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ecommerce:shopping_for_ecommerce_solutions [2021/10/18 02:11] – [Shop 0.0.2] mithatecommerce:shopping_for_ecommerce_solutions [2021/12/25 05:54] (current) – [Square Online/Weebly] mithat
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   * Very low cost --- because it’s not really going to make money, at least for a while.   * Very low cost --- because it’s not really going to make money, at least for a while.
-  *  Automatic sales tax computation --- because I live in a state that has difficult and complex tax collection policies. +  *  Automatic sales tax computation --- because I live in a state that has complex tax collection policies. 
-  * Ability to use a fulfillment center (e.g., Fulfillment by Amazon) -- to handle things if things really end up growing and/or if I travel for an extended period.+  * Ability to use a fulfillment center (e.g., Fulfillment by Amazon) --- to handle things if the shop really ends up growing and/or if I travel for an extended period.
  
 ===== Shop 0.0.1 ===== ===== Shop 0.0.1 =====
 +
 +==== WordPress+WooCommerce ====
  
 **TL;DR:** [[https://woocommerce.com/|WordPress+WooCommerce]] has a lot of potential. More research is needed to evaluate fulfillment features. The plugin-based architecture could create maintenance issues. The reliance on third-party stuff diminishes the FOSS-appeal. **TL;DR:** [[https://woocommerce.com/|WordPress+WooCommerce]] has a lot of potential. More research is needed to evaluate fulfillment features. The plugin-based architecture could create maintenance issues. The reliance on third-party stuff diminishes the FOSS-appeal.
  
-A couple years ago, I set up a trial [[https://woocommerce.com/|WordPress+WooCommerce]] shop  partially to learn its in and outs for client work and partially to see if it would eventually work as a solution for my own shop. This should come as little surprise to those who know what a supporter of FOSS I am.+A couple years ago, I set up a [[https://woocommerce.com/|WordPress+WooCommerce]] shop both to learn its ins and outs for client work and to see if it would eventually work as a solution for my own shop. This should come as little surprise to those who know what a supporter of FOSS I am.
  
-What I found is that while it’s possible to build a shop with WordPress+WooCommerce, to make it useful you’ll need to add some third-party plugins, some by WooCommerce, some not, FOSS, some not. This arguably turns the open-source platform into a distributed proprietary one. Apart form the compromise in computing ecology this represents, it introduces two additional issues of concern: (1) There’s no guarantee that a third-party plugin you’re relying on will be maintained in the future, and (2) there’s no guarantee that the pricing model for a third party plugin you’re relying on won’t change. It also introduces a couple usability issues for the shop maintainer: the management of features tends to get a little spidery, and updating plugins can be chaotic if done automatically; if done manually a lot of diligence is required. Not a deal-killer, but a bit of a papercut.+What I found is that while it’s possible to build a shop with WordPress+WooCommerce, to make it useful you’ll need to add some third-party plugins, some by WooCommerce, some not, some FOSS, some not. This arguably turns the open-source platform into a distributed proprietary one. Apart form the compromise in computing ecology this represents, it introduces two additional issues of concern: (1) There’s no guarantee that a third-party plugin you’re relying on will be maintained in the future, and (2) there’s no guarantee that the pricing model for a third party plugin you’re relying on won’t change. It also introduces a couple usability issues for the shop maintainer: the management of features tends to get a little spidery, and updating plugins can be chaotic if done automatically; if done manually a lot of diligence is required. Not a deal-killer, but a bit of a papercut.
  
 As far as how well WordPress+WooCommerce lines up with my three desired features: As far as how well WordPress+WooCommerce lines up with my three desired features:
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   * It can be very low cost to run — free in fact if you don’t count webhosting that you already have. However, running it for “free” will limit the plugins you can use.   * It can be very low cost to run — free in fact if you don’t count webhosting that you already have. However, running it for “free” will limit the plugins you can use.
   * WooCommerce’s own tax calculation plugin promises to do what I need, and initial testing suggests that it works. Other options exist but get very costly very quickly.   * WooCommerce’s own tax calculation plugin promises to do what I need, and initial testing suggests that it works. Other options exist but get very costly very quickly.
-  * The [[https://woocommerce.com/products/woocommerce-amazon-fulfillment/|plugin for Fulfillment by Amazon]] is a bit costly. We aren’t talking about Amazon’s service fees here, we’re talking about having plunk down $129 a year on top of those. It looks other fulfillment integrations may be possible. This needs some research.+  * The [[https://woocommerce.com/products/woocommerce-amazon-fulfillment/|plugin for Fulfillment by Amazon]] is a bit costly. We aren’t talking about Amazon’s service fees here, we’re talking about having plunk down $129 a year on top of those. However, other fulfillment integrations appear to be possible. This needs some research.
  
 +Other pros and cons include:
 +
 +  * Because it's so popular, there are a //lot// of plugins. This means if you want to add something to your store (e.g., on-demand printing of swag) you'll probably have a decent range of service providers to pick from.
  
 ===== Shop 0.0.2 ===== ===== Shop 0.0.2 =====
  
-The concerns and issues with the above led me to search for potential alternatives. I was drawn away from other FOSS solutions (e.g. [[https://www.opencart.com/|OpenCart]], [[https://www.prestashop.com/en|PrestaShop]], [[https://www.abantecart.com/|AbanteCart]]) because they seemed to require a lot of development work to make work for me, they relied on third-party and especially non-FOSS plugins for desired functionality, or both.+The concerns and issues with the above led me to search for potential alternatives. I was drawn away from other FOSS solutions (e.g. [[https://www.opencart.com/|OpenCart]], [[https://www.prestashop.com/en|PrestaShop]], [[https://www.abantecart.com/|AbanteCart]]) because they seemed to require a lot of development work to make work for me, relied on third-party and especially non-FOSS plugins for desired functionality, or both.
  
-This in turn led me to consider what’s available in the proprietary camp. I’ve built eCommerce sites for others using Shopify, but I eliminated it for my own shop because of their fees. Yes, even their admittedly meager monthly cost would be hard to justify based on the expected income from the shop — at least for a while. I quickly eliminated other alternatives that charge similar or higher fees.+This in turn led me to consider what’s available in the fully-proprietary camp. I’ve built eCommerce sites for others using Shopify, but I eliminated it for my own shop because of their fees. Yes, even their admittedly meager monthly cost would be hard to justify based on the expected income from the shop — at least for a while. I quickly eliminated other alternatives that charge similar or higher fees.
  
 I finally narrowed things down to a few interesting candidates, which I discuss briefly below. I finally narrowed things down to a few interesting candidates, which I discuss briefly below.
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 ==== Square Online/Weebly ==== ==== Square Online/Weebly ====
  
-**TL;DR:** Good if their template works for you. Tax needs testing. Fulfillment integration needs research.+**TL;DR:** [[https://squareup.com/us/en/online-store|Square Online]] (formerly Weebly) seems like a solution if their template works for you. Tax needs testing.
  
 In terms of required features: In terms of required features:
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   * It’s very affordable: there’s no cost to start.   * It’s very affordable: there’s no cost to start.
   * It promises automatic sales tax computation. But this needs testing, esp. for local tax granularity.   * It promises automatic sales tax computation. But this needs testing, esp. for local tax granularity.
-  * Support for third-party fulfillment doesn’t seem to be mentioned by Square, but [[https://www.shipbob.com/partners/square/|ShipBob]] says they provide [[https://www.shipbob.com/blog/square-fulfillment/|it]].+  * It supports third-party fulfillment with the [[https://squareup.com/us/en/app-marketplace/app/shipbob|ShipBob plugin]]. (See also [[https://www.shipbob.com/partners/square/|this]] and [[https://www.shipbob.com/blog/square-fulfillment/|this]].)
  
 Other pros and cons: Other pros and cons:
  
-  * No plugins, so much less anxiety of abandonware.+  * No plugins ("apps" in Squarespeak) are required and there aren't that many plugins available, so there's not much less anxiety of plugins becoming abandonware.
   * It's easy to use, though not nearly as easy as they would have you think.   * It's easy to use, though not nearly as easy as they would have you think.
-  * Running under your own domain will require a paid tier. But the ''%%<subdomain>.square.site%%'' URL they give you is decent, and the ''%%<subdomain>%%'' is easy to change.+  * Running under your own domain requires a paid tier. But the ''%%<subdomain>.square.site%%'' URL they give you is decent, and the ''%%<subdomain>%%'' is easy to change.
   * The retail template is functional, but they only offer one, along with a number of styling (font and color) options.   * The retail template is functional, but they only offer one, along with a number of styling (font and color) options.
 +  * Supports print on demand sales with a [[https://squareup.com/us/en/app-marketplace/app/printful|Printful plugin]].
 +  * The store's navigation isn't that flexible or that great.
 +  * I've been getting a //lot// of emails from Square now, some trying to upsell.
  
  
 ==== Shift4Shop/3dcartstores ==== ==== Shift4Shop/3dcartstores ====
  
-**TL;DR:** Would be good if manually updating tax tables was acceptable (and if they aren’t pro-guns).+**TL;DR:** [[https://www.shift4shop.com/|Shift4Shop]] (formerly 3dcartstores) would be good if manually updating tax tables was acceptable (and if they aren’t pro-guns).
  
 In terms of required features: In terms of required features:
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 ==== Ecwid ==== ==== Ecwid ====
- +** 
-TL;DR: [[https://www.ecwid.com/|Ecwid]] presents an interesting alternative, but automated tax calculations will require a paid tier. +TL;DR:** [[https://www.ecwid.com/|Ecwid]] presents an interesting alternative, but automated tax calculations requires (modest) paid tier. 
  
 In terms of required features: In terms of required features:
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   * There’s a no-cost tier, but …   * There’s a no-cost tier, but …
   * You don’t get automated tax calculations unless you pay for the $15/mo package.   * You don’t get automated tax calculations unless you pay for the $15/mo package.
-  * I'm assuming integrations are possiblebut without automated tax for no costI decided not to do more research.+  * Fulfillment using the [[https://www.ecwid.com/apps/storemanagement/efulfillment-service|eFulfillment Service plugin]][[https://redstagfulfillment.com/integrations/ecwid-fulfillment-services/|Red Stag Fulfillment]]and purportedly the [[https://www.ecwid.com/apps/featured/zapier|Zapier plugin]].
  
 ===== Conclusions ===== ===== Conclusions =====
  
-TBD.+Assuming Square Online passes sales tax testing, it's going to be a close fight between Square Online and WordPress+WooCommerce. 
 + 
 +Stay tuned.
  
ecommerce/shopping_for_ecommerce_solutions.1634523111.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/10/18 02:11 by mithat

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