standard shopping cart vs custom cart

[mysite]

Hello
we are currently using a custom shopping cart and I have some issues I don't like about it, what is your opinion; should I switch to a standard cart or look for better customization?
Thanks

[Shift4SMS]

Your question is really too vague to answer. What items or services do you sell? What features do you feel are missing? How much time do you have to redesign your site (because that is basically what you will need to do if you switch to anything). Will you be doing it yourself? I know there are many more questions but that is a start.

There are several threads here that reference package shopping carts. Most have sites where features are listed along with demo's. I suggest you take a tour of a few. I'm a ColdFusion developer and the best I have found is CFWebstore -- CFWebstore: ColdFusion Shopping Cart and Content Management (http://www.cfwebstore.com). I'm somewhat familiar with Zen-Cart -- ecommerce shopping cart software by Zen Cart ecommerce solution (http://www.zen-cart.com). There is a bunch more.

After a tour of a few, then you might be better able to decide or if you're still unsure, post a URL to your current site along with features you feel you're lacking. Hope this helps.

[dyimonkey]

If you explained what exactly is wrong with your current cart, people would help you.
In general it's better to have custom built software for everything, but:

1. It's more expensive
2. Low quality programmers may deliver low quality software - while "out of the box" solutions are usually better tested

[mysite]

Thanks Shift4SMS & dyimonkey for your time
first this is the URL of my site (http://www.ezcontactsusa.com)
the problems with our current cart is basically the interface,
1)making changes to product info like price, availability, is a hassle since we have to do it manually 1 by 1
2)I'm not sure but I think the way the html codes sorted in the source is the best for SEO
there are more issues, maybe after looking in to my site (http://www.ezcontactsusa.com) you will be able to say your suggestions
thanks again

[Chris04S]

Mysite,
Does your backend accept .csv imports? If so, you can manage your site in access or excel to make the product changes or availability changes. As for yahoo, try store dot yahoo (sorry, being a new member it wont allow me to post a url) it is an entire platform so there is a learning curve but in nine, ten years of doing ecommerce it is the best solution I could find...

[conortreacy]

And this was all a custom coded shopping cart? If so, nice work! Looks and functions very nicely (from the front end). Honestly I'd look at possibly going with a commercial product this way you don't have to pay the extra money on custom programmers and/or the cerification fees for PA-DSS Compliance, or any other issues that will pop up along the way. It's a very functional looking cart, and it's possible that you may even be able to do your inventory updates through CSV (as Chris suggested) or through MySQL Imports.

I understand that SEO is important, so carts like X-Cart, InterSpire, ShopSite, CRELoaded - these would be the ones that I'd recommend checking out. Each one comes with a different pricetag and set of features of course. The nice thing about each of them is that they can be extended with 3rd party modules for extra items. Thinks like a magnify glass so uses can zoom in on products, one click checkouts and of course user reviews etc.

Migrating from the custom solution to an off the shelf solution will take some time, but at the end of the day, it USUALLY saves you money when you go with a packaged software (and then extend certain areas if needed).

[jsimon]

A custom shopping cart usually has to be designed by a third company. While this makes it a more expensive option, a custom shopping cart has several advantages that make it up for the extra cost. Chiefly among them, it's the great increase in potential clients.
Of course, there is also the fact that a custom shopping cart is, by definition, designed to meet the specific needs of your company. Therefore, it will appeal much more to your market niche, and give a better approach of your services and products.