| Answers
1. What makes PappaShop the best choice for hosting?
There are several reasons to choose PappaShop!
Reliability: We have been around for many years and intend to be here many more! Our offices are fully staffed complete with a personally trained, Pappa-Pak certified support team. Our servers and help desk are monitored 24/7 and have guaranteed 99.9% uptime.
Outstanding Customer Support: We offer many resources to help guide you every step of the way. Whether through our knowledgebase, easy to follow tutorials or our help desk, you will always find the help you need.
*FYI* Some hosts offer you the license to a Content Management System (CMS) that they install for you so that you may take that system to any host you want. But, what good is software with no support? Our software is updated with security fixes often. Who does those updates for you if you purchase the license out-right? Once you get the license and move to another host, who do you turn to for support? As long as you are hosted with PappaShop you will never be without help and we will make sure your site is secure! You're not renting our CMS software. It comes free with each hosting package we offer. Along with free support and peace of mind.
Ease of Use:
Affordability: You have the choice to pay on a monthly bases with no long term contract or on a yearly basis for a discounted rate. If you want to pay for a year in advance, that's completely up to you. the choice is yours!
*FYI* With PappaShop there are no hosting or CMS setup fees, no license fees, no sales fees and no support fees! They're not necessary for any reason!
TOP
2. What will I need to host with PappaShop and what are the costs?
You will need a domain name which you can purchase right here at PappaShop if you like. Domains are a yearly fee. And you will need a hosting account. If you are wanting an easy way to maintain your site, templates and shopping cart, you will need either our $12.95 plan or our $19.99 plan. These are monthly fees. If you are wanting one of our Premium templates, the cost is $4.99 and that is a one time service fee.
TOP
3. What payment methods do you accept for hosting and is my information secure?
Currently we accept Credit Card (Mastercard, Visa or Discover), bank debit card or Paypal debit card. Your information is never ever shared with any third party.
Your card info is encrypted so even we cannot see that information. The only thing visible at all to anyone here at PappaShop is the last 4 digits of your card.
TOP
4. Can I purchase a domain through PappaShop?
You certainly can! You can either purchase a domain through us or a domain and hosting together. Here is the link that will take you right to the domain availability checker and the option to purchase a domain from PappaShop. Please Note: You are most certainly welcome to purchase your domain elsewhere if you prefer. You will just need to change the DNS numbers for your domain so that they point to PappaShop when you are ready to host with us.
Click Here To Purchase A Domain From PappaShop
TOP
5. Can I work on my site before I switch my hosting?
You can work on a temporary URL that we will give you. When you are finished, change the nameserver info for your domain to point to PappaShop.
Note: the WYSIWYG editor has an image uploader that only works with your domain name so that uploader will not work until your domain is pointed to PappaShop. The product photo uploader works fine though so you can add all your product photos before switching.
Note: If you currently host elsewhere and you have a domain based email account (yourname@yourdomain.com), you will need to first create that email address through your CPanel on our server BEFORE pointing your domain name servers or your email account will no longer work after you switch.
TOP
6. Can I get an SSL certificate for my website?
An SSL certificate is not necessary with our shopping cart system because our system works hand in hand with Mals-e and Mals-e provides the SSL connection when transferring sensitive data ( like Credit Card information ).
You can however purchase an SSL or SSL installation from us. The cost is $50.00 ( Includes SSL Certificate ), we charge a fee to cover the time involved for installation and configuration not only on the server but your website manager software will need to be reconfigured as well as your Mals-e account.
Installing an SSL for your website will require:
Dedicated IP address
CSR
SSL Certificate - Included with this fee or you can use your own ( same price )
Re-configuration of your pappapak software ( Website Manager Software ) to reflect the new IP address.
Reconfiguration of your Mals-e account ( the remote call need to reflect the new IP address )
Also please note that since we are moving your website to a dedicated IP address you site may be unavailable until it propagates ( usually 15 min. - 4 hours )
When you are ready please us this link to purchase
hhttp://www.pappashop.com/whmcs/order.php?step=2&pid=38
TOP
7. Can you guarantee to get my site top ranking with search engines?
Unfortunately we cannot. In fact, there are no guarantees as to who is in the top 10. Many factors determine this. For instance, someone in business online for 10 years has a better chance at the top spot than someone brand new.
Promoting your website is hard work! The suggestions we offer are, exchange links with people who sell similar products as you, use a signature link in every email you send that has the URL to your website, leave business cards with people you meet, advertise in magazines or other media forms & word of mouth. Search engines are just one form of marketing.
You are welcome to submit your site to search engines using the link below.
http://www.pappashop.com/pages/searchengine.php
TOP
8. Do you have a support forum?
While we have had a forum in the past we found customers to be frustrated at not finding the help they really needed. And when surveyed, most customers felt more comfortable asking for help privately rather than in an open forum. Our customers were actually requesting a better method for getting the help they needed. Therefore we changed the way support was offered here at PappaShop.
We have found our searchable knowledgebase and help desk to be a more efficient and reliable ways for our customers to get help when they need it. Our support desk which is fully staffed by a qualified support team.
Help Desk available to you 24/7 to submit a ticket. While we do have office hours, we check the help desk everyday.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm PST
Support Desk can be found here: https://www.pappashop.com/whmcs/submitticket.php
Searchable Knowledgebase can be found here: http://www.pappashop.com/whmcs/knowledgebase.php
TOP
9. Do you offer telephone support?
No we do not. It is too expensive to staff a call center. We ask that you submit a support ticket as we handle all support questions through our help desk. We have found this to be the most efficient way to communicate with our clients when we need to spend some time looking into specific issues for you. Plus, you can refer back to any communications you have had with PappaShop by logging into your client area at any time.
TOP
10. Does Pappa-Pak and Mals-e work with Paypal?
Pappa-Pak is an online site management system (CMS) that allows you to edit and maintain your site online. Pappa-Pak offers inventory control, order tracking, printable receipts in your company name which you wont have with Mals as a stand-alone. Plus, it catalogs all of your items for sale.
Mals is a shopping cart gateway that calculates the tax and shipping and provides a secure server for credit card and order information. Our system works hand in hand with Mals making everything automated for you. You can manage every aspect of your site (including page content) without having to purchase extra software, or learn how to upload your site to a server via ftp or how to use html.
Yes they do work with Paypal! You will need a Paypal account which you can get by signing up at paypal.com. All we need to know is your Paypal email address so we can set up the cart to work correctly with your Paypal account. Be sure to set the auto return in Paypal to ON or Paypal will not work correctly with the shopping cart.
TOP
11. How can I accept credit card payments?
Merchant Accounts & Mals-e
In order to accept credit cards you must have a merchant account. Mals-e is the shopping cart only, not a merchant company. You will need to set up an account with a merchant company of your choice. You can accept credit cards in one of three ways.
A.) Processing Credit Card Orders Automatically (requires premium Mals account & merchant account)
If you have a merchant account (outside of Paypal) and your merchant company processes credit cards automatically for you, then you will need a premium Mals-e account in order to use that merchant account. You will need to log into your Mals account and set up the payment gateway that your merchant company uses. The fee for the premium Mals account is $8.00 per month paid directly to Mals. For anyone looking for a merchant company with free setup and activation, we highly recommend (and use ourselves) E-Commerce Exchange. Call and speak directly with Ray Foland at 1-800-710-1337
B.) Processing Credit Card Orders Manually (free Mals account)
If you have a merchant account (outside of Payapl) and your merchant company offers you a virtual terminal to process credit cards manually, you will need the free Mals-e account in order to use that merchant account. You will need to log into your Mals account and put in which credit cards you accept. You would then take the credit card info from a customer order (find this info under Payments in your Mals account) and process the order manually through your merchant company's virtual terminal.
C.) Accepting Credit Cards via Paypal
If you plan to accept credit cards and use Paypal as the processing company, you don't need to set up anything in your free Mals account other than what Paypal address you use for Paypal. All credit card processing through Paypal is done through the Paypal website and not at all within settings in your Mals account (other than what email address you use for Paypal).
TOP
12. Does it cost anything extra if I use a credit card merchant account?
If you can process credit cards manually through a merchant account's virtual terminal then there are no additional fee's. If you have a merchant company that does not offer a virtual terminal or that you want to process credit cards automatically for you, there is a Mals-e fee for the shopping cart in order to take advantage of their Credit Card Gateway system, The cost is $8.00 per month.
Here is a short list of the gateways that are available at Mals-e. Click HERE for a full list.
Authorizenet
Verisign
Worldpay
Beanstream
Internetsecure
Netbanx
ePDQ
2Checkout.com
Note: If you do not have a merchant company, we highly recommend Ecommerce Exchange (and use them ourselves). You can call 1-800-710-1337 and ask for Ray Foland. There are no setup fees and Ray will get everything all set up for you!
TOP
13. Does PappaShop set up my Mals-e cart or do I need to do that?
We will set up your shopping cart for you. We know our way around Mals and can have things set up to work streamline with Pappa-Pak. We set up your shopping cart at the time your account is installed and we will send you the login info you need.
TOP
14. Does your shopping cart support different currencies?
The cart is setup by default using the American English language set but you can change that to one of the follow:
0 - English (US)
1 - Spanish
2 - Portuguese - S American
3 - Danish
4 - Norwegian
5 - Swedish
6 - Polish
7 - German
8 - French
9 - Indonesian
10 - Italian
11 - Dutch
12 - Turkish
13 - Croatian
14 - English (European)
15 - Afrikaans
16 - Romanian |
17 - Icelandic
18 - Portuguese - Euro
19 - Finnish
20 - Hungarian
21 - Greek
22 - Estonian
23 - Welsh
24 - Czech
25 - Albanian
26 - Slovenian
27 - English (2Checkout.com compliant)
28 - Russian
29 - English (For charities)
30 - Serbian
31 - English (Australian)
32 - Lithuanian |
TOP
15. Does PappaShop charge any setup, sales or transaction fees?
No, we do not. Unlike Ebay, Etsy and other sites that bring you targeted traffic, we do not charge any setup, sales or transaction fees. You will need to add your content and products to your site and market your site to potential customers on your own. We do not charge any fees for the work you put into your site.
TOP
16. How long does it take to receive my login info?
Each hosting account is manually set up and configured by our New Accounts department. We generally ask for 24 to 48 business hours to set up an account and shopping cart. Monday through Friday accounts are set up continually and it generally doesn't take long at all before you receive your login info.
Note: If you order on a Friday evening after 5pm PST, you might not have your account login info until the following Monday.
TOP
17. I have never had a website before. Is your system easy to learn?
Pappa-Pak is so user friendly, you will be managing your site like a pro in no time. We have written tutorials available in our searchable knowledgebase and if you have any questions, you can always reach us through the help desk. Our office hours are Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm PST.
If you would like, take a test drive in our demo area.
DEMO AREA
Username: admin
Password: demo
18. I already have a web host. Will you install Pappa-Pak on my server?
We're sorry but we only offer our software for use on our own server. The reason for this is because there is certain criteria that needs to be met in order for our software to install and work correctly. Each host is different in that respect. Our software is configured perfectly to our own server.
TOP
19. I already have a web host, can I just purchase a template to use?
Our templates are for PappaShop hosted clients only and are designed and coded to work with Pappa-Pak.
TOP
20. I am not happy with my current host. What is the cost to switch to PappaShop?
We do not charge anything when a customer switches from their current host to PappaShop. All you have to do is sign up for hosting and point your domain to our server and you will be able to start building your new website.
Please Note: If you would like us to transfer your entire database over to our system so you don't have to start from scratch at building your site, submit a ticket and let us know which web host you currently use so we will be able to tell you if this is an option for you.Submit A Ticket Here
TOP
21. I am outside the US. Can I still host with PappaShop?
Absolutely! PappaShop cart supports other countries.
TOP
22. I don't need a shopping cart but would like to use Pappa-Pak for managing my site. Is this possible?
You don't have to use the shopping cart part of Pappa-Pak. If you simply want a way to manage your website without the headache of learning html, php or ftp, Pappa-Pak is still the best way to go. You will just use every part of the system except the categories and products section. When you're ready to install the shopping cart, just let us know and we'll configure it for you. If you would like one of our templates without the ecommerce features, just let us know and we will remove those elements for you.
TOP
23. If I use a PappaShop Template, is it easy to change the look of my site?
Changing the look of your site is as simple as installing the design then choosing it from a dropdown menu in your storeadmin and clicking Update. You can even tell certain pages to use certain designs while others use another! How cool is that? You can do this because there are 300+ free and premium designs to choose from.
Please Note: The $4.99 fee for a premium template is the fee we charge to add your business name and optional slogan to the logo area in the fancier font seen in the template sample.
TOP
24. Is Pappa-Pak compatible with a Mac?
Yes, but not with Mac's Safari browser software. You would need to use either Oprea, Firefox (has some issues with Java Scripts), Internet Explorer or Netscape.
TOP
25. Who controls my domain name if I host with PappaShop?
You are always in control of your domain name. You will be responsible for renewing it, transferring it, or making sure it is pointed to PappaShop's server when you host with us. We have no control over your domain name. You purchase it, its yours to take care of. Transferring your domain name to our server is not the same as pointing the DNS numbers. If you have any questions, feel free to email us.
TOP
26. What do you mean by no HTML knowledge required?
We say No HTML Knowledge Required meaning that you do not need to know html in order to maintain your site. Creating a template for your site is something you would need to have a designer do for you or do yourself with an html editor. Of course you can always use the built in designs for your site or use the html from one as a guide to build your own. Pappa-Pak is not a site builder, its a content management system (CMS).
TOP
27. Will you be adding page content and products to my website?
Our system was made with you in mind. It is so user friendly that you will be able to maintain your own site with ease! When we finish the initial installation of your account and shopping cart, we will send you all your login info you need. You will then go in and add page content, categories to sell products from and the actual products themselves. We have lots of tutorials to show you step by step procedures and help is just a ticket or phone call away should you need further assistance.
You should be in full control of your site no matter where you host!
TOP
28. I want a custom template for my site. Is this something you offer?
Absolutely! We offer custom web design which includes matching business card template and matching link exchange banners. You will need a hosting account and an idea. You fill out a questionnaire and let us put together a look that suits you! Please note, we do not offer page content or product layout. These are considered site maintenance and you will be in full control of that part of your site. Our fee for a custom designed template is just $399.00. More details HERE.
TOP
29. When you say as low as $9.99 for hosting, is that monthly or a one time payment?
When you purchase hosting for the year the payment will need to be made in one payment. Doing so lets you receive our basic ecommerce hosting plan for what would equal $9.99 per month if you were paying month to month and $15.99 for premium ecommerce hosting f you were paying month to month. There are no refunds for hosting past the first 30 days of service as per our 30-day money back guarantee. Domain purchases are non-refundable.
TOP
30. How does the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee work?
If you cancel hosting within the first 30 days of service, we will refund your hosting fees. Domain fees and template fees are non-refundable.
TOP
31. If I do want to cancel hosting or domain, how easy is it to do so?
If you would like to cancel your account, please notify PappaShop via the instructions below within at least 48 hours of your next billing cycle. Our system is automated and if you do not submit your request with enough time prior to the next billing cycle, your invoice may be marked as paid and your card will be charged.
*IMPORTANT* - hosting and domains are separate so please follow instructions below to cancel one or both.
---TO CANCEL WEB HOSTING---
Very easy. In order to verify that you are the actual owner of the account, you will need to log into your Pappashop account manager (client area) https://www.pappashop.com/whmcs/clientarea.php
Log into the client area,
Click on "Services" and click on "My Services"
Find your E-Commerce Web Hosting account listed and click on the "View Details" button to the right.
Click on Management Action and then click on Request Cancellation
Fill out the form then click the big red button that says "Request Cancellation"
---TO CANCEL YOUR DOMAIN---
Log into your client area
Click on "Domains" and click on "My Domains"
Find your domain listed and click the button to the right that says "Manage Domain"
Click on "Auto Renew"
Click the big red button that says "Disable Autorenew"
You will have the option to have your account cancel immediately or at the end of the billing period. It is totally up to you. This is the ONLY way to cancel your hosting account and/or domain since we do not monitor sites or know when or if you have closed, moved, not used etc. It is your responsibility to close your account prior to your invoice date.
TOP | 
Client Area Login
