Sellers can have their store set up with custom domain name ( i.e. http://www.sellers_domain_name.com )
Here is a sample :
http://www.myfamousbrand.com - this sample points to my shop (sf1's shop) (doesn't have any items, but you can click around, and you'll see the url appearing properly.
First step, have a domain name registered at a place like register.com or godaddy.com.
Then, create a cname record for www.your_domain_name.com (substitute your_domain_name with your domain name) and alias that to www.silkfair.com. You might need to ask your domain registration provider on how to accomplish that.
Then also create another cname record with either a blank entry or "@" or " * " and alias that to www.silkfair.com . That will handle anyone typing in just a domain name as the url instead of www.your_domain.com. For example, someone might key in your_domain.com instead of www.your_domain.com
If your domain registrar doesn't allow either a blank or @ or * as the host/sub-domain for a cname record, then you can set up a work-around by setting up an A record for @ and point that to a web page hosted somewhere. And for that web page, have the following entry for the web page :
< META HTTP-EQUIV = "Refresh" CONTENT="0; URL=http://www.silkfair.com" >
Second step, go to your Store Profile, under Customize Store section, you should see Store URL. Select Use Custom URL, and then type in the domain name you registered (i.e. sellers_domain_name.com ) , don't put in any http:// or www. After that, click Save.
Open a new browser window, and test the new name. You might need to wait up to 72 hours depending on when your domain change takes place, as the dns changes around the world can take some time to propagate. You also might need to clear your browser cache.
You don't lose http://userId.silkfair.com with this enabled. Both the default url and the custom url will be valid for your store.
Ok I am going ask this, as what I know about computers you could put on the back of a postage stamp!
Anyhow, if I use my domain (which I already have) if I type in www.silkfair.com, where I have my domain. That will just take the person to the main home page, will it not? Don't I have to use my silkfair URL to take them directly to my store on silkfair? Or am I reading this wrong?
Mamapeapod.com doesn't seem to be registered/owned by anyone. You should grab it quickly.
If you follow the instructions mentioned above, then you can hand out / promote http://www.mamapeapod.com (example) . So, when someone type in http://www.mamapeapod.com, the user will be taken directly to what you would see at http://mamapeapod.silkfair.com, which is your store's home page. The http://mamapeapod.silkfair.com still remains, and it's an alternate address.
We'be been providing this mechanism since the very beginning, as we're expecting sellers to be proactively running their business, and not treat this system as a simple free-classified ads site, which we are not.
There is an upcoming optional feature, which for a small monthly fee, sellers will be able to customize the look of the store and be able to completely brand with own logo, appearance, color, layout, etc... The custom branded store will need the custom domain name.
For example, I have the website/domain name already www.flowersbyfarha.com. My shop here is http://flowersbyfarha.silkfair.com. If I have my DNR point my domain name here (to SilkFair) then both www.flowersbyfarha.com and flowersbyfarha.silkfair.com will land on my shop here correct?
But then it also means that my current website content will be "homeless" and essentially lost as www.flowersbyfarha.com would no longer land on my website, correct?
Thanks for the info. I can't wait until the customizable store feature is ready. I've been looking for an easy way to create a store front but I am not totally sold on any other merchant sites out there. This sounds like it could be a good solution. Keep me updated! -Maia
flowersbyfarha: Yes, that's how I understand it. I have changed my domain to redirect - www.thesteamshoppe.com so we'll see how it works. The "help" said it could take a couple hours before it takes affect...then, to, they're assuming I did it correctly!
One hour down as of now.
updated by: thesteamshoppe @ Jun 02, 2008 09:26 PM
Flowers - yes. And the point is, once the customization is here, you would have no need for that other hosted pages, because you'll be able to do the same here as there (actually more here). The whole point is so that you run your business out of one place, not multiple and re-directing buyers all over the place ("check out my shop at xxx , and yyy and zzz ..... etc..). But if you still want to redirect all over, go ahead then, it's your pages, and you pay for the hosting.
Astrida - once the customization is released - it'll be about the easiest, fullest and affordable alternative out there. We're testing internally with some real funky design templates :)
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