Selling through your website - advice needed

***Steve*** · 16-11-2005, 16:28

I am in the middle of designing a website for my photography and have hit a slight stumbling block with the shop part. I need to offer some way of selling my prints and other stuff in various sizes and formats through the site but don’t know what route to take.

Does anyone here offer any products through a website and if so how do you do it, how do you collect the money, how is the shop integrated into your site and if photography based what do you do about getting the prints sorted and dispatched to the customers.

Absolutely any help, advice or examples would be great.

fingerz · 16-11-2005, 16:35

Shopping baskets are one of the most complicated bits of any website. They're also the bit that could land you in the most trouble (legally) if they screw up or get hacked. Bear in mind that you are largely responsible for the security of any payments made through your website.

If you have a PayPal premier account (free) then you can use a PayPal shopping basket. No idea how good it is but it's an option.

There are lots of pre-written scripts for it on www.hotscripts.com but using a pre-written script or third party solution will always compromise the seamlessness of your website, usually manifested by a lack of continuity in the 'look and feel' of the site.

If you're only planning to sell small amounts I'd make it as easy as possible for people to buy your stuff without actually having a proper shopping basket. Have details for them to email/call you or something.

Matt · 16-11-2005, 17:09

Photobox have some code that can be added into each page of the site.
It allows customers to buy prints directly from the site, without you getting involved in the transaction.
This will give you much more time to get the shots to fill up the site.

I think you have to pay for the code initially though.
Last time I looked it was £250.

JWP · 16-11-2005, 21:50

.. Hi I am doing the same thing as you, but I have set up a Worldpay account. I will be able to accept all major credit cards and debt cards. The main advantage over Paypal is the customer does not have to register. They can shop and buy.

. When the customer has chosen their photos they go to the checkout and pay.

Once I get notification that they have paid I will send the order to my on line printing company and within 48 hours I get the photos back check them and send them on to customer.

My site will also allow me to create gallaries for other photographer to display and sell their photos on line. Via my worldpay account. There is also a secure area on the site which can only be accessed via user id and password. I plan to use this for events, portraits and wedding etc, so customer can see their photos on line anywhere in the world.

This site is not live yet, but will be by the end of November. I am just selecting which on line printing company I plan to use. Also I have to look at a number of legal things.

milou · 16-11-2005, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

If you're only planning to sell small amounts I'd make it as easy as possible for people to buy your stuff without actually having a proper shopping basket. Have details for them to email/call you or something.

I was reading that this is what http://www.charliewaite.com/ does. He calls the prospective client to get to know them and their requirements [and everyone who has ever bought a print gets invited to his latest show etc. Must admit I'm tempted by http://www.charliewaite.com/gallery/view.asp?id=17 as the clouds match the bales)

fingerz · 16-11-2005, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by milou

http://www.charliewaite.com/gallery/view.asp?id=17

God that's good. And even the clouds in the far distance too.

Gandhi · 17-11-2005, 00:27

I'm about to embark down the same route. However, I've just submitted my test Images to a stock agency, and once they're on the site, I'll just link to that as a) it'll be easier and b) it'll make more cash. Hopefully. But probably not.

Integrating web-sales is all very well and good, but you then have to start worrying about security etc. All far too complex for my liking. I would suggest you look at some stock photo agencies and market your work through them, It's certainly saleable enough and most of them don't filter images on their artistic content, just the technical clarity. e.g. a set file size, resolution, grain/noise, dust/hairs on scans, focus etc.

Gandhi · 17-11-2005, 00:28

P.s. sorry, just re-read my post and it sounded a little like I was saying the artistic content of your images wasn't up to scratch. Far from the truth and quite the opposite actually

***Steve*** · 17-11-2005, 06:46

Thanks for the suggestions gents

I will be doing the stock agency submissions as a matter of course to tap into that market but as I have outlets via some shops in Munich and plan to do some of the fairs and markets over Christmas I want to be able to point the potential and repeat customers to my website and hopefully "catch" them while they are there, hence me wanting the inclusion of a shopping cart.

I do like the idea of having contact with people so that I can then keep them informed about where I might be offering my work for sale in the future, be it a market or (being optimistic) a show. The drawback with that is unless they hit the buy now button and pay, they can always sleep on the decision and that could possibly lose me impulse buys.

Getting all this sorted has now become a priority and is not easy; all I wanted was to be a photographer

***Steve*** · 17-11-2005, 06:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandhi

P.s. sorry, just re-read my post and it sounded a little like I was saying the artistic content of your images wasn't up to scratch. Far from the truth and quite the opposite actually

Don't worry about that, I didn't read it that way

SammyC · 17-11-2005, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

God that's good. And even the clouds in the far distance too.

Cripes! That almost looks photoshopped! That's what you call skill or luck! lol

Matty · 17-11-2005, 10:05

there are plenty of php CMS type things too, OScommerce is one, you can link them with gallery and the like i think, though i havent looked at it in great depth, i looked at ocsommerce for work, at the moment its shelved though as its to blimming complicated for me!

Steep · 17-11-2005, 19:14

Listen to JWP, I've bought 'stuff' and paid through them, they take all credit cards and other means, process the payment for you for a small fee (less than you'd pay the cc companies 'if' you could get an account with them).

***Steve*** · 17-11-2005, 19:54

I have just checked the Worldpay site and it seems like they could fleece me with all the charges they list..

Quote:

Pricing is based on your merchant profile, and may vary depending on the risk sector you operate in and your trading history and background. As an indication, charges are likely to include:

* Set-up fee. A one-off charge collected at the time of application.
* Initial fee. A one-off charge (6 x Monthly Fee) for the initial 6 month term, collected at the time of application
* Monthly Fee. Payable each month (after the initial 6 month term).
* Annual charge. A recurring, annual charge. (EMEA and AsiaPac regions only)
* Transaction Service Charge (TSC). Charges for processing UK debit card transactions are made on a “pence per transaction” basis. All other card transactions are charged at an agreed percentage for each online transaction amount.

In addition to these charges, you will pay for other service charges on your account, such as settlement of transaction funds to your bank account, payment in additional currencies and chargebacks.

Prices for our additional, supplementary products, Internet Terminal, Repeat Billing, Fraud Detection and Fraud Protection are charged at a separate additional charge to your basic account and service charges.

So a general question to JWP if you don't mind me asking, how much did they charge you to set up your worldpay account?

**Sonsey** · 17-11-2005, 20:33

Not posting any advice, just commenting on WorldPay.

I've come across quite a few decent reatailers that use them, BlankDiscShop and Cd-Wow to name just two. I've used them quite a few times to make purchaces, they're easy to use and I've never had a problem going through them... If it works out as good value to you Steve then they could be a good option.

And no, I don't work for them

Matty · 17-11-2005, 20:36

the banks charge a fortune for taking CC too, any potential price savings are wiped out by the bank charges.

CT · 17-11-2005, 21:43

I've dealt with some customers via mail for my photo restoration stuff, and I've always been paid by personal cheque and waited till it cleared.

On a practical note Steve, you'll find packaging prints safely for posting can be a big PIA, especially larger prints which are prone to getting bent and creased. For larger prints I used to use those cardboard picture tube thingy's, available from Staples etc.

16-11-2005, 16:28	#1 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	Selling through your website - advice needed I am in the middle of designing a website for my photography and have hit a slight stumbling block with the shop part. I need to offer some way of selling my prints and other stuff in various sizes and formats through the site but don’t know what route to take. Does anyone here offer any products through a website and if so how do you do it, how do you collect the money, how is the shop integrated into your site and if photography based what do you do about getting the prints sorted and dispatched to the customers. Absolutely any help, advice or examples would be great. __________________ .......__o .......\<, ....( )/ ( )

16-11-2005, 16:35	#2 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Shopping baskets are one of the most complicated bits of any website. They're also the bit that could land you in the most trouble (legally) if they screw up or get hacked. Bear in mind that you are largely responsible for the security of any payments made through your website. If you have a PayPal premier account (free) then you can use a PayPal shopping basket. No idea how good it is but it's an option. There are lots of pre-written scripts for it on www.hotscripts.com but using a pre-written script or third party solution will always compromise the seamlessness of your website, usually manifested by a lack of continuity in the 'look and feel' of the site. If you're only planning to sell small amounts I'd make it as easy as possible for people to buy your stuff without actually having a proper shopping basket. Have details for them to email/call you or something.

16-11-2005, 17:09	#3 (permalink)
Matt Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,326	Photobox have some code that can be added into each page of the site. It allows customers to buy prints directly from the site, without you getting involved in the transaction. This will give you much more time to get the shots to fill up the site. I think you have to pay for the code initially though. Last time I looked it was £250.

16-11-2005, 21:50	#4 (permalink)
JWP New here Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 31	.. Hi I am doing the same thing as you, but I have set up a Worldpay account. I will be able to accept all major credit cards and debt cards. The main advantage over Paypal is the customer does not have to register. They can shop and buy. . When the customer has chosen their photos they go to the checkout and pay. Once I get notification that they have paid I will send the order to my on line printing company and within 48 hours I get the photos back check them and send them on to customer. My site will also allow me to create gallaries for other photographer to display and sell their photos on line. Via my worldpay account. There is also a secure area on the site which can only be accessed via user id and password. I plan to use this for events, portraits and wedding etc, so customer can see their photos on line anywhere in the world. This site is not live yet, but will be by the end of November. I am just selecting which on line printing company I plan to use. Also I have to look at a number of legal things.

17-11-2005, 00:27	#7 (permalink)
Gandhi Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: bath, somerserset Posts: 966	I'm about to embark down the same route. However, I've just submitted my test Images to a stock agency, and once they're on the site, I'll just link to that as a) it'll be easier and b) it'll make more cash. Hopefully. But probably not. Integrating web-sales is all very well and good, but you then have to start worrying about security etc. All far too complex for my liking. I would suggest you look at some stock photo agencies and market your work through them, It's certainly saleable enough and most of them don't filter images on their artistic content, just the technical clarity. e.g. a set file size, resolution, grain/noise, dust/hairs on scans, focus etc.

17-11-2005, 00:28	#8 (permalink)
Gandhi Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: bath, somerserset Posts: 966	P.s. sorry, just re-read my post and it sounded a little like I was saying the artistic content of your images wasn't up to scratch. Far from the truth and quite the opposite actually

17-11-2005, 06:46	#9 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	Thanks for the suggestions gents I will be doing the stock agency submissions as a matter of course to tap into that market but as I have outlets via some shops in Munich and plan to do some of the fairs and markets over Christmas I want to be able to point the potential and repeat customers to my website and hopefully "catch" them while they are there, hence me wanting the inclusion of a shopping cart. I do like the idea of having contact with people so that I can then keep them informed about where I might be offering my work for sale in the future, be it a market or (being optimistic) a show. The drawback with that is unless they hit the buy now button and pay, they can always sleep on the decision and that could possibly lose me impulse buys. Getting all this sorted has now become a priority and is not easy; all I wanted was to be a photographer

17-11-2005, 10:05	#12 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	there are plenty of php CMS type things too, OScommerce is one, you can link them with gallery and the like i think, though i havent looked at it in great depth, i looked at ocsommerce for work, at the moment its shelved though as its to blimming complicated for me!

17-11-2005, 19:14	#13 (permalink)
Steep Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inverness Posts: 964	Listen to JWP, I've bought 'stuff' and paid through them, they take all credit cards and other means, process the payment for you for a small fee (less than you'd pay the cc companies 'if' you could get an account with them).

17-11-2005, 20:33	#15 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,259	Not posting any advice, just commenting on WorldPay. I've come across quite a few decent reatailers that use them, BlankDiscShop and Cd-Wow to name just two. I've used them quite a few times to make purchaces, they're easy to use and I've never had a problem going through them... If it works out as good value to you Steve then they could be a good option. And no, I don't work for them

17-11-2005, 20:36	#16 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	the banks charge a fortune for taking CC too, any potential price savings are wiped out by the bank charges.

17-11-2005, 21:43	#17 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	I've dealt with some customers via mail for my photo restoration stuff, and I've always been paid by personal cheque and waited till it cleared. On a practical note Steve, you'll find packaging prints safely for posting can be a big PIA, especially larger prints which are prone to getting bent and creased. For larger prints I used to use those cardboard picture tube thingy's, available from Staples etc.