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What would YOU do in this case?

by SoundsGood
21 replies
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Hi guys,

I've never done ecommerce before, but I'm ready to give it a try. I found a dropshipper to work with and now I need an ecommerce website.

The dropshipper has offered to build the site for me in Magento. The good part of this is that I don't have to worry about building the site, obviously. The bad part is that I won't have quite as much control, since I won't actually own the site (although the domain name is mine).

I'm wondering if I should let the dropshipper build the site for me and consider myself lucky -- or if I should try to build a site myself for full control over everything. Note that I've never built or worked on an ecommerce site before... but if I did I'm thinking I'd likely use Woocommerce.

So... What would YOU do?

Let the dropshipper build a site for me in Magento? Or build one myself in Woocommerce?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!
#case
  • Profile picture of the author enterscope
    Give the dropshipper a shot since you're new and you won't have to worry about building a site. All you will have to do is focus on advertising your website, writing articles/press releases and linking to your products and website.

    All the links and traffic will be directed towards your domain name so if you want to build another website later you won't lose your customers.
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  • Profile picture of the author pavv
    Personally, I would not build a business that somebody else owned. You want the power to be able to change suppliers if you needed to - leverage.
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  • Profile picture of the author successmonster234
    if they will build it on magento for you and it will be on your domain name why can't the site be hosted by you somewhere so you own it and have access to the code?
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    • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
      Originally Posted by letsdothistogether View Post

      why can't the site be hosted by you somewhere so you own it and have access to the code?
      I'll have to ask them about that. I have a feeling I won't be able to host their site, but I'm really not sure.

      However, I would have no idea how to mess with Magento's code, so I'd likely have to refer back to them anyway. And they'd have to relay my message back to their developers.

      Still a good question, though. Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author successmonster234
    Magento, once set up, can be managed and operated via its admin area which is quite easy to use/maintain. Once it is set up you should be able to handle it
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    >>> And How Respected Warrior Forum Member Myra Love Is Using These Methods
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    • Profile picture of the author pavv
      Originally Posted by letsdothistogether View Post

      Magento, once set up, can be managed and operated via its admin area which is quite easy to use/maintain. Once it is set up you should be able to handle it
      Yep Magento is fine for order processing etc. if they set it all up. Making changes/customisation is more difficult that woocommerce mainly because it's a purpose built ecommerce platform and is very flexible.

      Since you're starting out and are building the site yourself I'd stick to WooCommerce.
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      Let Me Build Your Ecommerce Store!

      New to eCommerce? Please take a look at my product which teaches you how to find and research a product/niche, then how to build your own store.
      [WSO]I Made $70,689.71 Sales In The Last 31 Days, Let Me Show You How To Do It Too
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  • Profile picture of the author alksense
    Build the site yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

    If you're going to put the time into it you should get all of the rewards and have full control over your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author successmonster234
    One other point, Magento is very server-intensive and it is advised to run on it's own server not a shared platform so will cost more to host, woocommerce runs just fine on cheaper, shared hosts
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    > > > Find Out How We Made OVER $17,000 IN COMMISSION <<<

    >>> And How Respected Warrior Forum Member Myra Love Is Using These Methods
    To Make OVER $5000 PER MONTH! < < <
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  • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
    A dropshipper wanting to build a site for you raises red flags. Thats like me saying "Hey man, I'm going to build you a business but I'm going to do it in your name, not mine."

    Exactly what are you dropshipping?
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  • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
    Guys, I'm still not 100% decided on which way to go, but I'm leaning strongly towards having my own site.

    BUT... after doing A LOT of research since yesterday, I think I might go with Shopify instead of WooCommerce. I know it's not free, but it would be less headaches for me. And frankly, if I can't make enough profit to cover the $29 or $59 monthly fee, I'm in trouble either way.

    Has anyone here used Shopify AND WooCommerce? Any comparison thoughts to share??
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    • Profile picture of the author Knowledgepa
      You can always use eshop along with simple paypal shopping cart to start. This way you can get used to wordpress and they are both free. There are also ways to transfer the eshop into woocommerce once you felt comfortable enough.

      I personally would allow the company to build the site with a contract stating that it would be mine at some point. A lot less headache.
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      • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
        Originally Posted by Knowledgepa View Post

        I personally would allow the company to build the site with a contract stating that it would be mine at some point. A lot less headache.
        I have a call set up to talk with them. I gotta say, though, that Shopify doesn't look like it would be that much of a headache. Too soon to say for sure, though.
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    • Profile picture of the author alksense
      Originally Posted by SoundsGood View Post

      Guys, I'm still not 100% decided on which way to go, but I'm leaning strongly towards having my own site.

      BUT... after doing A LOT of research since yesterday, I think I might go with Shopify instead of WooCommerce. I know it's not free, but it would be less headaches for me. And frankly, if I can't make enough profit to cover the $29 or $59 monthly fee, I'm in trouble either way.

      Has anyone here used Shopify AND WooCommerce? Any comparison thoughts to share??
      I've used both and in my opinion Shopify is more then worth the monthly fee. Like you said; if you're up and running and you can't afford it then there's an even bigger problem with your business then the platform you're using.

      I have tried almost every eCommerce platform out there but at this point I ONLY use Shopify. They have the best customer support, the smallest learning curve and you will save a ton of money if you upgrade features of your store by using plugins from their "app store". Many off their apps that costs $20 and less would cost hundreds to have implemented into other eCommerce platforms.

      Good luck with whatever path you choose!
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      • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
        Originally Posted by alksense View Post

        I have tried almost every eCommerce platform out there but at this point I ONLY use Shopify.
        Good to know. Do you set up the Shopify sites yourself? Or do you hire someone to help you? Or ??

        Thanks.
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        • Profile picture of the author alksense
          Originally Posted by SoundsGood View Post

          Good to know. Do you set up the Shopify sites yourself? Or do you hire someone to help you? Or ??

          Thanks.
          I have people that customize their free themes for me. I used to do it myself (very simple) but now I outsource almost everything that I do.

          They give a 14 day free trial.. I recommend signing up and playing around in the admin section. If you like what you see you can commit to them, if not you can just keep researching other options.
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      • Profile picture of the author successmonster234
        Originally Posted by alksense View Post

        I have tried almost every eCommerce platform out there but at this point I ONLY use Shopify.

        Good luck with whatever path you choose!
        Each to their own and I respect your opinion, I just like to be in control of what I do and not be reliant too heavily on a third party, Shopify sites have to be hosted with them, on their systems so you are pretty much tied to them, at least with Woocommerce I can host where I choose and change any aspect of the code/design/functionality I wish.

        Obviously if you are just starting out it may be better to go with something that is easy to get up and running like Shopify, I just prefer to be in control.

        Good luck with whatever you choose.
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        > > > Find Out How We Made OVER $17,000 IN COMMISSION <<<

        >>> And How Respected Warrior Forum Member Myra Love Is Using These Methods
        To Make OVER $5000 PER MONTH! < < <
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        • Profile picture of the author pavv
          Originally Posted by letsdothistogether View Post

          Each to their own and I respect your opinion, I just like to be in control of what I do and not be reliant too heavily on a third party, Shopify sites have to be hosted with them, on their systems so you are pretty much tied to them, at least with Woocommerce I can host where I choose and change any aspect of the code/design/functionality I wish.

          Obviously if you are just starting out it may be better to go with something that is easy to get up and running like Shopify, I just prefer to be in control.

          Good luck with whatever you choose.
          Couldn't agree more. While I do have a couple stores on hosted platforms, going forward everything is on my own hosting. I'm thinking big and long term with my business and the best strategy here is to own the racecourse, not the racehorse. I'm not building a multimillion dollar business that is 100% reliant on a third party. While it's very unlikely, the reality is that big businesses sometimes go bust.

          Not to put down hosted solutions (platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce etc. are very user friendly, easy to setup and great for starting out) but its definitely something worth thinking about.
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          Let Me Build Your Ecommerce Store!

          New to eCommerce? Please take a look at my product which teaches you how to find and research a product/niche, then how to build your own store.
          [WSO]I Made $70,689.71 Sales In The Last 31 Days, Let Me Show You How To Do It Too
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        • Profile picture of the author malia
          Originally Posted by letsdothistogether View Post

          Each to their own and I respect your opinion, I just like to be in control of what I do and not be reliant too heavily on a third party, Shopify sites have to be hosted with them, on their systems so you are pretty much tied to them, at least with Woocommerce I can host where I choose and change any aspect of the code/design/functionality I wish.

          Obviously if you are just starting out it may be better to go with something that is easy to get up and running like Shopify, I just prefer to be in control.

          Good luck with whatever you choose.

          I have run my own ecommerce site for about 10 years. Over the years, multiple ones, now about 2 (may build more). I also bought alksense's WSO (always something new to learn) and he REALLY knows his stuff.

          While I understand where you're coming from as I am *not* on a hosted ecommerce platform, I can say that if I didn't have experience I would go hosted.

          First let me say, I have tried to be PC before about wordpress as ecommerce, but I'll be more blunt, wordpress as ecommerce is BS because the devil of ecommerce is in the backend and wordpress ecommerce plug ins fail miserably at that. They are cool for out of the box pretty because of the cool themes, but when it comes to customized merchandising and order processing/etc, FAIL. You will be hard pressed to find add-ons that just work with WP ecommerce when it comes to more advanced order processing and management.

          Having said that, Shopify is a solid recommendation and while you can choose self-host with something else, be prepared to keep all your security patches up to date, be prepared to deal with hacking attempts ON YOUR OWN (because it's not your host's responsibility, they might help you if they are nice), DOS attacks, SQL injection attempts, make sure you have a serious backup plan in place and not just relying on your host to back up your server because you will have static files AND a database. Be prepared to deal with all upgrades and the BIG DEAL- PCI compliance (google it).

          If you're new, easier to go with something hosted. Yeah you don't have complete control but if you had a brick and mortar store you wouldn't own the building, would you?
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  • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
    Alksense, I'm gonna shoot you a quick PM...
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  • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
    A few people have PMd me suggesting that I use BigCommerce instead of Shopify. Anyone have any thoughts on Shopify vs BigCommerce?

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I'd never go with an option where I did not own the site. Woo Commerce makes it drop dead simple to get one up and running on your domain and you own it.
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