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.
Which ShopSite product is right for me?
ShopSite comes in three levels: Pro, Manager and Starter. Which 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. Merchants and customers can access ShopSite from the computer of their choice. ShopSite uses standard Web protocols and works with browsers from Mozilla, Microsoft, Apple, and others on computers running Windows 95, 98, ME, or XP, Windows NT or 2000, Macintosh, and UNIX/Linux. Merchants should use a version 6.x or higher browser in order to utilize all ShopSite features. Shoppers can use earlier browser versions; they can even use Web TV to make a purchase at a ShopSite store.
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. If you want a certain look and feel you can use custom page templates to easily update your site and publish changes. Our Certified ShopSite Designers can create or match a specific look and feel. You can find them on our list of CSDs, and you can view their work and contact them for more information.
How can I get a demo copy?
To see a demo, go to our demo page. You can experience the latest version of ShopSite from a customer or a merchant's perspective.
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. Click here for more information.
Can I build a mall using ShopSite?
Definitely. ShopSite was designed to allow the sharing of the ShopSite program files. Each store has its own data, but shares a common set of program files (CGIs).
Can I build an unlimited number of stores with one copy of ShopSite?
You can share the same CGIs among hundreds of stores on one server, but each store needs its own valid license.
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 visit our Marketplace to find more stores using ShopSite. Here's a selection of different types of stores using ShopSite software:

Hometime, the PBS TV show selling videos, blueprints, and other home improvement items.
The Getty Trust Foundation, a museum selling prints and artwork.
Avia, the shoe company.

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."
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Web Commerce Today - "[ShopSite] includes substantial enhancements and demonstrates to me that ShopSite is on the improvement track again."
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)
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, click the Merchandising button then click the Store Registration button and 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.
Does ShopSite pass Visa's CISP/PCI/PABP program?
Version 8.1 has passed Visa's CISP Payment Application Best Practices validation.
Can ShopSite provide real-time shipping costs in the shopping cart?
Both ShopSite Pro and ShopSite Manager have full integration with UPS Rates and Services Selection and with FedEx, which shows customers actual shipping rates. The rates are displayed right in the shopping cart, so customers don't have to fill out several screens of ordering information before they can see what the shipping charges will be. ShopSite Pro can also work with a custom shipping add-on from third party developers, such as the USPS module from LexiConn.
Why are ShopSite's static Web pages better?
When ShopSite generates the store, it creates the Web pages so that they are always present on your site. These are referred to as static pages. Other commerce packages generate the Web pages on-the-fly. These are called dynamic pages. The advantages of static pages are:
  1. Because they are always present, they can be indexed by search engines. A significant portion of customers find sites by using search engines. Dynamic Web pages may not be indexed by search engines such as Alta Vista, Infoseek, HotBot and others. Note this information from Google, the leading search engine:
    "Reasons your site may not be included [indexed].

    Your pages are dynamically generated. We are able to index dynamically generated pages. However, because our web crawler can easily overwhelm and crash sites serving dynamic content, we limit the amount of dynamic pages we index."

  2. Static Web pages are faster. When a customer clicks a link to a dynamic Web page, that page must first be created before the Web Server can send it to the customer's browser, which takes time. Static pages are ready to be served instantly.
  3. Hosting companies prefer static Web pages because they use less resources than dynamic pages. With dynamic pages, a database is constantly being accessed for every customer wanting to view a page. This takes server CPU cycles and means that the frequently accessed pages cannot be store in 'cache' (memory) on the server or on the customer's local browser (on disk).
Will customers have to see the ShopSite logo on my Web pages?
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. Click here to view some of these 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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