Yeah i'm quite interested in this too. In my case it would be handy if members of a certain role were able to run their own shop, like a market place.

I wondered about using organic groups?? Gets a little out of hand if each member has a separate group though.

good luck,

matt

I've actually already created a role-based "Customer products" module that allows users to basically hook into the Ubercart system. Unfortunately right now it's pretty custom, but the overall idea was pretty straightforward. The only downside is then you have to figure out which parts of Ubercart you are allowing the users access to, such as File Downloads, shippable items, etc.

But basically what we're allowing on our site (in the near future) is a user signs up for a program, kind of like a reseller but selling their own products... they sign up, at which point a Role is assigned. The Role gives them access to a "Create Customer Product" screen (just an "add product node" form) and they can use the Drupal system in that way, to create an actual Product node type. This way it utilizes all of the same Ubercart features such as the Shipping modules, and basically IS a product being sold by the UC system.

I have some work to do with regard to what the users are allowed to see, and also assigning them a Taxonomy term from the start (we don't want the Customer products showing up in the Official Catalogue, for instance). But if you are interested in getting started on your own I can describe my process, and / or post some code.

Once I have time I'll probably abstract my code to something much more open, something like uc_customer_product or something, but right now not all of the pieces are in place with Ubercart core, as far as I'm concerned. I'd love to discuss this more if the Uberdudes are interested in seeing what I've done.

(It uses some of the same ways you import custom product nodes from another system like e-Commerce..)

Yeah, the shipping issue I hadn't taken into consideration, mainly because what we're allowing our users to sell are digital files, nothing physical, at least for the foreseeable future. But I think it'd be relatively easy to patch in the seller's email address, for something like PayPal - since that's pretty much the only way they identify you. There is nothing like a "Merchant ID" like what authorize.net uses.. although that would be ideal.

But the solution I'm working on will allow users to track their sales, and to map how much they have made for a time period. I haven't spent that much time on that aspect yet; whether it should just be a running total of sales for the particular month, resetting at the end of each; that's probably how I'll do it in the end.

But right now, our main goal is to get these digital products setup in a way that allows users to simply enter the information for the node, upload their files, and start selling. Going to try and keep it pretty simple so we don't have to hold hands, although there will be from the start, I'm sure - at least a little bit...

I'm very interested in this as well. Basically exactly what you are describing (and only needed for digital downloads).

I would be willing to contribute financially to this effort, as well as be a tester, but I can't really contribute in a coding capacity.

Please send me a pm if I can be of help.