database driven web site- shopping cart

[tammybaldino]

I am currently working on a site - shopping cart system to upload and sell at least 400 new photos (with buy links) per week at the site,

http://www.alohasurfpictures.com

When I came around to doing the shopping cart, I realized the only way it seems to logical make so many changes to a site so frequently would be do make a data base driven website, integrated with a shopping cart system.

Being the designer I have never done a data based driven website and am totally new to ASP, SQL, and other server site languages, but need to find a solution for the sites owner, and possibly implement it.

Can someone out there direct me to an easy and inexpensive source or program to easily install a database driven shopping cart system which can easily modify and update up to 300 new images and shopping cart links per week?

Or any other solution such as a programmer, who may take over the finality of the shopping cart system for this site, or some reference books, or something ASAP.

Thanks so much your reading and all ideas are welcomed.

:)

direct emails are welcome too at

bikinibrazil@terra.com.br

[redcircle]

Try looking at www.hotscripts.com they have many pre-made scripts that might be useful.

[MNorton]

Nice site.

I am not sure about simple or not, but this product gets good reviews. And it is free :)

[cyanide]

I'm kinda partial to www.oscommerce.com

[tammybaldino]

why is that?

[redcircle]

Very complete and F R E E!

I'm partal to my own custom carts. :)

[cyanide]

Originally Posted by tammybaldino

why is that?

ahh, yes...
as redcircle mentions, it is free with lots of features!
Lots of users and lots of support

[swstyles]

http://WWW.THEPHOTOTOOL.COM

[compusolver]

What concerns me here is that you are doing this work for a client. You're asking about finding a script written in a language you don't know - you'll be dealing with various gateway and server issues which will probably also be foreign territory to you.

When problems arise (and does anyone doubt that they will?) you risk having a client upset and getting that sinking feeling in your gut that comes when you're responsible for things you have little control over.

I would recommend 'partnering' with someone who is already an expert in this field. I recently got a client who was in the same situation you're in. He hosted the site with me and used the gateway that I'm a dealer for (hosting $10mo + gateway $0-20/mo). For $99 I set up his database and gave him a user-maintainable admin area to handle his products and pricing. He can even turn this area over to his client to maintain.

I'm sure there are others who frequent this board who could also assist you. If you decide you really want to learn server-side programming, database and eCommerce coding - fine. But in the meantime - as long as you're responsible to a paying client, it might be best to have an experienced person helping you.

[dealercrm]

Originally Posted by cyanide

I'm kinda partial to www.oscommerce.com

I would have to agree. Great user community. Lots of add-ons.. Lots of people out there that support it's implementation. Low Cost.

However, like mentioned above by another member, I too am partial to writing my own if it is a customer for the long term with a budget that suits the project.