Shopping Cart Direct comes with an easy to use bulk upload tool. Using our Microsoft Access database sheet, you can upload a new database, or update a current database in your store.
4. I like my current website! Can I just add the shopping cart?
No. When you sign up with Shopping Cart Direct, you are getting a full service e-commerce package. Not just shopping cart software. You have two basic options here…one is to keep your current website just the way it is, and redirect the customers to your store with Shopping Cart Direct just for the checkout process. This means that your own website and your store with Shopping art Direct would be two independent websites. If you choose this option, we will help you design the store as close as possible to your current website so that the transaction is seamless and feels like it is all done on one website. OR, since Shopping Cart Direct provides with a store that has all the features and functions that a website should need (including hosting!), you can transfer all of the information from your current website to the store with Shopping Cart Direct! Either option is pretty easy to do.
5. Do I need to have any type of previous knowledge or experience to work with the store's Control Panel?
Nope! The Control Panel is the most user-friendly you will find. Even amateurs will have no problem understanding it!
6. I will also need some additional information pages, such as ‘About Us' and ‘Contact Us'…do you have that?
No problem! Shopping Cart Direct provides you with four dynamic pages that you can use for whatever you like! You can name them, enable or disable them, and put text or HTML code on them.
7. Do I need any special hardware or software to use Shopping Cart Direct?
No, you won't need any of that. Each store is a fully equipped website with shopping cart capability. All the tools and features that you should need are already in your store! The only things you will need are a computer with a web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) and an Internet connection. To include and update images in your store, you may want to have access to a digital camera and/or scanner.
8. Can I change the design or information in my store?
Of course! You can update your store as often as you want, from any computer that is connected to an Internet. You can edit your site ‘behind the scenes” while customers browse and shop on your site. Once you click ‘Save' to any changes that you make, they will be reflected immediately in the store and visible to your customers.
9. Will my store have its own unique and professional look?
STORE OPERATIONS
1. What are some of the advanced features that the store includes?
Some of our most important features included in each and every Shopping Cart Direct store are: Inventory Controls, Newsletter Subscribers, Wish List, Search Option, Member's Area, Visitor Reports, Multiple Item Zoom Images, Item Drop-Down Menus, and SO much more!
2. Am I able to sell downloadable products?
At the moment, no. Downloadable items would have to be emailed to each of your customers individually and manually. However, this option is currently under development.
3. How will the store help me track and control my inventory?
You can enable or disable the Inventory Management option as you like. When it's enabled, any item that is purchased will be automatically decreased in the inventory by the quantity purchased. When an item reaches ‘0' in the inventory quantity, it automatically becomes ‘Unavailable'.
4. How will I know how my business is doing? Can I see statistics about my sales and site visitors?
Sure, it's easy! Every time you log in to your Control Panel, you will see an at-a-glance version of your stores traffic and sales activity, immediately. This information updates and tracks your orders and traffic automatically. You can view detailed reports of this information by clicking on the ‘Reports' option in your Control Panel.
5. Is there a way that I am able to manage my files and product portfolios?
Yes, you can store all of your files and items into the ‘File Manager'. You can manually enter each of your store's items and/or files, or you can bulk upload them for faster data entry.
DOMAIN NAMES
1. Can I keep my current domain name?
Sure! During the order process, you will enter your current domain name. After you place your order, you will receive instructions on how to point your domain name to your new Shopping Cart Direct store. Until the domain name transfer is complete, you can access your store and its Control Panel with the temporary links provided in your “Welcome” email. Keep in mind that moving a domain name means directing your name servers to Shopping Cart Direct's servers. Your domain name registration will remain with your current registrar and you will be solely responsible for maintaining your domain name registration.
2. Can I change my domain name later?
Yes, you can. You just need to let us know. There are instructions on how to do this in your “Welcome” email.
HOSTING AND EMAIL
1. Is hosting Included? If so, what hosting features do I get?
Yes, hosting is included! You'll get UNLIMITED storage space and bandwidth. You'll also receive SSL security, many different web design tools to choose from, and a wide range of store management tools!
2. Where is my store hosted? Can I keep my current hosting provider and still have a shopping cart with Shopping Cart Direct?
Your new store will be hosted only on Shopping Cart Direct's designated servers. Once you've transferred your domain name, there is no need to keep your current hosting provider. Unless you are keeping your current website and redirecting your customers to your store with Shopping Cart Direct for the checkout process.
3. Does my store include email?
It sure does! And with Shopping Cart Direct, you'll get an UNLIMITED number of email accounts! You'll also get an interface tool to create/edit/delete POP 3 accounts.
ORDER PROCESSING AND MERCHANT ACCOUNTS
1. How will I view the orders from my customers?
There are two different ways you can view your customers' orders. The most common way is to log in to your Control Panel and click on “ Order Center ”. Here you can see all orders and display them by date, price, stats, or ID number. The other way that you will see an order is through the automatic email notification that is sent to your specified email account immediately after an order has been placed.
2. Do I need a merchant account to use Shopping Cart Direct?
You are not required to have a merchant account to use Shopping Cart Direct. You can process your customers' credit card orders manually, if you have the required means to do so. However, if you want to be able to authorize/charge your customers' credit card orders automatically, online, then you will need to set up a merchant account through any one of the following providers currently supported by Shopping Cart Direct: PayPal, Authorize.net, Verisign, Linkpoint, First American Pay, Concord, Card Services International and Protx (for UK customers only).
3. How do I get a merchant account?
You will need to contact any of the providers mentioned above for information on signing up for their service.
4. I already have a merchant account. Can I use it with Shopping Cart Direct?
Yes, you can use any preexisting merchant account to process your orders, as long as it is a merchant account provider that is currently supported by Shopping Cart Direct. These merchant account providers are: PayPal, Authrize.net, Verisign, Linkpoint, First American Pay, Concord , Card Services International and Protx (for UK customers only). You can connect your store to any existing merchant account in seconds!
SITE SECURITY
1. Is the shopping cart secure?
Absolutely. There is a secure checkout process that can be activated from your Control Panel. The SSL certificate is issued to Shopping Cart Direct.com. If you wish to have a certificate issued specifically for your domain, you will need to purchase one. You can contact us for more information on how to do this.
2. Will anyone else have access to my order information and sales data?
No. When you sign up with Shopping Cart Direct, you will establish a unique username
and password. Only people that YOU personally give this username and password to will have access to your store information.
SEARCH ENGINE PLACEMENT
1. How can I help potential customers find my store online? What kind of marketing does Shopping Cart Direct provide me with?
The Shopping Cart Direct Control Panel allows you to utilize the meta tags of your store. Every item page will display the item name in the page title, helping the search engines cache your site, and therefore making it visible in the search engines. Shopping Cart Direct also includes web-based tools to help you create and manage email marketing campaigns.
However, if you are looking for more advanced marketing solutions, Shopping Cart Direct offers a Targeted Marketing Campaign that can guarantee your site a placement in the TOP 10 search results on the major search engines. Please note that the Targeted Marketing Campaign is a separate program, and is an additional cost. Please contact us to find out more information.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Is Shopping Cart Direct available to businesses located outside the U.S. ?
Yes, Shopping Cart Direct can be used in other countries, as long as the merchant account provider is one of the following: PayPal, Authrize.net, Verisign, Linkpoint, First American Pay, Concord , Card Services International and Protx (for UK customers only.
2. Are there any set-up fees or fixed term agreements?
Nope! There are no set-up fees and no fixed term agreements. All accounts are on a month to month basis.
3. Which programming language does Shopping Cart Direct work with?
Shopping Cart Direct is built on ASP code.
Shopping Cart Direct’s clients range from small businesses and private companies to major professional corporations.
