We are looking to build an e-commerce store front for EmeraldComputers.com. This is a two part project, first setting up the cart, and second is to enter in the first 350 or so items we sell.
Here is what we are looking to do. I would like to talk with you first about which cart to select. So far Zeus Cart, or OScommerce seems to be the best but I am open to suggestions. I only want to use open source cart software. I would also like it to be PHP driven. I would like to include Google analytics or something like it in the cart. We will be creating a MULTICART system where multiple carts all use the same ITEM DATABASE. There will need to be an area where I can easily create new carts so that our resellers can have their own cart. There will also be an area where these resellers can log in and make minor changed on their cart, such as color scheme, logo on the top and contact info, but that will be the extent of the changes they will be able to make.
We currently do all sales with PayPal so that is the only payment integration that is needed We have about 300 items that we need to have entered into the cart, I will give you the item name, but you would need to find a photo and description online and enter them into the cart. This is common computer stuff so it should not be hard. We also have computer systems and the cart must be made in such a way that we can have it customize our computer system, where the user can select ram or hard drive or other things.
I need for this cart to be used by my affiliates, so it would need to have affiliate tracking, and I would need to know which affiliate sent the sale to us. Here is the hard part though, some of our affiliates would like to replace our logo and contact info with theirs, so there needs to be a way to do that with ease. It would also be nice if the different affiliates could use a different skin if they chose. Maybe the best way to do this is to install the cart software for EACH affiliate and simply just access the same database for the products. We could even have a separate product database for each affiliate that would download from the main one daily (Zeus Cart does not do affiliates so we need a separate install for each affiliate, and a small admin page to add/remove and monitor them.)
To support this project I do have a server, with unlimited space and bandwidth, it also has mySql and Cpanel.
Preference will be given to programmers from the Philippines so mention that if you are from there. This is because we plan to reopen our office there some day soon. Of course the main factors will be time, cost and your reputation.
I expect daily updates and communication. It is ok for a team to do this together. I use Yahoo Chat for most communication, email is too slow. I would expect you to be available on yahoo at least one hour each day while the project is going on. I also expect you to work on this project many hours each day. If you have a normal 8 hour a day job then this project is NOT for you because I am in a hurry to get this project done.
I do most of my online work from 8pm until 2am Arizona time (-7 GMT) That is 9am until 3pm for India, Bangladesh, and 11am until 5pm for China, Philippines and such.
I am a coder, but this is simple beyond what I can do in the time that I have to devote to this. But I know exactly how I would do it.
First I would make a master cart, with a master database. There would be an admin panel here and all changes would also go to this master database, I would also make a few extra CSS templates with different color schemes. Next I would write a simple program where additional carts would be created, they would also source this same master database. Each cart would be installed in its own directory like [login to view URL] and [login to view URL] The names of these carts would be stored in a different database. Next I would make another program in PHP that would allow the people who own each separate cart to select a CSS file from a list of various ones so they could change what their cart looks like. They would also be able to upload a [login to view URL] file to overwrite the main one if they wanted to, they would be able to update the text used for the account number for google analytics, they would be able to change the name of the store in the title bar, and they would be able to change the information on the contact us page. All of these changes would be made to files in their directory. When a sale is made the software will track which cart made the sale, all we would need is the directory name to be recorded in a notes field. All orders will be paid to the same paypal account. A copy of all sales will be given to both me and the owner of each cart. While all of this is being done a jr member of you team can do the data entry on the items. Now that it is easy to understand and do I hope you can bid low and do it fast. Thanks.
I look forward to working with you, please respond with your best offer, also please mention how much time per day you can chat, and work on this project. There will be no pre-payment, and max escrow will only be half. Please do NOT bid if you are not able to do this project, are confused or if you can not meet at the time that I have asked for.