E-Commerce Question

Hi All,

I have seen heaps of online shopping carts ready made and all that. I am wondering though if you actaully have a merchant account with a financial institution then are these not needed? Do you just need to set up a database, say with php/mysql... Which people can order of, and then when they place the order link it up to your own merchant account? My bank has this and just wondering if this would be all I'd need? http://www.national.com.au/Business_Solutions/0,,23513,00.html

Cheers!

Generally a shopping cart is a good idea. I have implemented secure shopping without a shopping cart, but you still have to track who the members/buyers are, keep their information in a database, and use an authorization gateway. Since most shopping carts (including free ones like ZenCart) have these things built in...why build your own?

Moonbeachx

Your shopping cart wil integrate with the electronic payment gateway. And your merchant account will get the money from the issuing bank to your bank.

You need a shopping cart if you are selling products for your customers to purchase those products

Think of it this way the merchant account is phone line connecting your banking account with your cash register. The shopping cart is your cash register and visa machine.