ShopSite® is the easiest-to-use shopping cart software for small to medium-sized businesses.

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Frequently Asked Questions about ShopSite

What is ShopSite?
ShopSite is shopping cart software which allows Web stores or catalogs to be easily built and maintained. ShopSite ensures that orders are taken and handled in a secure fashion by working with standard secure protocols such as SSL.
Will ShopSite work with my existing HTML pages?
Yes, ShopSite has a feature called OrderAnywhere that allows "Add to Cart" and "View Cart" buttons to be inserted into existing HTML pages. In fact, using most HTML editors - such as Microsoft FrontPage - you can drag and drop the buttons from ShopSite's back office onto your Web pages. See our OrderAnywhere information page for more details.
Which ShopSite product is right for me?
ShopSite comes in three service levels: Pro, Manager and Starter. Which service level store you use will depend on your requirements. For merchants new to e-commerce who only want to put a few products online, Starter is the best choice. For merchants with more than 15 products, Manager is a better choice. ShopSite Pro includes additional advanced features. You can read about the features in all ShopSite products in the ShopSite Feature Checklist.
Does ShopSite run on my computer or on a server?
ShopSite is a set of CGIs (Web server programs) that run on a server. You access ShopSite through your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
Do I have to run ShopSite from your server?
No. Unlike some malls and shopping cart programs that require you to host on their server and pay their monthly fees, ShopSite allows you to choose where you install our software. If you are not currently hosted at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) we can refer you to a ShopSite Partner. Because ShopSite is designed to run on several different server platforms, you can move your store to another site or ISP if the need ever arises.
Will ShopSite work with my computer and browser?
Yes. ShopSite is an entirely web-based application, which means both merchants and customers can use ShopSite from any computer with internet access and a web browser. ShopSite has been tested on Microsoft Windows (95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista), Macintosh, and Linux/UNIX using a variety of popular browsers (IE [6 or greater], Firefox, Opera [6 or greater], Safari, Google Chrome, etc.). Several of our advanced features take advantage of JavaScript and cookies, but neither JavaScript nor cookies are required to manage or shop at a ShopSite store. ShopSite can even be accessed using a variety of portable web-enabled devices (PDAs, iPhone, BlackBerry, etc.).
Will ShopSite work with my Internet Service Provider's (ISP) server?
ShopSite works with the most popular server operating systems. Click here for a list of the supported server platforms and the system requirements. If you don't see your OS listed, contact us to see if we are in the process of supporting it.
Can I build my entire site with ShopSite?
Yes. ShopSite can generate HTML pages for any part of your site, even if you don't have products on those pages. ShopSite Manager and Pro stores can also generate matching individual product More Information pages. In addition, every customer-facing page or e-mail message generated by ShopSite can be completely customized using ShopSite's Custom Templates. We even have a list of Certified ShopSite Designers who can create or match a specific look and feel.
How can I get a demo copy?
See our demo page to try ShopSite from either the customer or merchant's point of view.
Can I build a mall using ShopSite?
Definitely. ShopSite was designed with malls (multiple stores using the same CGIs) in mind. Each store in a mall has it's own separate data and can have its own URL, while sharing the CGIs reduces the disk use overhead on the server.
Can I build an unlimited number of stores with one copy of ShopSite?
The number of stores running with a single ShopSite install is limited only by the server resources available. You must, however, purchase a separate license for each individual store.
Do you have any reference sites?
We have hundreds of reference sites. You can read case studies from merchants explaining how they've used ShopSite to build their online stores, or check out our Featured Stores to see a few of our favorite ShopSite stores. Here are just a few of the stores you'll find:
Are there any independent reviews of your products?
Yes, you'll find reviews by the following:
  • Shopping Cart Software Review has awarded ShopSite Pro their top award for the third year in a row.
  • ecommerce-guide.com - "ShopSite offers clear menus and screens to edit products, view sales, monitor statistics and more."
  • ecommerce-guide.com - "ShopSite 8 adds a bevy of new features that existing ShopSite users will definitely clamor for."
  • ecommerce-guide.com - "[ShopSite] adds support for gift certificates and additional payment gateways, XML upload capabilities and intrusion detection - all of which make a first-rate product even better."
  • ecommerce-guide.com - "ShopSite continues to make a name for itself as a powerful e-commerce solution offering flexibility and real room to grow."
  • ISP Planet - "The ShopSite software . . . adds a swath of new features, but the basic goal remains serving all customers."
  • Web Marketing Today - "The Pro version includes customer registration. Customers can be assigned to groups and automatically get coupons when they log in. This makes the cart much more inviting to B2B sellers who have negotiated prices with various vendors." (subscription required to read the full review)
  • Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Web Commerce Today - "[ShopSite] includes substantial enhancements and demonstrates to me that ShopSite is on the improvement track again."
  • InfoWorld - "I tested the service as a merchant and found store creation and management to be quite simple. I did not have to download any software or engage in involved configuration."
  • PC Week - "businesses will find it an excellent choice for building anything from a simple catalog to a large online store."
  • C|Net - "ShopSite Manager is a relative bargain for companies with a lot of items to sell"
  • InfoWorld - "Administration, maintenance, configuration, and catalog management are all performed online using one of the cleanest and fastest interfaces that I have seen."
  • Computer Reseller News - "The nice thing about this product is that the customer can set it up and manage their Web site by themselves, if they choose,"
  • eWeek - "ShopSite's handling of product discounts, made it simple to quickly mark products as sales items."
  • Web Developer's Journal - "[the ShopSite team] has gone to such lengths to make an e-commerce site easy to set up that your mother can probably do it."
How do I get my store listed in the Marketplace?
There is no charge to be listed in the ShopSite Marketplace. From the ShopSite back office, go to Merchandising > Marketplace and click the Register Now button. Your store will be added to our searchable listing of ShopSite-powered stores.
Does ShopSite support real-time credit card verification and payments?
Yes. We have integrated several real-time payment processing systems into all ShopSite products. Some notable systems include: For a complete list of supported payment processing systems, see Credit Card Processing in ShopSite.
Does ShopSite support Google Checkout?
Yes, ShopSite introduced support for Google Checkout starting with version 8.1 (June, 2006). See our Google Checkout information page for more details.
Does ShopSite support PayPal payments?
Yes, all ShopSite products since version 6.2 have built-in support for letting customers pay through PayPal. ShopSite version 8.0 introduced support for PayPal's Website Payments Pro services. Learn more about using PayPal with ShopSite.
Is ShopSite PCI/PABP Compliant?
ShopSite v10 has been certified as a PABP/PA-DSS compliant application. ShopSite 8.1 was also certified to be Visa CISP/PCI compliant. For more information, see our ShopSite and PCI Compliance information page.
Can ShopSite provide real-time shipping costs in the shopping cart?
Yes. ShopSite Pro and Manager stores have built-in intergration with UPS, FedEx, and USPS to provide real-time shipping quotes in the shopping cart. Best of all, the rates are displayed on the very first shopping cart screen, so customers don't have to fill out several screens of information before they can find out what the shipping charges will be. ShopSite Pro also includes support for custom shipping add-ons, which allow developers to develop modules for any other real-time shipping quote service.
Does ShopSite have Search Engine Optimization (SEO) features?
Yes. ShopSite is designed to work with search engines. ShopSite Manager and Pro stores include several SEO features, including full control of HTML title, meta keywords, meta description, filename, and link text. In addition, ShopSite has integration with Google Sitemaps. ShopSite's static pages also ensure search engines will find and index all your pages, wile minimizing the load on server resources.
No. All ShopSite images and links can be removed or replaced with your own. There is always a ShopSite logo in the back office, which the merchant sees. Of course, we would love it if you kept our logo and links on your site!
Are there any third-party add-on products for ShopSite?
Yes, a number of developers have created modules for ShopSite's large installed base of merchants. see a list of Partner Add-Ons.
Will you design and build my store?
No, but many of our hosting partners offer Web site design services. We also have Certified ShopSite Designers who are experienced with ShopSite and in designing e-commerce sites.
What does ShopSite Cost?
ShopSite is sold through our partners such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs). They will set their own pricing. Some partners bundle the cost of ShopSite in with their monthly hosting fee. Other partners will charge an upfront fee for ShopSite. The suggested list prices for partners that charge an upfront fee are $1295 for ShopSite Pro and $495 for ShopSite Manager. If you do not have much of a budget, don't worry, ShopSite Starter stores start at just dollars a month.
Are there extra costs for any features or add-ons?
All server-side features listed for each ShopSite product are included in the price of ShopSite - there are no hidden or additional costs for any ShopSite features. Merchants who use a payment processing service for realtime credit card processing pay those services separately, and any third-party add-ons are sold by their respective developers.
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