Need web design guidance OR 'Nique hates Shopify'

[Nique]

I need to make an online store without it being actually an online store.

Is there a way I can build an extremely simple and secure store utilizing standard html/ css, php & I guess Java if I need to and using paypal payment services?

[Nikose Tyris]

Nope. SSL needed, and yes, stupid expensive.

You maaaaaay be able to swing it otherwise, with setting up a specific paypal setup for each and every individual item that shuts down after x sales, but, seriously. very detailed work that I don't know if paypal can handle.

[Nikose Tyris]

Actually, both the things I said may not be 100% correct; there ARE cheap SSL options, but they can be hard to find and are sometimes ridicu-sleazy; GoDaddy has a slew about a $15 option that swings the gamut between "Awesome A+ paid-for upvote" and "Holy shit, this is the wort thing ever, it's been 3 months where the fuck is my service".

So the SSL thing, yeah, there's that.

Regarding the paypal thing, I still haven't dicked around with it at all, but I suppose there must be some 3rd party site that offers options for image+linkthrough to paypal, and provides their own SSL for a nominal fee?

[Although I have heard great things about Shopify's architecture and will probably be wanting to work on a shopify store myself soonish; if you were looking for assistance, I'd offer my time and mostly-outdated skills and lack of shopify experience to poking around to learn.]

[Nique]

If you want to take a crack at it (http://wiki.shopify.com/Main_Page)

I guess I just don't understand their 'liquid' langauge they use and I have a specific layout I want. Not to mention that the paypal payment option takes you through like 3 different pages and offsite to paypal. I've done what I can with their templates (http://fourheroesgaming.myshopify.com) but I'm extremely unhappy with how it looks and I seem to have some mental blocks up about the whole thing.

[Nikose Tyris]

Oh man, dude, that looks so good. With some polish that can actually be a pretty pimp store. Okay we're gonna do this. I'm going to go and work on stuff and see what I can figure out, this looks fun.