[longshot]

So... I'm creating a website for a friend in which he'll be selling a few dozen small items. I'm trying to figure out the best path, not having any e-commerce experience (other than buying stuff all over the web!).

He just wants something that will process credit card purchases and then inform him, via email or whatever, of each transaction's particulars: what needs to be sent where, and so on.

All I keep hearing is MySQL and PHP, so I found and followed some directions to install/setup/etc the AMP components in my G4 under OS X. Viola, I was able to create a simple database using the PHP browser front-end. Quite a thrill, coming from a FileMaker background and all. So I bought a book on the subject (Welling & Thompson, if that helps anyone) to get more educated, and it seems pretty complete. A little daunting, but I think I could pull it together.

I have a bit of experience with raw HTML, though I've worked mostly with GoLive 4 & 5 for the things I've done so far. Ages ago, I worked a little with C++ and am growing more familiar with Unix thanks to OS X. But I know that's a long way from building the database so that it works.

So then: What are my options, and what do you recommend? (1) build the site, test it etc. on my own config, then upload to Hostgo (etc.) If so, what components do I need to include in the MySQL database? Authentication? Customer login? Shopping cart? Transactions? Or, should I (2) build the pages but hand over the shopping end to mercantec.com (etc.) and if so, is that really that much easier?

I expect I'll be a whole lot wiser when I'm done with this... but in the meantime, any clues would be appreciated. Thanks...

[godzookie2k]

It sounds to me that you are in way over your head and I'm of the opinion that you should just find someone who knows what they are doing to do the site for you.

That being said.

You'll need a server with MySQL support before you start, so that you wont have to recreate a database once you *do* go live. you'll need an accounts and sales database, though account login isn't nessisary. You'll need to set up a cookie so the shopping cart information is remembered in connection with the users IP. you'll have to talk to Visa, Mastercard and Amex about getting an authorization/retailer account so you can process credit cards. (this costs money per transaction) You'll need to be very familiar with PHP, SQL and HTML beyond the WYSIWYG editors before undertaking, and maintaining, a project like this. There are also pre-written shopping cart scripts available online, do some searching, the better ones will of course cost you money. Good luck.

[longshot]

godzookie2k, thanks for the honest advice. I'm inclined to agree, still I love a challenge. So I will consider... one nice thing is that I do have some time on this. Again, thanks, especially for the details you gave.

[skalie]

For a few dozen small items an online ready to go solution is usually recommended, it costs more per item, but there isn't the development issues to deal with.

Yahoo "store" for instance.

I have no experience in this, btw, I'm just relaying some stuff I had to learn for an E-Commerce exam.

Or, should I build the pages but hand over the shopping end to mercantec.com (etc.)

....something like that.