Every shopping cart we review is checked to see how it performs in the key areas of set up, order processing and administration.

Set up
How easily can a store be set up and advanced features implemented? We rate highly shopping carts that:

• Allow stores to be built using templates or wizards
• Provide the ability to import existing databases
• Allow the addition of extended features such as autoresponders, mailing lists, guest books and chat rooms
• Have good documentation, tutorials and support
• Represent value for money

• Maximise the number of ways to place an order
• Maximise the number of ways to pay
• Provide secure, on-line credit card processing
• Include a virtual shopping cart
• Allow for the detailed specification of sales tax and shipping costs
• Include an inventory management facility
• Automatically calculate discounts for nominated customers or volume purchasers
• Send an order acknowledgement to customers that includes an unique reference number
• Provide the customer with online order tracking
• Can automatically send an e-mail to the merchant when an order is received
• Send an e-mail to the customer when goods are shipped

• Provide detailed reporting of customer activities and sales
• Allow for the easy implementation of promotions, for example discount coupons and competitions
• Make store updates easy