Developing a Zen Cart Affiliate Site???

[Guybrush]

Hi,

I'm developing a site which hopes to sell affiliate products. I have a question:

Can a Zen Cart shopping cart template be used as the 'Backbone' of my website? Say I'm selling phones, sports equipment and Kitchenware (just an example)...I find a provider (for each) and I become an affiliate. They send me data-feeds right...So can those products be placed inside my ZenCart database?

How would a purchase work then..because when they click they would have to go to the providers home site. I don't really need a shopping cart at all then, but I do need the catalog and buying technology, right?

I'm completely new to affiliating, and I would really appreciate help on how to go about it...Thanks!

[HarveyJ]

Technically, it can, but the plugins that make the task simple don't really exist for Zencart.

They do exist for OsCommerce though. Especially Australian specific things, like currency conversion, GST, and AusPost shipping rates.

[KGP]

HarveyJ can you provide some links plz? like what plugins for oscommerce are available for this kind of affiliate site (using oscommerce as the "backbone")?
i would be interested too (although not for use in australia as i am involved down under on a different sector..so if there are currency conversion tools for other currencies would be very usefull)
thanks

[Gavin]

I've been looking for a similar platform as well... I've come across ubercart for drupal but the functionality isnt there for affiliates to run a shop look alike.. It'll set me back 1250US to pay a developer.... what does myshopping.com.au use?

Can oscommerce run on a subdomain along side drupal? and is it skinable... maybe i should go do some research