Miva Merchant, Magento, OS Commerce or Core Commerce?

[macdebbie]

For someone new to all this, that wants the simplest solution possible while still having a semi-custom site, which of these providers would fit the bill?

Core Commerce looks like it has a ton of features.

I am working with a designer/developer, however, I ultimately want to do much of the maintenance of the site myself to save on costs and just for turn-around time.

I will be integrating with Amazon Checkout.

Amazon lists Core Commerce, and OS Commerce as "Cart Providers" and Magento and Miva as "Commerce Platform Providers". I still am not clear on the difference. Since I will be using Amazon Checkout does it matter if it is a "Cart Provider?"

Amazon also lists "Ubertcart" as a "Cart Provider", but I am leary, as I tried to go on their site yesterday and it was down much of the day. I also am a little leary of Magento, as I have heard that it is quite buggy. I also don't know what to think of Open Source vs. commercial products.

Please - no other solutions - I have narrowed my list to these. Jsut trying to narrow further now.

[Matt_Cotten]

Hi macdebbie,

You're not going to get a clear answer as everyone's needs are slightly different and no one person is going to be in export is all 4 of the platforms you mention.

If you are going to manage the online store yourself then I would look at the demos of each shopping cart's admin interfaces to see which you like. Then take a look at some of the websites using those shopping carts.

If the shopping cart website mentions Amazon Checkout is supported than that is all you should have to worry about there.

Open Source means it’s free but if you have a problem then its up to you to fix it. Licensed products like Miva Merchant have multiple tiers of support since you are paying for it. Miva Merchant has its own support but more likely you will depend on your web host for good support and then there is also the online community. If you have a problem an Open Source platform like OS Commerce you can post a question on the discussion forum and hope someone will help you but no one is obligated to help you since you didn't pay for anything.

The other part of your post mentions you are already working with a designer/developer before making this decision. Are you expecting them to learn it with your project? If they are not recommending something to you than that is a bad sign. You want to work with someone who has experience in the shopping cart you choose. Even a simple ecommerce website has a level of complication. A lot of designers slap on a shopping cart as an afterthought and then the client wonders why they don’t get any sales.