To: Todd Kabes, Leslie Modgling

From: Melissa Parish (210-757-4556)

Re: General shopping cart proposal for San Antonio Weddings

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Included are three different shopping cart plans. I am very familiar with the Basic and the Advanced. I have never used the intermediate shopping cart software, but after some research, it is an excellent shopping cart package – a good value and very robust.

All three of these carts are ASP/VBScript front-end and either SQL or MSAccess back-end.

I will devote to this project complete development and support from start to finish.

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Basic Version – Cost: $800

Basic cart demo, (does not include all of the features listed below):

http://www.webdraper.com/engraving/acart2_0/index.asp

Live site examples (includes all features listed below):

http://www.americarx.com/

http://balloonlogos.com/store/product_info.php/cPath/30/products_id/47

• Cross selling
  Addition of "You may also like" to product pages.
• More caching
  This reduces the number of database queries thus leading to a faster and more efficient shopping experience.
• Display multiple products on one page
  All products for a single category are displayed on a single page.
• Hierarchical side bar
  Allows easy user navigation through the hierarchical categories and products.
• Style sheets
  Style sheets allow easy customization of the shopping cart’s 'look and feel'.
• Verisign payflow Link
  Integration of the Verisign payflow Link payment system so you can handle real-time credit card payments.
• Integration of Authorize.net
  Integration of the Authorize.net payment system so you can handle real-time credit card payments.
• Address book system
  This allows customer to store multiple addresses which they can then use when placing an order.
• Search facility
  Allows customers search by keyword to quickly find a specific product.
• Shipping time
  Displays the average shipping time on a per product basis.
• Allows addition to price
  Products with certain attributes. can have their prices increased or decreased e.g. Add $5 for Large.
• Real time stock control.
  Automatically decrements inventory as stock is purchased.
• Shipping options
  Shipping options can be specified depending on total price, country or address substring.
• Display of 'order status'
  Displayed to customers and can be updated from the administration console.
• Better user privileges
  Allows you to limit access to many of the administration facilities.
• Search and display orders
  Perform searches on customer id, order id, date range and status.
• Search for customers
  Perform searches on customer id, name or email address.

Notes: Good bargain although limited, very easy to program, gets up and running in a short amount of time, customizable to look and feel of main site.

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Intermediate version – Cost: $1,100 (my new personal favorite)

Live sites:

http://www.naturalbeginnings.nl/default.htm

http://www.dinabean.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=2

http://www.dekelwindows.com/

http://www.rossirovetti.com/Scripts/default.asp

Technical

• ASP/ VBScript based software comes with full source code.
• No additional components needed for core functions.
• Runs on IIS 4.0/5.0 and PWS with Database support for MS Access 2002, SQL Server 7.0/2000.
• Built-in support for 5 of the most popular eMail components.
• Database based cart, from start to finish.
• Admin tool comes with several troubleshooting tools to help novice users track down web server configuration errors.
• Skinnable design allows for enormous flexibility in changing the look and feel of your store, without impacting future upgrades.
• Customizable language for the front-end of your store allows you to present the front-end to your customers in the language of your choice.
• Customizable currency for the front-end of your store allows you to present the front-end in the currency of your choice.

Security

• Support for SSL, including most "shared" SSL certificates.
• Encryption of Passwords and Credit Card numbers in the database.
• Robust user input validations throughout the store to trap possible SQL string hacks.
• Critical information (such as the RC4 key) is kept separate from the database.
• Assign additional login to the admin for staff that can't modify the store's configuration settings.

Customer Convenience

• Customer can view and modify their personal info by logging on to their account. Account can be created before or during CheckOut process.
• Full order history and detail is available to the customer.
• Customer receives confirmation eMails when they place the order, and when their order's status changes.
• All software downloads are available via their online account. No more hassles with eMailed software links gone missing.
• Customer can re-attempt payment at a later date. Sometimes the Payment Gateway's servers are down. With this software, the Customer can come back and pay later.
• Password Reminder feature for Customers.
• "Email A Friend" functionality allows customer to send a link to a Product via email.
• Support for tax-free customers.
• Convenient Order Print function from the customer's account area.
• Advanced search function.
• "Contact Us" script to send queries via email from your store.
• "Save Cart" functionality.
• See shipping estimates before checkout.
• Customer can keep a list of their favorite products.
• Selectable currency and language.

Catalog & Products

• The software does not limit the number of Products, Categories and Options.
• Item discounts based on quantity ordered.
• Order discounts with single or multi use discount codes.
• Products can be linked to multiple categories, and multiple option groups.
• Product categories can be "nested" within each other.
• You can display the entire category tree, or only from a certain point in the tree.
• Link images or other HTML to the category display.
• Group products so that they are displayed together on the product detail page.
• Option Groups can be individually set to Optional or Required. This way you can make sure that the Customer selects all the right options.
• Options can be given a weight which will be factored into the shipping cost calculations along with the Product weight.
• Support for "text" options which allows a customer to enter text when they order a product.
• Digital Downloads are fully supported. All downloads are done through a script that checks the order status before allowing the download.
• Store can be run in "Catalog Only" mode. This way, the store acts just like an online catalog, without any links to a shopping cart.
• Dynamically create product listings on your "Home Page" by setting product(s) to "Featured".
• Cross-Selling is supported via a related keys mechanism. This method is much less work than physically linking dozens of Products manually.
• Tax-free products and options.
• Support for product Ratings & Reviews per product.
• Support for product suppliers

Administration

• Several utilities to test and troubleshoot your installation.
• On-Screen help is available for most functions.
• Easily manage Products, Categories, Options, Customers, Shipping, Locations, Orders and much more.
• Upload Product Images and Software Items from your browser to your web server.
• Store shipping rates are calculated by order weight and/or price. The amount charged for shipping can be calculated via fixed price or percentage. Ability to assign Free Shipping to an individual product.
• Support for UPS, USPS and Canada Post online shipping rates.
• Configure sales tax per postal / zip code, municipality, state or country (billing or shipping address).
• Activate/Deactivate individual customers.
• Manage your orders from an intuitive screen. Order stock levels can be adjusted when the order ships.
• Add private comments to each order, or comments that the customer can also see.
• Statistical Charting tool.
• Restrict digital downloads to a specified number of downloads, or a pre-determined number of hours.
• Integrated Authorize.Net gateway allows you to authorize and collect Credit Card payments from your order management screen.
• Ability to override any customer selected payment method with a Authorize.Net Credit Card payment. This is usefull if the customer changes their mind about how they want to pay for an order after the order has already been placed.
• Emails sent to customer via the store can be customized to suit your requirements. Dynamic replacement of text can also be done.
• Send HTML Newsletters to your customers directly from your store.

Payment Gateways

• Built-in front end support for offline payments (such as Mail-In, Fax-In, Phone-In and COD), Offline Credit Card payments, PayPal, 2CheckOut.Com and Authorize.Net (AIM & SIM).
• Support for PayPal IPN and 2CheckOut.Com Auto-Update.
• Built-in support for Authorize.Net credit card payment authorizations from the Administration area.
• Support for custom payment gateways via user exits.
• Enter up to 9 Credit Card types (eg. Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
• Extensibility
• Easily add payment gateways to the store
• Easily add new languages to the store front-end

Notes: My favorite -- even though I have never programmed it before, I downloaded the demo and got it running in no time. I like the flexibility and features. It’s a great shopping cart for any size site.

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Advanced Version – Cost: $1,600

Live sites:

http://www.buttercupbooks.co.uk/

http://www.coffeehouse.com/shop/shopdisplaycategories.asp

http://www.atlantisnatural.com/

http://www.mpegifts.com/shopdisplaycategories.asp

http://www.directdisposables.com/shopdisplaycategories.asp

http://www.aldengrace.com/stationery.asp

Installation/Summary No plug-ins or system updates Just unzip files. VP-ASP is ready to use Browser based administration Unlimited products, categories Use as complete storefront Integrates into any existing web  Full open source Easy installation from a zip file Developer Discounts Reseller and ISP discounts Free add-ons for gateways, languages and real-time shipping No ongoing fees Free upgrades for a year Customer forum Turn on shopping features as you need them Simple shops can be up and running in an hour. Just add your products.	Payment Options Paypal 100+ electronic gateways such as Paypal, Authorizenet, Verisign Offline credit card processing Bypass payments Any other non credit type of payment Real time currency conversions Dual currency displays Reusable gift certificates Any currency type Service payments (take payments for auctions and non product services) Digital downloads and attachments Secure digital delivery Pin Number delivery Recurring Billing Points Rewards 3-4 digit card verification number optional or required
Products/Inventory Unlimited products Unlimited categories Unlimited product features such as color, size or any attribute you decide upon Features as drop down lists, radio buttons, fill in text, quantities, check boxes Feature based prices and weights Cross selling Coupons Gift Certificates Customer based pricing (retail, wholesale, etc) Quantity based pricing Delivery address per product Stock Control by product or feature Discounts based on order amount Product rating and reviews Top Sellers Wish lists Display products as a catalog only Call for price Dependent products  Ask a question Make an offer Buy one get x free Multiple images per product HTML editor or product and category descriptions Out of stock messages or auto hide products when stock depleted	Shipping and Taxes 15+ shipping calculations- price range, quantity range, weight, weight range etc Real time shipping - free add-ons UPS, FedEx, Australia Post, Canada Post, Thai Post, Intershipper for DHL and many other shipping companies Tax by state Tax by country Tax by product Handling fixed or by product Individual delivery address by product Product based shipping calculations Free shipping over a certain amount European VAT exemption handling Call for price shipping cost Enhanced product excludes for shipping and taxes Short term delivery date and time with exclusions for certain period Markups for real-time shipping Free shipping by product Free shipping by order amount Country based shipping Tax exempt products Canadian tax free add-on Australian GST free add-on
Mailing Mail to merchant on order completion Mail to Customer on order completion Mail to others (mailing list) on order completion Mail to suppliers on order completion Mail on customer buying a gift certificate Mail to Tell a friend Mail on order tracking message to merchant Bulk mailing by merchant Mail to merchant on new customer registration Mail to merchant on new product review Mail to customer on order tracking message by merchant Mail to merchant on new gift registry creation Mail to merchant on affiliate registration Mail to affiliate on registration Mail on order received for affiliate  Mail on processing an order by Mailing attachments	Customer Service Orders stored in database Customer history of all orders Customer can restore orders Repeat customer recognition Discounts and loyalty programs Affiliate Program Gift Registry Wish List Join mailing list Pre-sales registration Forced login before shopping Logged order tracking messages Customer based discounts Pin Number delivery Express Checkout Wish list per product SMS messaging
Design and layout Fully flexible design HTML template formatting or no template formatting Unlimited products Unlimited categories/subcategories Unlimited subcategory depth Advanced Search facilities Customizable search facility Thumbnails and larger images Automated extended descriptions Add to cart button on existing sites Order multiple products with one click Mouse only ordering Random product displays Mini cart always visible 350+ configuration options Your own database fields dynamically used for forms, search, display and editing Auto alphabetic links Dynamic headers	Back Office Update products using browser Update any table via browser Browser reporting Bulk Updating from files Bulk mailing- text or HTML Bulk Imports Display and print orders Order tracking messages Send message on order processed Configure over 400 Shop options using the browser Multiple administrators with different privileges Advanced SQL reports Export any table QuickBooks integration via export or third party software Static HTML generation for search engines Add and modify languages
Reports Sales reports Search query reports Total sales Total sales by product and supplier Affiliate Reports Recurring Billing Content management	Database and System Open ASP source Access, MySQL and SQL Server  MYSQL now supported in all versions MYSQL can be used in Microsoft Windows or Unix Full SSL Support Full shared SSL support Separate products database Split orders database
International Use any language Automatic language switching Dual Currency displays International shipping calculations International date formats Any currency symbol International Paypal support Auto currency conversion in real time Multi Currency	Anti-Hacker Security Prevent hackers from order based on e-mail or IP address Dual password login to Administration Totally hide administration Prevent certain countries from ordering Always use database prices Other internal security checks to prevent SQL injection IP to country checks Email admin owner when someone tries to access admin log in page Security alerts if unsecure pages found on server Security notices delivered directly to admin
Content Management Full Content management on any page you choose such as privacy, about us, what's new Template driven or non template driven with images and text Merge any table with any template Dynamic menu for content pages with full control via the new Navigation Manager	Affiliates Commission reports over any time period Affiliate registration, change details and forgotten password Review Orders Email on order Two level commission Commission by percent, by product, by category Affiliate status including links, last order, orders Bulk mail to affiliates using HTML, plain text or mail merge Affiliate based look and feel Coupons can be associated with affiliates for advertising campaigns

Notes: Excellent shopping cart software, loaded with features, very flexible and robust, many payment options, easily customizable to look and feel of main site. This shopping cart software is great for a very large site with a large product inventory.