blockshop new version did not update existing version

[ddotcom12]

Hi.

I purchased the Blockshop Theme about 2 weeks ago. I have designed the site and we are pretty close to launching.

Blockshop, within the span of those 2 weeks, launched a new version. It did not automatically update our existing Blockshop version. I contacted support 4 times yesterday and they all basically said the same thing...."since it is a 3rd party [$250] theme, it does not automatically update and you will have to manually update the new version."

This will take me about 6 hours. I will have to take all the new content from the OLD version and add each page and product to the NEW version. Has anyone else experienced this? Apparently, free themes auto update. But, since it is a 3rd party theme, we must do it manually.

Before I start in on this 6 hour monumental waste of time, I was REALLY hoping that someone out there had some thoughts? Thanks much in advance!

[iDoThemes]

Free themes only update if there have been no code changes, which for a store with apps is pretty uncommon so it's quite normal to get locked into one version of a theme and it's not really a big deal. 

Theme updates are usually only minor stuff like bug fixes and smaller features. Have you been through the change log of the new theme and found some killer feature that you really need? If not then stay on the current one and build on that. 

If you haven't made any code changes, you can try copying the settings_data.json file contents from your current theme, to the new one.

[ddotcom12]

hi, thanks for the response.

this is a paid theme, blockshop, $250

the updates are substantial -- we must use the new version

i'm confused though. if i buy a theme and 3 years from now they have had 10 version updates, i'm still stuck with the version i purchased?

i'm asking my programmers if they can copy the settings_data.json file....we'll see.

thanks again

[iDoThemes]

Yes you are stuck on that version.  Reason being is there is no clean and safe way to merge any changes that your developers may have made, with the new code that the theme contains.  That process would have to be done manually by a developer.  With themes you are mostly paying for the aesthetic as features across themes are mostly the same, then you have your developers build on top of that.

Also of note is that Shopify has recently released its new theme framework "Online Store 2.0" that themes will be required to move over to (looks like Blockshop has already done so).  The changes will be significant there too if you are moving from their older non OS2.0 theme.