Shopify's High Costs for Small B2B Merchants: Unfair or Just Business?

[KommaKaffe]

Hey everyone 💫

We're so close to having Shopify be the ultimate beast for all merchant needs! I frick'in love it!

But why on Earth, can't we merchants with an annual income below $800,000 access B2B capabilities? 

We're a specialty coffee roastery with a small team of fewer than 10 people, and we heavily rely on B2B sales. Two years ago, we had to set up a separate B2B site to integrate with our ERP system alongside our D2C Shopify site because Shopify lacked the necessary B2B features and customizations.

Now, things have improved significantly, and the Shopify Connector to our ERP system has gotten much better. However, we simply can't afford the $2,300 monthly fee?! It's simply a ludicrous amount for a small business like ours.

Currently, we're paying $12,000 annually for the licensing of our separate B2B site. And we have plans to take our D2C from shopify over to the other one..

Just imagine if Shopify recognized the value for smaller B2B shops like ours? 

Yes, B2B capabilities are available through third-party apps, but why should we have to rely on them when the solution is right there?

It feels like Shopify is ignoring the needs of smaller b2b businesses and, in the process, losing out on significant revenue.

Are we the only one that has an issue with their pricing? 🤔 

[KommaKaffe]

I thought that was what I did, Jamez? But please do tell if there are other Shopify forums I need to get on? 😄

[Tom122]

Pricing is ridicolous and for that price you only can have "Companies" and editable checkout. Its a Joke.

For half the money you can get full CRM, ERP, Manufacturing, Service, E-Commerce, POS softwate - all in one - its Called ODOO (odoo.com)

We have been testing Shopify Plus for a year and its pain.

First - its impossible to manage 3000+ items in this. You need to spend another 2K per month or PIM.

There is no functions - our B2B customers (government, corporations) need option that they can print and send quotes themselves and convert orders. they also need function to request quote per item and cart. 

Logic behind Shopify B2B is strange. While most shops are resellers, shopify promotes B2B for wholesale? Since when resellers can offer attractive pricing for wholesalers? 

Problem is that people who develop software have lack of experience and if they ask advice they ask from specific persons (sales, purchase etc). Instead they should speak to business owners and ask how what procedures they use to hav efficienct business. 99% of sales or erp softwares use ancient techniques. For example if Shopify coult sort out functions like:

Print/Send Quote

Request for Quote

Approve, Cancel, Revise online quote

Product configurator

...

It could safe hours per day if not days per week (especially configurator) and then it would be justifed to pay 2500 usd per month as alternative option is to pay 3000 and hire a person - software should be there to improve efficiency and output. 

So use Odoo.

Even going with giant solution like Microsoft (Finance Operations, Supply Chain, Commerce, E_commerce) license total cost would be 6K per month but you can get software what can run global enterprises not just 200 items webshop.