[tommyjeans]

Are there any cool web2.0 ecommerce sites out there?
I can't seem to find something that is unique that doesn't have that usual 3 column lay out?

thanks for any help

[iblastoff]

a 'unique' e-commerce site generally will result in failure. typical (ie 3 column) sites are used often because they work.

quoted from alistapart:

The inexperienced or insufficiently thoughtful designer complains that too many websites use grids, too many sites use columns, too many sites are “boxy.” Efforts to avoid boxiness have been around since 1995; while occasionally successful, they have most often produced aesthetically wretched and needlessly unusable designs.

[tommyjeans]

Originally Posted by iblastoff

a 'unique' e-commerce site generally will result in failure. typical (ie 3 column) sites are used often because they work.

quoted from alistapart:

interesting, i wasn't thinking of something TOO far off.
i sent you an inquiry.

[fatjoez]

with respect, you don't need 3 columns. 2 is fine & 3 actually in my opinion is too complicated and can just bombard the user with too much info/graphics

rather than giving this guy some wise-guy response, consider that there may be some merit / alternative reasoning for his request than what you have stated

[chrisduncan]

if you're happy to put your hand in your pocket, and your requirements are fairly simple and you're using some other cms to manage your site, check out foxycart.com. If you want a free open source all-in-one plug and play eCom solution then go get excited about Magento. Both are runny at the nose with standards, seo and semantics. However, don't be premature with Magento. Watch the screencasts and download/experiment by all means. They are in public beta and are advising against commercial development until they make an official 1.0 release.

EDIT: Ahh - text book error, I'm replying without reading! Are you looking for examples or solutions?

[patchtogether]

yes, us
PatchTogether DOT com

[f-thom]

That's a nice site patchtogether!!!

[d*d]

The typical 'goalpost' 3 column layout favoured by most e-commerce sites is a bad design made popular by being the default layout for most e-commerce software - interrogating layouts and questioning 'apparent' correct ways of doing things does not make you an inexperienced or insufficiently thoughtful designer, it makes you a good designer. A list apart can suck my balls

[RussellBishop]

lol great post d*d, but I don't stick a list apart will be sucking your balls anytime soon. I too am pretty sick of the 3-column default, but the end user is used to it and therefore doesn't fear it, so it works. Sucks 2 b a web designer.

[d3n!s3_Ü]

Originally Posted by RussellBishop

Sucks 2 b a web designer.

though it only sucks with ecommerce sites, but not with others.