AgoraCart & E-commerce News, Updates, and More

AgoraCart Pro version 5.5.000, the enhanced version of the popular AgoraCart Open Source ecommerce storefront platform, is now available.

Enhanced features include search engine aware URLs, speed enhancements in dynamic category building and creation of cart session files. 50+ new database fields have been added for customization of order management and future expansion of the AgoraCart order management modules. A new and cleaner look for the web based manager also come with version 5.5.x

More details on the changes from version 5.1.000 to version 5.5.000 can be found at:
http://www.agoracart.com/version_updates.html

Links to the purchase of AgoraCart Pro version licensing, which supports the AgoraCart project directly, can be found by visiting:
http://www.agoracart.com/proforum.htm

AgoraCart Pro version 5.5.000, the enhanced version of the popular AgoraCart Open Source ecommerce storefront platform, is now available.

Enhanced features include search engine aware URLs, speed enhancements in dynamic category building and creation of cart session files. 50+ new database fields have been added for customization of order management and future expansion of the AgoraCart order management modules. A new and cleaner look for the web based manager also come with version 5.5.x

More details on the changes from version 5.1.000 to version 5.5.000 can be found at:
http://www.agoracart.com/version_updates.html

Links to the purchase of AgoraCart Pro version licensing, which supports the AgoraCart project directly, can be found by visiting:
http://www.agoracart.com/proforum.htm

NiftyPay and NiftyPay to Play payment processing services have been added to AgoraCart 5.0.x and AgoraCart Pro 5.1.x as standard and freely available gateway options for AgoraCart users.

NiftyPay is unique in that it will allow a merchant to accept credit cards, echecks and PayPal payments securely and without the need to use multiple forms in AgoraCart or any other order script for that matter.

NiftyPay to Play is a low cost option for small or new startup merchants that want to have more control over their payment processing options but desire low or non-existent monthly fees. NiftyPay to Play has the same features as the standard NiftyPay, but without the larger financial commitment every month and/or to sign up.

You can find more information on NiftyPay at www.NiftyPay.com

The Echo payment gateway is now available to current Pro members for use in AgoraCart Pro version 5.1.000 and above.

Thanks to the leg work of an AgoraCart user, named Chad (CDC Warrior), completion of the gateway was expedited. As a result, Chad earned a complimentary lifetime membership to the AgoraCart Pro web site.

Information on becoming a Pro member in order to access AgoraCart Pro is available at: http://www.agoracart.com/proforum.htm

The long awaited AgoraCart version 5.0.000 is available to the general public. Version 5.0.000, an open source ecommerce solution. offers significant improvements over the prevous 4.0K-4b version, including CSS (cascading style sheets) design controls, greatly enhanced order management, drop-in templates and button sets with online manager/selector, international shipping with the new USPS (United States Postal Service) module, ability to have layout/header/footer files per category just by dropping them into the html-templates directory of the store, and more security. Version 5.0.000 is has a nifty module updater that allows you to update core program files that are typically not customized by most users, which results in easier upgrades saving store operators a lot of time and hassles.

This is a quantum leap forward over the previous version that was released in late 2002. There are so many features that have been updated that it does not look much like the AgoraCart of the past.

Downloads are only in tarball forms: .tgz and .tar.gz. Semi-automated installer and upgrader scripts will be available by mid-October 2006.

Check out the new version. You can dowload the new version on the download page at AgoraCart.com

We are proud to announce that USA ePay has sponsored the development of a new payment processing gateway package this past week. This new payment gateway is a great addition to the payment gateway line up that AgoraCart already supports. The new gateway is available now for AgoraCart version 5.1.000 Pro and will be available to 5.0.0 users when that release/version is ready for the public. Gateway files for version 4.0K-4b will also be available within the week for users of the well established 4.0K-4b series offered by thousands Cpanel based web hosting companies.

About USA ePay
USA ePay is a full-service ECI and Retail certified payment gateway which supports the First Data Nashville, TSYS [Vital, Paymentech and Global platforms. USA ePay, is a PCI compliant gateway and is certified with the Visa USA CISP and MasterCard SDP programs. The gateway supports the Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode programs. The USA ePay gateway also carries the basic features of Address Verification System, CVV2 and CVC, Recurring Billing and a free developer’s library on their website. For more information, please visit www.usaepay.com or call 866.USA.EPAY (872-3729).

My oldest daughter sent me this and I just had to share it and "show me the funny". For those thinking that this resembles my sense of humor, I half-heartedly deny any personal resemblance to the feller in the story ... on atleast half of the "infractions". Enjoy ...

Letter from a Retailer

Mrs. Ed,

Our store is considering banning your family from ever shopping with us
unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offenses over the
past few months, all of which have been verified by our surveillance
cameras:

MEMO - Re: Mister Ed - Complaints
Sixteen things Mister Ed has done while his spouse was shopping:

June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts
when they weren't looking.
July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.
July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the rest rooms.
July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 3'
in housewares... and watched what happened.
August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay
away.
September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other
shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding
department.
September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and
asks "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and
picked his nose.
November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, asked the clerk
if he knows where the antidepressants are.
December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, while loudly humming the
"Mission Impossible" theme.
December 6: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna look" using
different size funnels.
December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yelled
"PICK ME! PICK ME!"
December 20: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the
fetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!"
And, last (but not least!) -
December 21: Places prominent stickers on all the Microsoft branded computer accessories on the shelves that read "Not Compatible with Microsnot Windows XP".
And, last (but not least!) -
December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a while;
then, yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"

I just finished reading the book titled "Object Technology - A Manager's Guide" by David A. Taylor. I must say it made me think alot about how our lives revolve around objects and how even business processes can be modified to be a lot more proficient in the use of the concepts of objects. The result would also make implementing those business processes into programs a bit easier, and maybe even make those processes more efficient in their own right.

I've never read a book on object technology, but this book was a short read and recommened by a friend, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. It takes a generic look at how objects might be and should be without tying the concepts into any particular language. It uses real world examples to show how an object might be used and is explained very well. However, it's not a book to read if you are neededing to apply objects directly to a specific language. But, it is a good book to help you think a bit deeper, or start to, on the subject of objects in programming and how they operate within a web of business units. It's also a good book for managers that might not have a lot of programming skill but need to oversee such departments or projects.

Overall it's been a pleasant read and helped me to personally think of a few changes I could make in processes at my own companies as well as help a few businesses I consult. I would definately recommend this book to those folks looking to understand and/or manage objects better.

Just an update to my venture into mail-in rebates posted in January 2006 ... The Dreaded Mail-in Rebate

This last month I finally received the rebate check from CompUSA. So, this new system they have called eRabates, which are filed very easily online, ended up being a positive experience. Plus, I actually got my money .... of course in the normal 7-8 week waiting period ... but hey, I'm not going to complain when I get a check back from an item that was a good deal to begin with.

I also tried this process with Staples and was pleased with the results.

I still do not trust manufacturers rebates nor any that I have to actually mail in. I believe many other people feel the same way. So all the retailers of America should take note: let us file our rebates online with automatic validation based on our receipt in your system and then and only then will you will win the confidence of consumers when using rebates in your promotions and advertising. Otherwise, keep running your mail-in rebate scams and be left in the dust by your competitors. I, for one, will not bite on an advertisement with a mail-in only price promo, no matter how good the deal appears ... I just don't trust I'll ever see the rebate check.