There are more than 500 online shopping carts. And each week we feature one, interviewing both the cart’s developer and a customer. “Cart of the Week” is not a review or an evaluation, but rather an opportunity to learn about a shopping cart from the people who build it and use it.
This week, we’ll hear from Sener “Sean” Korkusuz, president of Earth Skater, developers of Earth Skater shopping cart. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company serves approximately 100 online stores that use the cart.
We’ll also hear from an Earth Skater customer, David Jones, owner of UnwiredSignal.com.
PeC: Please provide some general background on the cart.
Sean Korkusuz: “The Earth Skater shopping cart was first released in 1999. It was designed to be easy to manage and easy to purchase from. The cart has evolved over time with the help of our clients. Each year we implement new features and improve upon existing features based on client feedback. This has made the shopping cart very feature-rich and easy to use.”
PeC: Is it hosted, licensed, or both?
Korkusuz: “Hosted.”
PeC: How much does Earth Skater cost?
Korkusuz: “The fee is $49.95 per month. There is no setup fee and merchants are free to cancel service at any time. Upgraded web hosting packages include the shopping cart with real-time analytics for $59.95 per month, and the shopping cart with hosted affiliate program for $89.95 per month.”
PeC: What is your company doing to become PCI compliant?
Korkusuz: “The Earth Skater shopping cart does not store, process, or transmit any cardholder data on merchant premises but relies entirely on third party service providers to handle these functions. The third party service providers handling storage, processing, and/or transmission of cardholder data are Authorize.Net, CyberSource, and PayPal. They are all are confirmed to be PCI DSS compliant. All sections of the PCI SAQ are complete, and all questions answered ‘yes,’ resulting in an overall compliant rating; therefore Earth Skater has demonstrated full compliance with the PCI DSS.” [Editor’s Note: Earth Skater is not named on Visa’s global list of PCI DSS validated service providers.]
PeC: What are the cart’s biggest strengths?
Korkusuz: “It is backed by expert service and support, which includes free setup and web design. The carts’ strengths include load speed, customer usability, ease of administration, marketing features, multiple payment and shipping options, and new feature updates.”
PeC: What are some of its weaknesses?
Korkusuz: “Currently, there is no support for importing products from existing eBay stores, QuickBooks export is only through the merchant account and not the shopping cart, and there is limited integration of Google Checkout.”
PeC: What plans do you have for future cart development?
Korkusuz: “We are currently working to integrate Authorize.Net’s customer information manager and automated recurring billing into the cart. And, as our clients request new features based on their needs, we will continue to implement them in a timely manner.”
PeC: How would your cart help an ecommerce merchant, versus the cart he or she is using now?
Korkusuz: “Earth Skater is different than other shopping cart providers in the complimentary service we provide, including complimentary setup and web design or website transfer to new clients. This means new clients save time and money, and gain Earth Skater’s support and expertise.”
PeC: Any other thoughts for our readers, who are mainly ecommerce merchants?
Korkusuz: “If you are not happy with your existing shopping cart provider and/or the service they provide, or if you just have a few questions, then give Earth Skater a try. We offer a free, no obligation consultation to review your questions and provide our advice.”
A Customer’s View
David Jones is the owner of, UnwiredSignal.com, a Dallas, Tex.-based store that sells roughly $1 million in electronic products annually via the Earth Skater shopping cart. Jones provides his comments and opinions about the cart below.
PeC: How long has your company been using Earth Skater shopping cart?
David Jones: “Six years. I chose the cart because of the free website setup and transfer service Earth Skater provided to create my website from my eBay store.”
PeC: What are the cart’s biggest strengths?
Jones: “The cart’s strengths include expert service and support, load speed, customer usability, ease of administration, marketing features, multiple payment and shipping options, and new feature updates.”
PeC: How could the cart improve?
Jones: “I can’t think of anything. It already has the features I need.”
PeC: How would Earth Skater shopping cart improve another merchant’s business?
Jones: “A merchant can leave the technical chores in Earth Skater’s expert hands and focus on his or her business.”
PeC: Do you plan on continuing to use the cart?
Jones: “Yes.”
PeC: Any other thoughts for our readers concerning the cart?
Jones: “They are dedicated to their customers, like you and me. The company has built my online store into what I think is better than any of my competitors, and as good as anyone on the net. If I call them to request something that would take me a half a day to create or change, the next day I see it is done.”