SHOPIFY EXPERTS?

[CultWine]

Are you kidding me? Let's understand the Shopify business model..............

You start a platform designed to make it easy for anyone to do ecommerce. Yet we have to hire a "Shopify Expert" if you need help with your site or want to make design changes to the available themes. Very nice concept...........The company blows up! Good for you...............bad for us your clients and I will tell you why:

1) You are so busy you can't even provide timely support to your clients. I have had this issue and I can't even get a request a call back option. 

2) Your "Shopify Experts" are not exactly experts. Your so big now, you can't screen your Experts due to the demand of your growth. 

3) We trust that you stand behind them and have screened these people when you attach your brand name to them - "Shopify" Experts

So all you have done, is provide the scumbags rip-off IT people another vehicle to rip off uneducated ecommerce businesses as long as they can qualify as a 'Shopify Expert."  Do you see the problem? You actually made it easier for them to get work as now due to your success they have so many more clients or victims to feed off. The sad thing is Shopify is not responsible? You hide behind the 3rd party excuse? It's your platform! We TRUST you Shopify...................why would you steer your clients to people who rip us off or create problems? 

The appearance is more like you can do ecommerce with one stop shopping! Not quite.............unless you have the simplest of sites then maybe. But if you get a IT person or Shopify Expert involved..........say your prayers! 

This company was hired on June 1, 2020 with a projected timeframe of 3 weeks. I went live without them on Nov 17th. No Responses to my countless emails and phone calls. 

Rahaul - Owner 

https://itgeeksin.com/

[Anonymous]

What is your post about?  I don't see any point

[CultWine]

If you don't see the point then that is the issue...............There are many points within the Post if you read between the lines or if you have ever had the unfortunate misfortune of being held "hostage" by an IT guy you hire and trust. I have been going through this process for 20 years and its never fun. BE FORWARNED ABOUT SOME "SHOPIFY EXPERTS"

Shopify Experts are NOT all experts to say the least! Look at the posts in here by many of clients who have been lied too, scammed and basically been taken advantage of by IT experts? Shopify has exploded and they simply can't keep up with the demand. So they have effectively created a feeding frenzy for shall we say, unscrupulous IT entities, who as long as they qualify as a "Shopify Expert" will have more business than ever before. Shopify doesn't benefit from Experts who are not Experts so I would strongly suggest they do something about this issue. It was the primary reason they formed their platform..........simplify the process to do ecommerce. People were afraid of the IT entities not doing ecommerce. It was the process of who you had to pay & trust to get started. 

It is a simple point.............We simply want to get what we pay for and trust the "experts" we hire to get the job done as efficiently as possible. Shopify advertises these entities as "Experts" for their Platform! The term "Shopify Experts" gives the impression that these are people that work for or at the very least are "trusted" by Shopify. If this is the case, someone in the department in charge of this area needs to have a job performance review. Do you think this is acceptable? Shopify get Experts to help your monthly subscribing clients so they can do ecommerce effectively! The more business we do the more money Shopify makes too. 

I am still trying to work thru my issues with my expert as now they are in fact reaching out to me. Its a step in the right direction and I am very hopeful I can resolve this issue amicably. Everyone deserves a chance to fix issues. I feel really sorry for all the other Shopify posts I have read about people simply about getting the services promised to them. I am certain their are some amazing companies in the Shopify Experts to work with...........these entities should be even more upset than us the clients as the bad apples are ruining this for them. It is a reflection of the IT industry and it should not be allowed. 

MY SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER SHOPIFY OWNERS HIRING: 

1) Get everything in writing! Scope of work, timeframe with deadlines, costs, payment schedule and like construction (change order costs?)

2) Do not pay more 50% upfront........I like 25%. And withhold at least 25% for completion. 

3) Make sure the people you are working with speak fluent and the proper language. Communication is the key to getting your design done correctly.

4) Design first in detail before you let them start. I strongly suggest wire frames even if hand drawn to get a better feel for how your website will work. Especially for newbies. 

5) Get your invoice sent to you thru SHOPIFY..........have them invoice your site so you have the invoice submitted thru Shopify. This was Shopify Advise to me

6) Keep all communication documented thru emails. Have a Zoom call........recap in writing to the Entity a summary of your meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page

In closing, Shopify is an awesome concept and site. Now, do or spend whatever is needed to get the circle of "Shopify Experts" to be truly Experts who can in fact help out your clients by providing what we need and a great experience in the process. Those "Experts" would experience a windfall of business in my opinion. 

[Edward-Newgate]

Hi @CultWine 

Thanks for your share. I would like to share this article with you: How to Find & Hire a Shopify Expert?.

[CultWine]

Thank you Edward...............nothing like learning the "hard way" but it's my fault for being trusting. I have learned..................hopefully! 

[Mad_Modeler]

I get your drift on this "forum", there are many "self proclaimed" experts, what I have found is that you have to filter out those that are, from those that are not, and I agree it's not easy.

What I find is that the person who gets straight to the problem, rather than adding a load of fluff, is probably the best person to listen to, also (for me) good English is the key, I also immediately discount any "help" from the Indian subcontinent which includes links to off site "help", I certainly wouldn't give them access to my site.

If all that fails there is Shopify chat, which personally I have found to be excellent, yes it is hard to find, but the link is there.

There is also a massive amount of info published on YouTube by Shopify.

Good luck in your journey, I have tried several platforms for e-commerce, if you think Shopify is bad, try Magento, that will have you aging faster than you can imagine

[CultWine]

Thank you Mad..........I actually love the Shopify platform but like everything in Tech, there is always a way for the unscrupulous to slide in and work the system.  I feel really bad not wanting to hire from a specific area but I have had three experiences in which all have not worked out. Communication is a key to any designing of a website so I agree that the designer must have a great understanding and excellent communication skills.  Most of these companies have people that field your calls inly to sell you on why you need to sign with them. They don't even have any technical background at all so how do they understand the issue? They don't...........their goal is to sign you.  Thank you again for your advise as it is always appreciated. All the best and stay safe! 

[Mad_Modeler]

If you are in the UK, Try Blue Bee in Salisbury, they have given me help without payment, and their rates seem reasonable.

They offered to build me a singing and dancing website based on Shopify, with bells and whistles for around £2k, they will show you customer testimonials, and point you towards sites they have built, they also offer great support where you can actually talk to the developers over the phone !

I know they work on 50% upfront, 50% when happy basis.

https://www.bluebee.com/about

[CultWine]

Thank you Mad..............really appreciate it! Have a blessed day and stay safe my friend!