Ecommerce update

[elecplus]

Webwit has kindly donated space on the server for an ecommerce site. It really does make it much easier to buy and sell products.
Payments go directly to the seller, without collecting a commission
Vendors can set the look and feel of their own shop
Multiple people can sell the same item in varying conditions at varying costs
Each seller can set their own shipping methods, rates, and countries they will ship to
It can be made to look like Amazon, with product reviews, multiple sellers, etc.
Each seller's country will be noted, so you can shop by region

We have located the software needed for all of this to happen easily, but the cost is about $600 up front.

Would you be willing to invest a small amount to be able to buy and sell within your region (or any region) without the hassle of PMs and a hundred questions? Where products stay listed until sold? Where there are no commissions? Where something does not fall off the page because it was a busy day, and other conversations made your post get lost?

You do not need to be a large volume seller to have this work for you. Even one or two items would pay for the year.

You can post links from here to other places, like MM.

[scottc]

I think this is a great idea.

It would be great if we could link seller accounts through to normal DT accounts (like in the wiki) so that people could PM sellers if needed.

[elecplus]

Update: This is not an auction site, like eBay.

If you have additional questions, please list them below.

[Wodan]

I am totally for this and can‘t wait for a solution like this.
Selling the metric ton of shit I have in my basement through threads and PMs requires so much micromanagement.

[ideus]

Mark me interested. Just hoping its cost not that high, or worst recurrent, as I may used it only ocasionally.

[elecplus]

There is also a wishlist feature, so that if something you want goes out of stock, you can be notified when it is available again.

[elecplus]

Mark me interested. Just hoping its cost not that high, or worst recurrent, as I may used it only ocasionally.

$20 annually is not much? You would give more than that to eBay fees?

[Blaise170]

$20 annually is not much in light of eBay fees, but with the caveat that you get much more exposure on eBay. I would be interested if the keyboard community at large would get behind the project, but I fear that most would prefer to keep using /r/mechmarket and the likes.

[elecplus]

DT gets LOTS of traffic. MM requires you to post each item with a time stamp label, and again, things fall off the visible page. This is so much easier, and you only have to list it once. You can register on mm as a vendor, and put your link to your product there. I am told vendor accounts do not need a time stamp. Yes, you get more exposure on eBay, but you also get strange buyers! I quit selling on eBay because I listed a product with very clear pictures, to be sold for parts or repair only. The guy demanded a refund because it was not in grade A condition. People from the community tend to pay attention, and ask necessary question first.

[Blaise170]

I agree with you 100%, but people are weird and many do not like change. This is my fear.

[elecplus]

I think this is a great idea.

It would be great if we could link seller accounts through to normal DT accounts (like in the wiki) so that people could PM sellers if needed.

There is a contact button, which sends the seller an email.

[faxe]

Who would be the legal entity selling the stuff?

[codemonkeymike]

Things get tricky when one starts collecting money for something. I mean someone is going to have to build it, and the people who maintain DT now (matt3o and ...? just him?) may not care much for building another feature for the site which has a high maintainence burden. On the other hand maybe there will be more people willing to slug through issues if there are issue bounties payed for by the fees.

I am a solid maybe. I think it is possible to work, but paying bug bounties would probably be how most of the work gets done after the inital feature is built.

[elecplus]

Who would be the legal entity selling the stuff?

You would be the entity selling your own products. Any and all payments, disputes, etc. are the responsibility of the seller, NOT DT.

[elecplus]

Things get tricky when one starts collecting money for something. I mean someone is going to have to build it, and the people who maintain DT now (matt3o and ...? just him?) may not care much for building another feature for the site which has a high maintainence burden. On the other hand maybe there will be more people willing to slug through issues if there are issue bounties payed for by the fees.

I am a solid maybe. I think it is possible to work, but paying bug bounties would probably be how most of the work gets done after the inital feature is built.

Webwit has already allocated the space. ScottC has installed the basic Magento package, and has offered to install the modules, if we can get enough together to pay for them. Maintenance is quite easy (Scott and I will handle that). Any bug fixes, Magento releases them as needed, and we will install them. The modules do not affect the basic code, so there is no big deal if the main code needs updates. If there is a problem with the modules, the developer gives a 12 month warranty, and will fix any/all problems during that time.

[kbdfr]

Would it be possible to test it?
Or alternatively, to have a look at another place where this has been implemented?

[elecplus]

Would it be possible to test it?
Or alternatively, to have a look at another place where this has been implemented?

http://www.executivegift.com I called them last night, and they are using it, and have had no problems

[j0d1]

Hmmm when I go to this website, I receive:

Code: Select all

Server Error in '/' Application.
The network path was not found
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code. 

Exception Details: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The network path was not found

Source Error: 

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace: 


[Win32Exception (0x80004005): The network path was not found]

[SqlException (0x80131904): A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)]

...

There is a problem with the database connection...
It can happen but there should not be a stacktrace of the error.
I hope it is better configured on the DT server.

[Blaise170]

Yeah I was getting it too. I wonder if we accidentally DDoSed their website.

[XMIT]

Seems like a great thing for club dues to have covered. Ah well.

[elecplus]

https://www.cminds.com/magento-extensio ... escription There is a demo here.

This is the site we want to buy from. Please note:
These are designed for people to take commissions, but it is optional, and we will NOT be charging a commission
It would require 2 additional modules, listed on the right, PayPal and Multiple Vendor Products

The Paypal is necessary so the payments go straight to the seller
The multiple vendor products is so more than 1 person can sell the same item. This way, if several people list the same 1391401, the product only shows up once, with many sellers. Each seller can list their own pics, prices, and description.

[elecplus]

Would it be possible to test it?
Or alternatively, to have a look at another place where this has been implemented?

http://www.executivegift.com I called them last night, and they are using it, and have had no problems

My bad, I gave the wrong site!
https://corporategift.com/

[elecplus]

Currently live shops the company suggested we look at:
https://www.eclipseexpress.com/
https://www.yostor.com/
http://bazzar.cooperativecomputing.com/

Demos are available here:
Magento Marketplace M2
https://www.cminds.com/ecommerce-extens ... tiveminds/

Documentation
http://creativeminds.helpscoutdocs.com/ ... -vendor-m2

Demo (Admin View)
http://m2dev1.cminds.com/admin
Login / Pass: admin / demo1234

Demo (Supplier View 1)
http://m2dev1.cminds.com/
Login / Pass: supplier1@cminds.com / Demo1234

Demo (Supplier View 2)
http://m2dev1.cminds.com/
Login / Pass: supplier2@cminds.com / Demo1234

[codemonkeymike]

Webwit has already allocated the space. ScottC has installed the basic Magento package, and has offered to install the modules, if we can get enough together to pay for them. Maintenance is quite easy (Scott and I will handle that). Any bug fixes, Magento releases them as needed, and we will install them. The modules do not affect the basic code, so there is no big deal if the main code needs updates. If there is a problem with the modules, the developer gives a 12 month warranty, and will fix any/all problems during that time.

Ah, my developer mind goes straight to "building it from scratch"

[elecplus]

Webwit has already allocated the space. ScottC has installed the basic Magento package, and has offered to install the modules, if we can get enough together to pay for them. Maintenance is quite easy (Scott and I will handle that). Any bug fixes, Magento releases them as needed, and we will install them. The modules do not affect the basic code, so there is no big deal if the main code needs updates. If there is a problem with the modules, the developer gives a 12 month warranty, and will fix any/all problems during that time.

Ah, my developer mind goes straight to "building it from scratch"

Are you volunteering?

[elecplus]

The multi vendor modules have been installed, thanks to ScottC!
There is a very BARE bones site there now. PLEASE let me know of any more categories or subcategories or corrections that are needed!

EDIT: Sorry, forgot the link! http://shop.deskthority.net/

[elecplus]

Before you can sell on here you MUST have a PayPal business account. Once you have that, please follow these directions to get your pp credentials. You will need them to get paid! These credential will be entered on your vendor registration.

Code: Select all

Requesting REST API Credentials:
Login at https://developer.paypal.com/ using your PayPal Business account login credentials.
Click Dashboard.
Click Create App.
Name the app.
Choose the Sandbox test Business account.
Create the app.
Once the app is created, you will have access to your Sandbox and Live credentials. 

Viewing Sandbox/Live Credentials:
My Apps
Live/Sandbox
The shopping cart/developer wil request the Client ID and Secret Token.
Interchangeable terminology can include:
Client Token
ID
Token
Token ID

Submitting an Application for Live Credentials:
Go into 'My Account' in the Dashboard.
Under 'Live, Direct Credit Cards', select Enable.
Select Continue.
 

The Sandbox/Live is a slider switch located about the middle of the right hand side of the page. You need to click on LIVE, and then save the credentials to a text doc so you can copy and paste them into your registration page.

[scottc]

Is there any way to get around the need for a PayPal business account? That's quite a high barrier to entry vs. creating a classifieds thread and I worry that it will put folks off.

[elecplus]

Is there any way to get around the need for a PayPal business account? That's quite a high barrier to entry vs. creating a classifieds thread and I worry that it will put folks off.

I am not sure why it would? In over 20 years, they have never sent me a 1099. An EIN and business license are not required. In the US, you can just use your SSN. You do not have to register the business with the state. I am not sure about what is required in locations other than the US though. If you don't have a storefront, you don't have to collect taxes right now either, at least in the US.

[Blaise170]

PayPal sent me a 1099 this year even though my net profit was like $300.