I am currently researching .NET e-commerce solutions for a new website we are developing. Each of our websites has utilized a different solution to the ongoing web store quandry. We have implemented a site-in-a-box from an outside vendor, outsourced the development of a full-featured PHP/MySQL store, and have built a rudimentary shopping cart, once in ASP, once in ASP.NET.
For this project, our quickly approaching deadline prohibits us from building a full-featured store from the ground up. On the other hand, our list of requirements are significant enough that a basic shopping cart is insufficient. Additionally, the site itself is already a .NET solution.
Faced with these parameters, we are looking for a .NET e-commerce package that we can purchase and install quickly to get up and running, but also customize in the future to meet our ongoing needs. We are currently considering the following products: StoreFront, NetStores, SalesCart, and .netCART.
Despite extensive searching, we have yet to come across other significant options. At the moment we are focusing our attention on StoreFront, as it appears to be the most full-featured and offers the potential of RMS integration, though it is also the most expensive.
If anyone has experience with these products or knows of some great options that we're missing, please let me know.
Hope this isn't an obvious answer, but have you checked out the web commerce starter kit available on asp.net? Though assuredly not as full featured as a commercial shopping cart, perhaps it will give you enough of a start to build in the features you need. http://www.asp.net/Default.aspx?tabindex=8&tabid=47
By the way...do you ever check your GMail e-mail?
Posted by: Jeff Gilbert | November 08, 2004 at 06:43 PM
You're right, when I first started considering options, I glanced at the starter kit and assumed it would not be sufficient to build on. We'll take another look.
And yes, I do check my account regularly. Look for a response shortly.
Thanks, Jeff!
Posted by: Brian Bailey | November 08, 2004 at 09:43 PM
How about Microsoft's own Commerce Server (http://www.microsoft.com/commerceserver)?
Posted by: Lawrence Liu | November 17, 2004 at 02:26 AM
Brian,
My company produces a commercial ASP.NET application in both VB.NET and C# versions that competes with StoreFront and the other solutions you listed. You can download a free trial version (limited to 10 products) from our web site at http://www.bvsoftware.com We have tons of customers who have switched from Storefront and I haven't heard of a single one wanting to switch back.
Posted by: Marcus McConnell | November 17, 2004 at 10:17 AM
Brian, I used to be in charge of IT for Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, and still know most of the IT team there. You may want to get in contact with Kenny Lyons (klyons at tacf dot org), as he is in charge of .NET development.
Can't guarantee he can help you, but you never know, and forging cross-church IT relationships is always a good thing.
Good luck.
Posted by: Jeremy C. Wright | November 17, 2004 at 10:23 AM