Shift4Shop Review - Is it Any Good?

[@TenaciousWorkshop]

This has been the most helpful video when trying to consider ecommerce alternatives! Thank you very much!

[@EcommerceGold]

No problem and I'm glad it was helpful.

[@gulsumkr4486]

Hey Paul, Fantastic video. I trully appreciate your points on product page points. It is huge decision maker for me. To be honest, who has the time and energy to learn this type backward product page features. I remember using 3dchart like 10+ years ago, they were combursom and they still are.

[@EcommerceGold]

Thank you, I don't get the product set up process as it is very inefficient and quite frustrating to use. I was really hoping for some drastic changes from them being taken over but yet to see anything.

[@Ariolander]

Thanks for the review. Trying to leave Magento and am really wanted to evaluate at all my options.

[@EcommerceGold]

No problem and I hope it was helpful. Trying to decide which platform to use is always challenging.

[@niikolful]

Try Big Commerce

[@zypsherry]

Hi Paul, thanks for sharing! Anyway I can get this free Plan from Canada? I'm not far from the boarder.

[@EcommerceGold]

Hi Pam, it is currently just for US merchants but you could always try contacting them to see if they would accept you.

[@RUSTICW0LF]

clicking the pricing tab a pop up tells me, "Not available out side of US" I sent a message to support with my requirement's a week ago, never got a reply. your clearly in UK how . Im from UK, living in the Canary Islands, and ideas mate??

[@EcommerceGold]

It's currently not available outside of the US and no timeframe for when it will be.

[@kashuendyke]

What platform will you recommend for an ecommerce that sell internationally with thousands of product? And we will need a lot of variations for each product. Thanks.

[@EcommerceGold]

I would look at Shopify with an app that removes the variation limit. Most platforms have variation limits but it depends on how many variations you need.

[@robjohnson5319]

Any idea why they have closed new signups and if this is a sign to stay away?

[@EcommerceGold]

No, they just said that they were temporarily closed to new signups. I can’t say but it is a strange move as it is costing them potential business.

[@Liz-ic6jb]

I have never known an e-commerce platform to stop new sign ups. And I've been in e-commerce over 20 years. It makes me feel uneasy. They're probably restructuring their plans and pricing.

[@EcommerceGold]

Me either, it is a very strange practice. I hope the reason is that they are redeveloping the platform as it needs it!

[@Naniizar]

Shift4Shop is close. This is the message: Our new shop onboarding process is temporarily closed and will be reopened soon. What is other platform?

[@EcommerceGold]

There are quite a few other options, with Shopify and Bigcommerce being good alternatives.

[@Naniizar]

@@EcommerceGold I'm currently on BigCartel, avoiding those two for the reasons you are mentioning in this video, I want convenience and budget friendly options, but thanks

[@EcommerceGold]

Have you considered a WordPress based solution?

[@Naniizar]

@@EcommerceGold I dont want anything too complicated

[@EcommerceGold]

Ecwid might be an option but from what you have said, you might be better off sticking with Big Cartel otherwise you will have to compromise on something.

[@joypadlad]

It sucks that people are saying that this site is free but it's not if you don't do over $500 per month in sales.

[@EcommerceGold]

They brought in the $500 limit a couple of months after I posted this video, unfortunately it’s the only thing that has really changed since posting it though.

[@serlilive9305]

I clicked on an affiliate link and I was able to get in this afternoon! I’m very excited! Apparently, they’ve made some changes. I’ve been waiting for MONTHS for them to get back to me after trying to start with them directly on their site.

[@EcommerceGold]

They opened back up at the end of December and I've seen a few people mention changes but haven't seen any myself yet.

[@GEM.Official]

As a 17 year ecommerce seller, I'm frankly disgusted with Shift4Shop. They are not a reputable company. Charged me before I even had a chance to sign in at all- never used the site but they ghosted as soon as they took a fee for... obtaining my info? There's a lot of ecommerce sellers with the same issues- their billing dept does not take calls and does not respond to email. Resorted to filing with Attorney General and marking amount as fraud. Dishonorable and not at all about small business owners. I'll pay a little more if it means I'm not treated like US meal ticket to a scam.

[@EcommerceGold]

That doesn't sound good, hope you get it resolved.

[@boejiden7093]

Theres also quite a lack of support for shift4shop on the internet. I had to figure everything out on my own when I built my site. Its horridly difficult to find information to help even from them!

[@EcommerceGold]

Unfortunately, there is no incentive from Shift4Shop to create content for them.

[@medina3420]

So Like anything else in life, Yhe cheaper you want it, The MORE Work you have to put into it. Makes sense, BUT Also always, People want to stay in the Hilltop Villa at Motel 6 prices. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@EcommerceGold]

Basically yes, if you want to do it on a shoestring, it will probably cost you in some way.

[@PropMoneyStacks]

@@EcommerceGold Please Review launchcart I personally feel its the best value Platform

[@bobblue_west]

Sounds really hard to use. I'll skip it. I was looking for a simple, free front end to Printful.

[@EcommerceGold]

Shift4Shop is not the easiest to use.

[@dondireeves1762]

This video is not accurate at all because everything, I mean everything including your themes are customizable, every customizable without using, touching or changing the computer code. Click on Settings > then Store Settings and it opens up everything, the themes, the store, add personal pictures and slides for your displays, how your invoice looks, a brand, your logo, which credit cards, you can uploads pictures & documents as well.

[@EcommerceGold]

I'm not sure if your dashboard is different to mine but under store settings I have very minimal customization options other than adding a logo to the store and invoice. Since posting this video (which was over a year ago btw), there have been some minor changes to site customization but it is still very basic and not particularly user-friendly as the customization is split over multiple pages, changing the header and footer requires using a WYSIWYG editor, overall it is still very poor, especially when you compare Shift4Shop to the likes of Shopify that offer a lot more and make it a lot easier to do.

[@ChristopherMella-p8l]

It's okay, but NOT good. It's not a knowledge based service. It's as little as possible...as few features as possible. For example, VERY old fashioned, knows numbers of clicks, but doesn't know who they even are - NOT knowledge based at ALL... Shift4shop is stuck in like 1995 - VERY out-of-date.

[@lovepeace7853]

Great Video, can I use shift4shop also for an online shop in Germany?

[@EcommerceGold]

Thank you. No, it is only available for US businesses

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

no one cares about what the store looks like as long as it is high quality...

[@EcommerceGold]

As long as what is high quality?

[@TMXmanny]

As long as what you sell is high quality and your marketing strategy is great

[@georgelewis8831]

Old news

[@EcommerceGold]

It's not news, it's a review

[@MeMe-rn5fz]

Thank you for reviewing their site I sign up and when i clicked the payment this is what I read. I don't know if I understand it right so if I can not sold items worth of $500 /month that does mean I pay less than $29 hosting fee? Did I understand it right? thank you. Shift4 Processing Get all the Bells & Whistles completely free as long as you agree to process $500 or more per month after the initial grace period of 60 days. If you do not meet the minimum of $500 per month you will be charged a flat $29 hosting fee for each of the months that you did not meet the minimum of $500.

[@EcommerceGold]

They added that after I made the video but if you don’t do $500 in sales for the month, then you will be charged $29.

[@MeMe-rn5fz]

@@EcommerceGold ok thank you for clarifying.