Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Shopping Cart.

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Ratings

Feature Set

Does the software have a lot of bells and whistles available? The list of the software’s abilities and unique attributes printed on the outside of the box is often called the feature set.

Ease of Use

This is one of the most important features that we at Shopping–cart–Review look for. Is the product user friendly–easy for beginners and experienced computer users alike?

Ease of Installation

How simple is the software to install and use on your computer? Do errors pop up during the installation? Is there help available?

Help/Documentation

Does the software have FAQ’s? Are there online tutorials? Do they have phone support or email? Is there helpful documentation and articles? Is there an online community?

Features

Hosting Available

The merchants website can be hosted from the shopping cart company, or will provide a hosting partner.

WEBSITE DESIGN

Search Engine Friendly

Do the setup–up wizards allow you to edit the meta tags, and have a unique domain name? Will the website be read on the search engines and get a good ranking?

Store Setup Wizard

Store building Wizard will help you enter products, set shipping, taxes, pricing, and set up your store for commerce.

Template Creation and Flexibility

A file that contains tags and serves as a model for frequently updated files or communications.

Customizable

The ability to program the website the way you want it.

Integrated Store Search

This feature allows customers to search for specific items in your store.

Thumbnails and Large Image Views

Thumbnails enable you to see a smaller version of the product you are offering, which makes load time faster. For a larger or more detailed image, Large image views can be opened on a separate page.

BACK OFFICE

Data Import Wizard (Bulk Upload)

This feature allows the merchant to upload all their products at one time, instead of adding them one by one.

Power Edit

Power edit lets you edit multiple products at the same time.

Maximum Number of Products

What is the Maximum number of products that you can sell, with their shopping cart software?

Maximum Number of Categories

What is the Maximum number of categories that you can setup, with their shopping cart software?

Catalog Manager

Catalog Manager helps you manage inventory and organize your merchandise in an online product catalog.

Inventory Control

Inventory control monitors, what is moving, and what is not, the inventory level of each item in stock, Which items are under-stocked, and who is buying your merchandise.

Backorders/Partial Shipments

Backordering allows the merchant to ship a product that is currently not in stock. With partial shipping, the merchant can ship the Items that are In stock, and when the backordered Items are available the rest of the shipment is sent.

Accounting Integration

The merchant is able to download their information, and use it with today's common accounting software.

SHOPPING FEATURES

Hard Goods (physical)

Tangible goods. An example would be clothing, electronics, furniture, or anything that is in physical form

Soft Goods (Downloadable)

Downloadable goods, or services. An example would be E–books, Instructions, or scheduling a service to be done.

On-sale, Up-sell, Cross-sell Module

This module allows the merchant to set discount prices. Up–sell would be when someone buys a computer; they can pay a little more money for a faster processor, or for more memory. Cross sell is when a customer buys one product, and the merchant has another product that is compatible. For example, if a computer was purchased the customer would be prompted to buy a printer with it.

Coupons, Gift Certificate, E-Coupons

This is a way for merchants to use their coupons, or gift certificates online. This feature also allows a merchant to create their own coupons.

Customer Address Book

Stores the E–mail address, and shipping address of customers.

Customer Can View Order History

A shopping feature that allows customers to see what they have purchased.

Live Order Tracking

A feature that keeps track of the customers orders. It also Indicates where a product is at in the shipping process.

Automated E-mail Confirmations

An email confirming the order, which is automatically sent to the customer and merchant after a purchase has been made.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Merchant Account/Gateway Integration

Payment gateway services verify all of a customer’s credit card information, judges the authenticity of the transaction, then either declines or processes the credit card payment. A merchant account allows a business to accept credit card transactions from customers. Merchant accounts are commercial bank accounts set up between a retail business and a financial institution. Funds from customers are deposited into the merchant account.

Paypal Payment Compatabilty

PayPal allows merchants to accept credit card payments without the need for a merchant account, plus shoppers can pay with funds from a bank account or other source.

Real-Time Credit Card Processing

The shopping cart offers their own credit card processing or is compatible with other processing programs.

Accept Payment In Any Currency

This feature allows the customer the option of paying with any international currency.

Checks, Phone orders, COD, E-checks

In addition to credit card processing the merchant is able to collect payment through other common means of exchange.

Customizable Checkout/Shipping Pages

Allows the merchant to configure the check out pages, and shipping pages. Adding HTML code or simply changing the way words are formatted.

STATISTICS / MARKETING

Affilate Program Setup

The shopping cart offers their own affiliate program, or is compatible with the most common ones. Allows commission for banners, or products.

Number Of Sales Reports

The total number of sales reports available.

Number Of Traffic Reports

The total number of traffic reports available.

Number Of Product/Category Reports

The total number of product / inventory reports.

Promotional Mail/Customer Followup

This feature allows you to send out E–mails, or newsletter to your customers.

SHIPPING / TAX

Realtime Shipping Interfaces (UPS,Fedex)

Lets your customers choose UPS shipping services and see real UPS shipping rates right in the shopping cart!

Automatic Tax Calculation

This feature allows the merchant the ability to configure sales taxes, based on any criteria the merchant needs.

Flexible Shipping Calculations

This feature allows the merchant, and customer, many options when choosing shipping. Examples would be, same day shipping, overnight shipping, International Shipping, free shipping, and common shipping companies.

Handling Charges

The option to include handling charges in the checkout process.

Restrict Shipping by Location

Allows the merchant to specify where they are willing to ship to.

SECURITY

SSL Secure Socket Layer

Secured Sockets Layer is a protocol that transmits your communications over the Internet in an encrypted form. SSL ensures that the information is sent, unchanged, only to the server you intended to send it to. Online shopping sites frequently use SSL technology to safeguard your credit card information.

Cookies

Persistent Client–State HTTP Cookies are files containing information about visitors to a web site (e.g. user name and preferences). This information is provided by the user during the first visit to a web server. The server records this information in a text file and stores this file on the visitor’s hard drive. When the visitor accesses the same web site again the server looks for the cookie and configures it based on the information provided. Some shopping carts require cookies enabled to make a purchase.

Backups and Restores

The shopping cart company backs up their servers that hold all your website information, product information, or shopping cart transactions.

Fraud Protection

Everyone wants to protect against fraud on the Internet. Merchants can request or require that customers enter the CVV2 value printed on the back of most credit cards, which helps to ensure that the customer actually has the card and that the number is valid.

TECHNICAL/CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Online Chat

This feature allows the merchant the ability to talk to their shopping cart company directly through their website.

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