Starting an eCommerce business involves making critical decisions, one of which is selecting the right platform to build your online store. Shopify and BigCommerce are two of the most popular eCommerce platforms, offering a range of features and benefits. However, no platform is perfect, and both have their drawbacks not to mention both are not niched in the automotive aftermarket parts industry. In this article, we will explore the cons of using Shopify and BigCommerce compared to Admark Automotive to help you make an informed decision.

Shopify: The Cons

1. Transaction Fees: Shopify charges transaction fees for each sale made on your website unless you use Shopify Payments. These fees can add up, especially for high-volume stores, eating into your profit margins. While the fees are waived if you use their payment gateway, this might not always be the most economical or convenient option for every business. Admark Automotive has no transactions fees which means more money in your pocket. Together with AFS Payment Solutions, we are able to offer competitive, if not better rates, for all of your transactions.

2. Costly Add-Ons: Many of Shopify’s advanced features and functionalities are available only through third-party apps, which can increase the overall cost of running your store. Some essential features, like advanced reporting or certain marketing tools, might require additional monthly subscriptions. Admark Automotive has no plug-ins which means no additional costs to consider, no additional updates required. The platform is all inclusive of features and modules.

BigCommerce: The Cons

1. Complexity for Beginners: BigCommerce is packed with features, which can make it overwhelming for beginners. The extensive range of options and settings might require a steeper learning curve, making it less user-friendly for those who are new to eCommerce. Unless you are a techy individual and have the time to dedicate to building a website, this task will eventually become too much to handle and you will be in over your head. The Admark Automotive backend makes it easy to manage all departments of your business from sales to product management to even dealer management.

2. Higher Pricing Tiers: BigCommerce pricing plans are based on annual sales thresholds. As your sales increase, you might find yourself pushed into a higher pricing tier, which can significantly increase your monthly costs. This pricing model can be less predictable and more expensive for rapidly growing businesses.

3. Page Speed: BigCommerce stores have been criticized for slower page load times compared to other eCommerce platforms. Page speed is crucial for user experience and SEO, and slower load times can lead to higher bounce rates and lower conversion rates.

Conclusion

Both Shopify and BigCommerce are powerful eCommerce platforms with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Shopify is known for its ease of use, extensive app ecosystem, and robust support, but it comes with transaction fees, limited customization, and potentially high costs for essential features. BigCommerce offers a comprehensive feature set out of the box and strong scalability, but it can be complex for beginners, has a limited theme selection, and its pricing model can be less predictable.

When choosing the right eCommerce platform to run your business, it's essential to consider your specific business needs, and level of technical expertise which is why Admark Automotive is the front runner for all automotive aftermarket part sellers.