Hello all,

Any suggestions for the least expensive way to setup a website to allow for the ordering AND delivery of a software or informational product?

thanks......................matt

Blues,

It depends on if you plan to create the web site yourself, or hire an expert to do this for you? Creating a web site yourself really isn't that hard once you learn the basics.

Well, you could program it in PHP and MySQL. Or you could use a content manager like OS Commerce. It is a free, Open Source ecommerce site manager. You can get it here: osCommerce, Open Source Online Shop E-Commerce Solutions.

Good luck,
Adam

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I was planning to build the site myself. Here's one I build for my wife's spa. It is desparate need of updating (tonight's task I think). The Sanctuary

This is a simple static HTML page site. No database. No dynamically built pages. No javascript. No scripting at all.

So now I need to move to the next level and be able to build a simple site that allows someone to order and take delivery of a pdf file (informational document) or a zipped program (that I would code). So where do I start?

I suppose the absolute easiest thing to do would be to build a static page HTML site, use Paypal (or equivalent) to take payment, and then deliver manually via email once payment has been received.

I will look into OScommerce to learn more.

thanks....................matt

Actually, unless your planning on making a huge profit, PayPal was exactly what I was going to suggest!

It is absolutely perfect if you want a quick and easy eCommerce web site. You don't need and PHP or Java, the only small peice of code you'll need is provided by PayPal. PayPal is also the most popular and secure. They even provide you with a configurable shopping cart.

Just logon to PayPal as normal, and click on the Merchant Tools tab. Take a look at the "PayPal Shopping Cart" section.

The only downfall with using PayPal is that you are stuck with their percentage of any payments made as usual, but most of those fee's would normally be spent worrying about credit card security and such. You also won't need to worry about coding your own shopping cart, setting up a CGI-BIN, secure server etc.

EDIT: Marked as answered.