Amazon vs Shopify, Which is Better?
Friday, July 22, 2016Lauren Macdonald
Discover Which Platform (Amazon or Shopify) is the Right Choice For Your Business
Last year we shared with you our
Unbiased Comparison of Amazon and eBay and it was a huge hit! But what about the up and coming little guy from Canada that’s starting to gain some serious momentum as an eCommerce platform? That’s right, we’re talking about
Shopify!
Today, we’re going to show you a side-by-side comparison of the e-retail giant that is
Amazon, and see how
Shopify measures up against it, so that you can decide for yourself if one of these eCommerce platforms is the right choice for you!
Concept/Format
Amazon
Amazon is a true marketplace where you can sell just about anything! It is extremely popular and has lots of traffic every day, so your products will certainly be noticed. However, you’re more limited in terms of customization and individual branding.
Shopify
On Shopify you’ll create an independent webstore that you will have complete control over. You can completely customize the look and feel to reflect your unique business.
Demographics
Amazon
Amazon currently has over 244 million active users. As such a big player in the eCommerce world, you can be confident that the sizeable traffic will benefit your store. In fact, it has been reported that 44% of web shoppers go directly to Amazon for product searches! However, keep in mind that you’ll be competing for sales with other sellers that are offering similar products to your own.
Shopify
Shopify is quickly gaining momentum and currently has over 200,000 active users, including merchants in 150 different countries. To date, Shopify has processed over $10 billion in sales. Don’t forget that you will need an effective marketing strategy to drive traffic to your webstore and get your products noticed!
Buyer and Seller Relationship
Amazon
Buyers and sellers will rarely interact with regards to a transaction. Amazon is highly involved by playing the middle man between the buyer and seller, and as such, the expectation for high quality customer service largely falls on Amazon, and less on the seller themselves.
Shopify
As an independent webstore owner the buyer/seller relationship will be yours to maintain. You will have control over the quality of customer service that you provide and will interact more closely with your buyers.
Reviews
Amazon
Amazon is known for having great product reviews, which can be helpful since positive product reviews encourage more customers to buy. Another good thing about Amazon’s product reviews is that a negative review will not decrease your ranking on their website.
Shopify
Shopify offers a free app that will allow you to add product reviews to your store. These reviews can be very helpful in increasing your sales and gaining momentum for your store!
Returns
Amazon
Amazon has their A-z Guarantee. This gives buyers piece of mind that they will be able to get a refund on items received that were not as they were promised (within 90 days). This is backed up by Amazon playing an active role between the buyer and seller.
Shopify
As an independent webstore owner on Shopify, your return policy is entirely up to you! This gives you the freedom to customize your return policy to whatever works best for you.