Shopping Cart Software - Frequently Asked Questions

Is the shopping cart software hosted on your server or mine?

The shopping cart software can be installed on any server or hosting service where the software requirements are met. A pre-installation test script and a 30-day trial is provided. If you are seeking a service provider, we offer very reliable hosting service, which supports all of the software requirements and includes FREE INSTALLATION. In addition, AShopCart.com is a hosted shopping cart service with 5 minute automated installation in a subdomain. For example yourshop.ashopcart.com.

How much does the shopping cart software cost? Are there recurring fees?

• Licensed software may be installed on any server that supports the software requirements. The shopping cart software is licensed for a specified number of domains by paying a one-time fee. License fees are listed in our catalog. One year of technical support and software updates is included with the license. After the first year, technical support and updates are available by subscription for $60 annually.
• The shopping cart software is available as an add-on to our web hosting plans by paying a $10 monthly fee (in addition to the hosting plan subscription). Installation, technical support and software updates are always free for domains hosted with our service.
• AShopCart.com is a hosted shopping cart service with 5-minute automatic installation. There is a $9.95 one-time non-refundable set-up fee, the first month is free, and then the shopping cart service is $19.95 per month. The shopping cart is hosted on our server under a subdomain. For example: yourshop.ashopcart.com. FTP access is provided and additional web pages may be uploaded to the shopping cart site.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

No, however we do something better. We provide a free fully functional shopping cart program, which can be set up and used until you are satisfied that the software will serve your needs. The free trial keys are set to expire in 30 days, but we will gladly extend the trial period if you need more time. Technical support is provided during the trial period. When you decide to buy the software, the trial key can then be replaced with a permanent key. The shopping cart does not have to be reinstalled.

Is the shopping cart software easy to install?

Yes and No. If you have previously installed PHP scripts with a mySQL database without too much trouble, then it is easy. Basic installation requires knowledge of how to: use an FTP browser in binary transfer mode, set file and folder permissions, and create a database. Do-it-yourself installation is not recommended for everyone. If you are unsure or don't want to take a chance on wasting your time, let us install the software and database for you. Installations are typically completed within 24 hours. Setup of custom page templates is included and we will assist with payment gateway setup.

What kind of support is provided?

Support requests submitted through our contact page or by email are typically responded to within a few hours and always within one business day. Urgent requests are typically resolved within an hour. For phone support, leave a message and someone will call back within one business day.

Can the shopping cart software be moved or copied after it is installed?

Yes. The shopping cart software and database can be installed and setup with page templates, products, payment service and customizated shopping pages. The files and database can then be moved or copied to another site that supports the software requirements.

Can I "statically" place several items on a specific web page?

Yes. Each product must first be entered into the shopping cart. Then buy buttons and other shopping cart components may be included within static HTML pages. To include static links and buy buttons, the Order-Link method is simple and flexible.

Does information about items need to be "built" or "re-published" whenever items are added, changed, or deleted?

No. The dynamic catalog automatically creates pages with products from the shopping cart database. If there is more than one category, navigation is automatically created. For pages where you want to only show specific products AND you want the product listings to be dynamic (when changed in the database, the products change in the HTML page), use the separate catalog component includes. For instance, you could create a category named "Shirt, Hats, Mugs" and list the products for this category in a page. The automatically generated category tree navigation can be omitted from the page and custom navigation links may be created instead.

Is the software open source code available?

The software is encrypted with IonCube for copyright protection and to reduce hacking. We do not distribute open source software, however the program code is in separate files from the text and there are built-in tools for integration with third-party scripts and tracking systems.

Can the software be customized?

We greatly appreciate your suggestions for improvements. Each new feature is carefully considered before adding to our development calendar. Each new version is developed and tested extensively before releasing to the public. This process ensures consistent reliability in the software and sustainability for our company. We are a software company selling a software product, not a custom development firm. We provide a free fully functional demo, which you can install and use for 30 days or longer. We do not customize the software for individual customers or work under contract.

Does the shopping cart work with PayPal?

Yes. AShop Deluxe is certified by PayPal and PayPal is pre-integrated in the shopping cart. The PayPal Standard (IPN) system is very easy to setup. Just select the PayPal payment option from a drop-down list, enter your PayPal email address in the payment option and save it. You might also want to add a secure path to a logo image, which will appear in the PayPal payment page. The PayPal Pro payment option requires installation of PayPal SDK software.

What other payment services work with the shopping cart?

Most popular payment services are already pre-integrated in the shopping cart. New payment modules are created as needed for payment services that provide a secure method to connect and process payment data. New payment services must provide API documentation and a method to test the integration. If the payment service is a clone of an existing payment service such as Authorize.net or PlugNpay, we can typically add support for it right away.