interface is so simple I thought I was missing something the first time I logged in. Everything is laid out in a very logical style that makes customization much easier. You have the option of making changes to existing templates or creating your own, so any level user can create a professional-looking store.
Having said all that, ShopSite is most expensive of the three. It is absolutely worth the money, but maybe not the best solution for a first-time ecommerce seller or someone just learning HTML. My sports merchandise and accessories site, Sports Collectibles Store, is built on ShopSite. Lexiconn is an excellent ShopSite host.
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Thanks for the outline. I started a Yahoo store and am satisfied. The only thing I do not like about it is the shipping manager. You cannot assign individual items a fixed price. So if you want to sell one item and offer free shipping, you can't. Nice sites...well done
Ken
I have build three stores with Yahoo and I like Yahoo Merchant Solution a lot. Or I must say that I am so used to their Platform I do not want ot use another one.
I will have Shop Site and X cart on my list as an option for our future stores. Thanks for the outline.
Renee
take a look at magento - www.magentocommerce.com - it's much more robust than Yahoo
The only downside with Yahoo Stores that I know of is the credit card processing platform. Yahoo has only made their system compatible with the First Data Nashville platform, which limits you on who you can use for credit card processing.
What about stuff like oscommerce, in my opinion it´s fully OK for smaller stores
You can also use 3rd party solutions: a shopping cart software that has autoreponders built in, an affiliate program module, secure digital delivery and more, growing your site how you want with multiple processors to list in the check out area. Try the free trial period and see what you think, getting help from support.
I'm shopping around for the best solution for ecommerce.So far,the only thing that turns me off is the fact that you are limited to the mount of products you can upload and sell. The more items you have, the more you pay. I'm not saying this is bad, just that, the good solutions have high prices because of this and its a turn off. Tanks for the info here.
Thanks for a great article. It helped me make a hub for ecommerce SEO.
Hey Audro,
Do you happen to know if these three are drag in drop. From what I have heard they seem to be rather user friendly. However, I have heard some eCommerce shopping solutions that come with GoDaddy or any various hosting companies are lacking.
For me I am a designer and code scares me so I would prefer having it easy to change on the fly.
I do recommend BigCommerce because they are drag and drop and do come with integrated code that makes your eCommerce shops user friendly. I actually, have written a review on BigCommerce, too.
I do a lot of SEO work for people and always recommend an eCommerce solution that will be easy to get ranked in Google. eCommerce sites can be kind of hard to get ranked in Google at times.
Nice list. There are literally more than 100 platforms available, all of good quality you can choose from.
Would be more than happy to help any small business with their eCommerce tender process.
Regards Jon Hos
Helping you choose and eCommerce platform.
Know Yahoo, but not much about the other two. Thanks for the heads up!
great one hub.. Save your money kitchen, bath, garage tools, fast shipping, actual stock http://www.itemsave.com/
Good artical....do check magento foe future need.
You guys should try http://www.shoppingcartelite.com
one of the best ecommerce shopping carts I ever tried and I tried them all.
If you have an ecommerce store, then you should check out Dealy: http://adealy.com/
Dealy lets ecommerce stores run their own daily deal system similar to Woot but without the woot brand. Ecommerce owners can connect their own brand to the deal.
Check it out!
Hello,
vplanetcommerce is the best shopping cart.With there new innovations and technologies they will be good option and feasible also.They provides free trial store for your experience.
This is a very honest and very useful post. Thank you for your observations!
I am a student of ecommerce business, since I work in a relevant area. I write the content for my company's website. I would much appreciate anyone visiting my personal blog: nikhilswrite.blogspot.com and leaving genuine and useful comments.
really useful information... are these platforms ok for developing big online project?
Third party processors definitely have some advantages but you can lose money with high premiums in the long run. If you want to switch to a reputable merchant account provider, read my reviews and find out which provider is compatible with your company. http://www.bestonlinemerchantaccounts.com/
Vnavigator 4 years ago
Thanks for the outline. I started a Yahoo store and am satisfied. The only thing I do not like about it is the shipping manager. You cannot assign individual items a fixed price. So if you want to sell one item and offer free shipping, you can't. Nice sites...well done
Ken