Old wrote:

Not there yet!!! I just set up auto renewal. Shows it in "Cart" except there doesn't seem to be a "Cart"!!!!
After fumbling around trying to close the deal I randomly clicked on the $ amount. Only then were the next steps evident. No wonder folks get frustrated trying to use this site. Doesn't anyone check this process???

OM, I have taken note of your comments and will see if we can improve the situation as I agree it's not very clear (or as my dad used to say "clear as mud").
When using a software package (the shop software is "HIKA SHOP") there is a limit to what you can change within the configuration parameters and it's bad practice to write code to change the package because it's possible even likely that every time there is an upgrade in the software you have to re-write your custom code. Notwithstanding that we will see what can be done.

Old wrote:

OK, thanks.
How is it that we got saddled with a system that doesn't seem to conform to the rest if the internet purchasing world???

Well, I wasn't actually involved in the selection of the software BUT, we needed a basic Website system plus a shop module plus a forum (bulletin board) module.
We are not in the same league as most of the "internet purchasing world" such as Amazon, eBay etc. etc.
Those guys will write their own software specifically to meet their requirements and the cost is in line with that, i.e. very high (millions).
I previously worked for Mars, Inc. a multi billion dollar corporation, and we used package software for all business processes albeit almost infinitely more expensive than what we have. Nevertheless we would not customise that software to our needs instead we changed our business processes to comply with the software. 
We rightly chose to implement package software. The components we have are "Joomla" for the base website, "Hika Shop" for the store and "Kunena" for the forum.
There were probably other options available based for example on "Wordpress". 
When implementing a package solution, as I have said in my earlier post, it's a very bad idea to start rewriting it to tailor it to your requirements. 
If we had had unlimited (well a lot more than we had) money and resource we may have been able to do a better job but I have to remind everyone that the Club almost went broke a couple of years ago and it was only by taking very difficult decisions that the board were able to pull the club back from the brink of disaster and we are not yet "out of the woods" so to speak.
The decision to replace the website was not taken lightly as it cost a lot of money. 
We now have a website that works, is supportable and is a platform on which we can build.
OM, you know yourself how much effort was spent in the past trying to build a "technical library" without success. I recall a comment by a director in the past that to create the desired library would have cost a huge amount of money.
We now have a great platform on which we have created that library with an ever growing content and it has cost us virtually nothing because a few enthusiastic volunteer members have done all the hard work. This would not have been possible with the old website.
We have to take the rough with the smooth, some things are better, some maybe not quite as good but that's life.
Notwithstanding that we will continue to strive to improve what we have and deliver as much in the way of member benefits as we can.
Perhaps in the future you would like to be personally involved in software selection (should we need any more modules) and indeed involved in testing any changes that are made to the website because the more people involved in that the better product we will have in the end.

 

Old wrote:

Hay, even the simplest home based web business has a working "Cart" function.
So do we have a working "Cart" function. We process approx. 5 - 10 orders per day on average without issues, so the majority of customers clearly don't have too many problems. Rather than play forum "ping pong" and bore the pants of other forum users you are welcome to call me or email me directly, my contact details are in the magazine. 

The ACMOC Board have created a new committee entitled "Marketing and Business Development" which I will chair.
I hope that we will progress some if not all of the ideas generated in this thread.
If any member is interested in joining the committee please do let me know.