A happy non-techy user's honest review of BigCommerce, being used with great confidence
Updated May 05, 2020
A happy non-techy user's honest review of BigCommerce, being used with great confidence
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Software Version
Pro
Overall Satisfaction with BigCommerce
BigCommerce is being used by my company as our sole online presence and very important e-commerce portal. In many ways, our BigCommerce website has become the center of our business and marketing life. Currently, everything is geared around making sure the website is up-to-date and accurate, and all other systems then fall in line with it--not the other way around, which is how it was in the past.
Our website is the 'shop window' to the world, and although most international sales are not made using it, the successful way it works means we get seen by a large number of people in many countries.
Our website is the 'shop window' to the world, and although most international sales are not made using it, the successful way it works means we get seen by a large number of people in many countries.
- It is a great system to use out of the box. It's fairly easy to learn how to use, and has a speedy operation for updating and day-to-day maintenance.
- The wide variety of options for themes is excellent.
- It is also very scaleable, so that you can start in a controlled way and progress to a very comprehensive set-up
- It has been such a success for us, as we have seen web-sales double in two years, and this is now five times higher than our previous e-commerce website.
- I find managing the home page to be a bit bothersome, as in some ways this is the main area where some specialist assistance is required. Some places are editable by an average user, but not all, and this is frustrating.
- Additionally to the above, the home page is not found through the usual 'web pages' route for maintenance, or via 'storefront,' it is found in marketing, which is a complete mystery to me whenever I go looking for it.
- Also, the home page options are really limited to flying banners (very good if you have few products and want it jazzy) or static pods (ok but not very modern) the various theme options give a fair degree of choice, but you still end up thinking. I wish I could just edit this home page as simply as the other web pages
- Top of the list of positives is the fact that it works so well and has more than doubled our web-sales just in two years.
- The second is simplification. Now we can manage the products from their initial listing, to changing images and updating pricing in a few quick steps.
- Our average order value has increased as time goes on, and this can be seen by the built-in reporting package.
- The return on investment is good, but not just because of the increased sales, there are many more benefits gained from managing products and other office data using the website.
$100,000 to $500,000
As a non-techy user, I am not sure of the correct meaning of this, and only have a small amount of customization. However, it is fairly simple to link in videos and content.
I chose BigCommerce based on recommendations, and so only had a fleeting search at alternative products.
I have not been disappointed.
I have not been disappointed.
BigCommerce Feature Ratings
Using BigCommerce
4 - I manage the site overall myself including editing, adding products or photos or changing prices with assistance from my account manager.
The other two work in sales and collect up the orders for dispatch.
The other two work in sales and collect up the orders for dispatch.
2 - Management level staff
- It is our shop window to the world
- It also acts as our product list with supporting information
- This product now sits at the top of our product management, the web site is correct first and formost with accounts and marketing underneath.
- It is great to simply add other manufacturers videos or photos
- We can email links of products to potential customers who need more information
- When at exhibitions it can be used to explain products to potential customers
- Promotions are not something we do very often but this platform is ideal if we want to in the future
Evaluating BigCommerce and Competitors
Yes - We had an old style ecommerce web shop in the past but this required intervention of technical support to update even the simpliest of things
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
Usuability is the most important aspect.
Being able to edit and update regularly is vital and we wanted to do that ourselves.
Being able to edit and update regularly is vital and we wanted to do that ourselves.
It would certainly be easier to evaluate other platforms now I have more experience, however I would rather not do that as I am happy where we are
BigCommerce Implementation
- Third-party professional services
Oyster web design assisted to get the site up and running
Yes - We initially used the free month to try it out to see how it would look and then once understanding it and liking what we could do we then went live.
Subsequent phases were more about adding the many products in a logical order and taking the opportunity to update the details as we went.
Following on it was a little more about improving the design and look of the site.
Subsequent phases were more about adding the many products in a logical order and taking the opportunity to update the details as we went.
Following on it was a little more about improving the design and look of the site.
Change management was a small part of the implementation and was well-handled - Really it was only a matter of managing the improvements and training staff which was not possible in advance so had to be done concurrently.
- Getting the payment page to say the right things and giving the right options to allow for account customers to order.
Using BigCommerce
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using | Lots to learn |
- adding or updating products
- changing prices
- adding photos and videos
- changing colour of the themes
- I really don't like the fact I can't edit the whole of the home page without technical support, even the details around the head of the page are not visable to the layman.
- Also, the options for Banners or Pods are a bit limiting and could be re-thought to make it as easy to edit as the product pages.
Yes, but I don't use it