29
Jul
e-commerce web hosting Best answer on the web
Author: admin // Category: xn--g7qx97f.com1. minimum uptime of 99.5% (prefer 99/9%)
2. would I be expected to pre-pay a potential overage of GB? Is there a published charge for GB over the allowed bandwidth? 3. 24/7 support (most say this but after emailing many I still haven't gotten a personalized response in over 12 hours) 4. SSL/SQL/shopping cart
5. email addresses
6. auto-resonder
7. Can email be forwarded to my current email address?
8. Can I manage account myself?
9. Can I pay/cancel monthly?
10. Own or lease server? (I probably won't go with a reseller)
Thank you----willing to stick on a generous tip for quick answer since my graphic designer wants this uploaded and finished two weeks ago!!
I like Yahoo because I believe that the product will be around awhile. There's nothing more frustrating than an eCommerce provider suddenly going out of business, or worse, simply shutting down without notification. I've had this happen to customers when trying to save money with eCommerce discounters. I have learned to "just say no" to that kind of frustration. I choose eCommerce players for the long term, and only recommend that type of resource to others.
Yahoo meets your original criteria. I'm not able to find online stats, but I've had good experience with Yahoo Stores uptime. I monitor each client site round the clock. I haven't seen any actual server downtime from any of over a dozen Yahoo stores during a two year period. A Yahoo solution means you can concentrate on products and selling, rather than the store itself. For a beginner it's like being able to skip a lot of the "how to build a store" stuff and go right to work. The power tools are all provided.
I know only one person using the Microsoft bCentral solution. Not a client, but very happy with the product. His little store sells only about different 50 products, but he's thrilled with the ease of adding new products and maintaining the site, building a clientele, and the email tie-ins.
If determined to avoid the big guys, I'd recommend the Virtual Cart/Jumpline solution. Individual pieces that add up to a very solid eCommerce performance. It's easy on the developer and the clients. Once the database script is installed, you have the power of SQL with a very simple user interface. VirtualCart handles the networked security for their merchants, and it is much more formidable security than you are likely to be able to match with any small provider. You can think of the monthly fee as the payment for an SSL certificate, and still see a very good value.
---l
1. $100/yr for a security certificate (seems much higher than others)
2. Miva Merchant is $100
3. On-line services are costing per transaction and costing to set up an account (a bunch more cash). 4. They told me I have to go to a third party to have them set up my shopping cart, etc which is a ton more money and the company they told me to go with looks shady at best.
Have your customers done ecommerce through them and how have them made it work?Help!!!
Thanks again for helping me sort through all this!
The two "nearly instant" all-in-one storefronts that seem most appropriate for your needs are products of two of Yahoo and Microsoft. These packages automate the eCommerce process, and offer an excellent value for the monthly fee.
Both stores are expandable. They allow you to start small and work up to a larger operation.
Yahoo Stores
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Starter package: $39.95 a month, with a 1.5% transaction fee. Hosting is included, merchant account setup is extra. Features list is impressive. I've worked with several customers using Yahoo Stores who were very happy with the arrangement. Support will talk you through most set-up arrangements.
Yahoo Stores Merchant Starter
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/bzinfo/prod/com/c1.php
Microsoft Commerce Manager
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$24.95/month. Includes a storefront and catalog, up to 10,000 items. Accept credit cards via PayPal, transaction fees are extra. Live support (via website).
Microsoft E-Commerce Manager
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/products/online/cm/detail.mspx
Remotely-Hosted Shopping Carts
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A remotely hosted shopping cart would also be an option. This can be easily integrated with a Jumpline website. The shopping cart can match the website in every detail. The shopping cart provides an interface between the website and the payment/transaction process. Cut and paste HTML is generated for each product and added to product webpages. They may be used with a traditional merchant account, or 3rd party transaction processors.
There are a number of remotely hosted carts out there, however, I've worked most successfully with the following:
VirtualCart - $21.75 - $30/month (in addition to separate hosting), depending upon payment plan chosen, quarterly to yearly. 30 day free trial - you can set up the store and begin accepting orders before payment is due. VirtualCART works with 3rd Party Transaction Processor Cardservice, LinkPoint, Authorize.Net, VeriSign, PayPal (Business), and shippers: FedEx, UPS, and USPS. I've had the fewest difficulties with VirtualCart, it's literally cut/paste eCommerce without a buncha hidden fees. 3rd Party transaction processors, however, do usually charge transaction fees as well as monthly fees based on volume.
Upgrade Scripts are available for automatic page creation/database management. Simple database, $199 one time license fee, SQL $399 one time license fee. These scripts are ADD-ON. They are not necessary in order to use the remotely hosted cart.
Virtual Cart Shopping Cart Service
http://www.vcart.com/index.html
Mal's eCommerce - Free and Premium ($6/month) remotely hosted shopping carts. Integrated with many worldwide 3rd Party transaction processors: PayPal, NoChex, PayMate, TrustCommerce, VeriSign, AuthorizeNet, 2Checkout.com, SkipJack, Cardia, InternetSecure, SecPay, WorldPay, ePDQ, uSight, and ProTX.
Setup is a bit more technically demanding than vCart, but certainly do-able by a beginning/intermediate sitebuilder. Plus, there are lots of Mal's carts out there, and experienced webmasters who offer advice based on their own experience. Several forums as well.
Mal's eCommerce
http://www.ait2000.com/index.htm
More questions? Feel free. ---larre
Jumpline.com would seem to be a good fit:
1. minimum uptime of 99.5% (prefer 99/9%)
According to Netcraft, an independent web server monitoring service, Jumpline.com consistently ranks highly for uptime and service. They topped the list in April, 2004, with 100% uptime.
Netcraft Server Stats
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/05/04/most_reliable_hosting_providers_during_april.html
Network updates (Update box in lefthand menu) are available at:
http://support.jumpline.com/
2. would I be expected to pre-pay a potential overage of GB? Is there
a published charge for GB over the allowed bandwidth?
Prepay? Arrangements can be made for consistent overage, but generally this is billed on the following period. Published overage charges are:
1,000 MB $5.00/mo
4,000 MB $15.00/mo
10,000 MB $25.00/mo
Jumpline - Compare Hosting Plans (scroll to bottom of list)
http://jumpline.com/vds_hosting_compare.php
3. 24/7 support (most say this but after emailing many I still haven't
gotten a personalized response in over 12 hours)
Jumpline has a tech support extranet. Jumpline customers can contact tech support directly 24/7. Toll free telephone support 12 hours daily. Service and tech support specialists are patient and knowledgeable.
4. SSL/SQL/shopping cart
Miva Merchant - $100 one time installation fee
5. email addresses
Unlimited
6. auto-resonder
Unlimited
7. Can email be forwarded to my current email address?
Oh yes! Mail can be automatically directed/forwarded to -any- address you choose.
8. Can I manage account myself?
Yes -- a custom Control Panel. Quick and mistake-proof.
9. Can I pay/cancel monthly?
Yup. Jumpline offers a discount for yearly payments, but also allows monthly contracts. I've been burnt twice over the years with yearly contracts. I'm a believer in pay as you go service.
10. Own or lease server? (I probably won't go with a reseller)
Jumpline's server facility is located within QWest's CyberCenter near Columbus, Ohio. Jumpline's corporate offices are nearby, giving them physical access to their servers for maintenance. They're server owners, rather than resellers.
Jumpline Plan Comparison
http://jumpline.com/vds_hosting_compare.php
Each account is run on a "Virtual Server" - completely separate from all other accounts on a shared server.
Jumpline's VDS Technology
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your own Web Server ? Unlike virtual hosting environments our VDS accounts have an independent web server. This allows each website to operate independently from all other websites on same physical machine. If another user were to overload or crash their VDS only their web server would be affected.
Independent File Structure - Virtual Dedicated Servers have their own server software and file structure that runs inside an isolated file directory and provides autonomy for each website.
Administrative Privileges (chroot) - Administrative Privileges allows you to administer services such as Apache, Sendmail and many other system settings. This is made possible because of our chrooted environment. System changes made by one user will not affect another user.
Your own Mail Server ? Unlike virtual hosting, our VDS environment allows clients to utilize their own independent mail server. This allows our users to have more customization for mail options. In addition, having your own mail server helps distribute mail load across the network.
Ability to Install Applications - VDS website owners have full control of the environment with administrative privileges and may install additional applications.
Multi-Layered Security ? The first layer of security is general user authentication into a VDS. The second layer of security is if the first layer of security was compromised, the intruder would be fire walled off from all the other VDS's on the physical server.
Your own Database Server - Unlike shared hosting environments our VDS infrastructure allows clients to utilize their own independent database server.
Ability to Host Multiple websites ? virtual hosting accounts can be added within a VDS. This allows for multiple website hosting under a specific VDS."
Jumpline Product Detail Definitions: VDS Hosting
http://jumpline.com/product_detail_definitions.html#vdstech
In the interests of complete disclosure: As a web developer, I've helped place several hundred clients in web hosting over the past eight years. I've utilized several dozen hosts, and search every two months or so for the best services. I host my own site on Jumpline, and have recommended them to all my eCommerce clients. I've swapped around twice, but come back to Jumpline each time. No hidden fees, everything is upfront and handled professionally. Jumpline is an ideal business or eCommerce host. Toll free support. Need I say more? :)
---larre
Email and all the requirements you mentioned I believe are included. It's very reasonable, plus the exposure of being on Yahoo.
Just my 2 cents.
I've looked closely at LunarPages, hoping to be able to switch a few clients over, but there is no savings -- in fact, the costs would be higher long term. Also, I don't recommend paying hosting on a yearly basis. Not only could the host close up shop in that interval (I have a long list of those who have) the host has no reason to respond to your needs -- they already have your money. Monthly fees help keep 'em honest. Adult content is allowed on Lunar Pages. This type of neighborhood may, or may not, be attractive to you.
---l
Thanks again for the great info!
Elyse
Elyse
But let's see what we can find that will fit with your skills, timetable, and budget. You know I'll be happy to work with you until we come up with a workable solution.
What is a realistic expectation of initial transaction volume? Number of items in the database? I can probably point you to scalable solutions that can be installed with just a reasonable knowledge of HTML, plus, perhaps, the ability to install a CGI script.
---l
#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
// Add Comment