16 replies to this topic

[copywriter]

Hi All,

I've been looking for a good shopping cart that also allows for affiliate programs. I *thought* I'd found the perfect solution, but it runs through PayPal. When I contacted PayPal the first time, I was told someone purchasing with a credit card could use the PayPal system without setting up an account.

I just emailed them again to verify and was told that both the buyer and seller must have a PayPal account. That won't work. I don't want buyers to have to stop what they're doing to setup a PayPal account.

I'm looking for the usual stuff... shopping cart (one that allows discounts would be great) and affiliate program that manages affiliates, sends notifications of sales, makes payments to affiliates, gives me a list of affiliate info, etc., etc.

I'm on ClickBank now. While the fees are high, I wouldn't mind it so much if they offered a shopping cart. I'm getting too many products to handle with one "buy" link at a time.

Thanks,
Karon

[Haystack]

Hi Karon,

I wouldn't recommend the PayPal angle. For something similar that doesn't require an account setup (an I think accepts more credit card options), check out 2checkout.com. It may not be the best solution, but it's easy to set up and more user friendly for your customers than PayPal. They also have an affiliate program available.

[Randy]

2Checkout is okay, I used them for everything when I first started doing my own thing. It's a trade off though. You're either going to be paying higher fees at start up to have your own merchant account capabilities, or you're going to pay more on a per-transaction basis.

Good solution for start up's, but if you're doing much volume you may want to look into biting the bullet for a month and getting your own merchant account. When I figured it out ages ago (okay, so it was only a year ago, but it seems like ages) the breakpoint where getting a merchant account paid for itself and put more money in the bank every month was around $3,000 per month. Plus I have a lot more control over the fraud protection now, as 2Checkout didn't even verify CVV codes (when available) when I last used them.

As far as Karon's question, if I'm understanding you correctly you're looking for a shopping cart that has Affiliate Sales Tracking integrated into it? I've not seen anything like that since all affiliate systems are a little bit different. There may be one out there (may even be available from some of the affiliate provider systems?) but I've not seen it.

The affiliate tracking portion is typically just a line or two of code, so if you're planning to run your own affiliate network, cut the checks and everything yourself it should be pretty simple to integrate a stand alone affiliate system into pretty much any shopping cart. Otherwise, if you'd like for someone else to manage your affiliate network you may want to check with the different providers to see if they have a shopping cart available and/or if they can at least recommend some which are easy to configure with their system.

Kinda depends upon which way you want to approach the issue. A do-it-yourself affiliate system, or one managed by someone else.

[copywriter]

I have my own merchant account, but I don't want the hassle of running my own affiliate network. I also don't want to have to worry with all the international tax collection that comes with overseas sales of products (I get a lot of those).

I looked at 2CheckOut, but didn't see where they had any affiliate capabilities.... just that you could become one of *their* affiliates.

[MarketPro]

Karon there would be a bit of programming involved buy try Mals-e.com. They also have a way to track affiliates. They integrate with most merchant account gateways. Let me know if you need additional help. I use this for most my clients e-commerce sites. I've also used it on my own and have been very happy with it.

[Scottie]

I like Mal's e-commerce a lot- I haven't integrated it with a merchant account yet or tried the affiliate tracker. I'll dig in to it a little Karon, and let you know. When's lunch? Pick a date and I'll set a deadline to look into it.

[MarketPro]

Hey I want lunch too!!!

[Scottie]

Hey I want lunch too!!! 

Sounds good, come on over Laura! Downtown Columbia SC, you can pick the restaurant!

Jill's son is supposed to be working on a transporter so she can join us too, maybe he'll have it done this month. :learn: Bright kid.

[MarketPro]

Never been to Columbia, but I have connections in Charleston

[copywriter]

Well, the only things about using my merchant account as opposed to ClickBank or 2CheckOut or something is that I'll be stuck handling the affiliate payments (to multiple countries with currency exchanges & junk) AND I'll be stuck complying with international tax laws with I definitely don't want to do.

I didn't realize 2CheckOut had an affiliate module. When I visited their site last (about a week ago) I didn't see anything about it. (Just where you could sign up to be *their* affiliate.) Let me contact them and see what they say.

Security would be a problem, but surely there are scripts or programs that would work with it so prevent fraud, etc.

If ClickBank would just add a shopping cart my problem would be solved. I emailed them and got the response that they were thinking about it, but had no firm plans to add it.

As for lunch, the more the merrier, I say. However, we'll have to wait a bit. I'm heading up to Greenville tomorrow. My grandmother is very ill and in ICU. (Pneumonia, collapsed lungs, stroke (can't speak anymore as of yesterday afternoon) and the possibility of an embolism.) Blood pressure is spiking and then bottoming out so they can't do a MRI right now to see how much damage, etc. NOT GOOD! If you're the praying type... how 'bout add her to your prayer list, will ya? If you're not the praying type, any good thoughts/energy you could throw her way would be appreciated.

I'll be working from there on my laptop... not sure when I'll be back. Hopefully by Monday night.

[Scottie]

Best wishes for your grandmother, Karon. I'll keep you and her in my thoughts.

[BobetteKyle]

I *thought* I'd found the perfect solution, but it runs through PayPal.  <snip> I just emailed them again to verify and was told that both the buyer and seller must have a PayPal account.

Here as an update on the Paypal. For both their shopping cart and "buy now" buttons, they give your customers a choice to either sign into their paypal account or "continue checkout now to pay securely using your credit card: Signing up for a PayPal account is optional." (quote from Paypal checkout page).

[jspope]

Hi!

PaySystems.com can handle either intangible (downloadable)
or tangible (shippable) products. For an initial fee of
$49.00, you can accept all major credit cards as well as
online checks. Fees are just 3.95% of sales and $1.00 per
transaction. Alternatively, you may pay 5.5% of sales and
$ .35 per transaction.

For this, you receive shopping cart, integration with
third-party affiliate programs (such as ClixGalore.com ),
fraud screening, multi-currency transactions, toll-free
support, marketing tools, and more.

Regards,

Stephen :-)

[Catalyst eMarketing]

Hi. I'm an Affiliate Management Consultant and I suggest not combining the two. Get the best of each for your needs and don't compromise. Plus there is no software that PAYS affiliates for you - only networks do that.

Stick with your cart if you like it or find the best cart for you needs seperately. Then join the Shareasale Network of you want a great low cost option or CJ if you can afford 5,000 set up and plan to have a very big program. Both will cut your checks and integrate with any shoppig cart. If you want to go with a software solution instead of a network there are some good ones on my software page. No time to list them all right now. But I prefer to launch programs on networks. Lots of reasons and benefits.

Hope this helps.

[Peter]

I've been looking for a good shopping cart that also allows for affiliate programs.

A good shopping cart is Apple Pie Cart. It does not sell apple pie , that is just the name.

But it is a search engine friendly shopping cart, which is something I like a lot. Much less worries about customer acquisition. It also has a built in affiliate program, which is excelent from an SEO point of view because it helps you increase link popularity.

Regards,

Peter