Big Commerce vs BluePark

[coxis]

Hi there

I would appreciate any suggestions or experiences you have had with either of these e-commerce solutions.

I am looking to soon start in dropshipping, I would like a complete solution to this with automatic e-mail through to vendors once a purchase has been made.

also does anyne know of any offers either of the two have or yourself may have?

My one other question is about SEO, does it make much of a difference that one is UK based servers and the other is USA based servers? I have read that it generally does not make a difference to the ranking, but just like to know what others thought

Sorry for any repeats, I have searched with unclear answers

cheers, Coxis

 

[webhostuk]

Big commerce is good one.

Regarding hosting server if you are looking to target UK market its always good to host on UK servers as it does affect SEO.

 

[websnail]

Big commerce is good one.

I'm going to agree in part that BigCommerce (BC for short) has the potential to be very good but there is a HUGE BUT to this.

BC is owned and operated by a company called Interspire and frankly the management is completely back ass-wards in terms of how they do things, how they communicate and in particular how they support or treat customers.

I won't bother to repeat things I've said about this company before but I'd urge you to take a proper look at the GetSatisfaction forum space for BC, and in particular take note of the posts regarding:
- 3DSecure
- PCI compliance (and lack of it)
- Communication
- Bug fixes vs' New poorly implimented features.

... and then take a look at this blog with associated comments regarding the original Shopping Cart that Interspire produced and have all but abandoned despite customers paying thousands of dollars for their licenses


I am still using the Shopping Cart software and even had a free BC store that I use for my code modules but to be honest, had I any idea just how arrogant and stupid Interspires management would turn out to be I would have run far away.

Anyway, by all means take my opinion with a pinch of salt but please, don't just take the surface shine and marketing hype for gospel... dig deep and look under the hood before you jump in with both feet.

 

[benjamin_c]

There's many more solutions other than BC and BP, i hear magento is very good, theres also other hosted solutions such as EKM, 1&1 and Tiger commerce, type each one into google flollowed by the word "reviews" to see what the users think before you comit your self to a contract and to a platform that will be difficult to change once you're up and running without irritating current customers and damaging your ranking.

 

[eukhost]

Hi there

My one other question is about SEO, does it make much of a difference that one is UK based servers and the other is USA based servers? I have read that it generally does not make a difference to the ranking, but just like to know what others thought

Sorry for any repeats, I have searched with unclear answers

cheers, Coxis

UK server is highly recommended if your targeted traffic is from UK. For more details on geotargeting, please refer http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=62399

Hope this helps

 

[Davef]

BigCommerce are working very hard to attract customers from the UK market but when we looked at them earlier this year there was a number of issues which put us off. One being they can't handle uk vat correctly.

There were a number of other issues but I can't remember exactly what they were now.

Out of BigCommerce & Bluepark I would highly recommend you use Bluepark. Stable software, feature rich, uk hosting and uk support are a major plus when looking for an e-commerce solution.

 

[Fill-Your-World]

We switched our site from Jshop to Bluepark a few months ago, and can HIGHLY recommend Bluepark. It is incredibly feature rich, really user friendly, and the support is just second to none. There were a few things that we werent able to do when we first started using, and when these issues were raised, literally within a matter of weeks the features were added and it now does everything we need 100% perfectly.

Would recommend BP to anyone

 

[ICEY]

I've used both and have commented extensively on BCs other software Interspire - here are a few of the threads:-

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1203759&postcount=8

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1081234&postcount=24 - this thread gives a fuller summary of the two packages.

I have to say I am continually delighted with Bluepark, it is incredibly feature rich and very easy to use. Support is excellent which is a very refreshing change after Interspire. The main reason I love Bluepark is all the "extras" that are included within the monthly price - newsletter management, sales stats, live support (one of the best features of BP), unlimited support (you have to buy support credits for interspire), product reviews and the incredible amount of flexibility you have with almost every aspect.

 

[soundbite]

The major bonus to Bluepark is that it is very easy to design. Changes can be made in seconds. Bluepark wins hands down.

 

[Flying Hippy]

Hi,

I use interspire shopping cart there were a few bugs from 4 to 5.X but when tweeked can run like a dream. Have not tried Big Commerce as i think you can not have your own CUSTOM template and style (could be wrong)

Just had a quick look at bluepark looks like EKM which I used before. They were good at customer service but the £ kept adding on when you needed more things done.

I think the bottom line is how much do you need to customize your shop. To do what you need it to do. I think the VAT issue is still there with ISC which i am seeking advice from my accountant as i need to know the specifics for europe.

would be interesting to know if ISC and Bluepark can handle these options

 

[paretowasright]

The major bonus to Bluepark is that it is very easy to design. Changes can be made in seconds. Bluepark wins hands down.

Hi Soundbite I am assuming you have actually used Interspire in order to make such a resounding judgement?...do tell us more.

 

[ICEY]

Hi,

I use interspire shopping cart there were a few bugs from 4 to 5.X but when tweeked can run like a dream. Have not tried Big Commerce as i think you can not have your own CUSTOM template and style (could be wrong)

Just had a quick look at bluepark looks like EKM which I used before. They were good at customer service but the £ kept adding on when you needed more things done.

I think the bottom line is how much do you need to customize your shop. To do what you need it to do. I think the VAT issue is still there with ISC which i am seeking advice from my accountant as i need to know the specifics for europe.

would be interesting to know if ISC and Bluepark can handle these options

Bluepark is absolutely nothing like EKM or ISC (I've used all three). Bluepark has fabulous features included in to the price - there are three package levels and obviously you get more features with the more expensive plan BUT that is it, there are no other ongoing charges - and once you knock off things like paying for newsletters to a third party and paying for live help, Bluepark really is good value. EKM is fine but very very basic in comparison to Bluepark. It is like comparing a mini and a ferrari - yes both are cars but they are a world apart in terms of performance.


I don't understand what you mean about can Bluepark and ISC handle these options?

 

[Flying Hippy]

Hi ICEY,

Sorry what I was meant to ask was Can BluePark or ISC hand VAT deductions from europe.

i.e
Customer buys from UK goods for £20 VAT is included in the price.

Customer buys goods from UK website but lives in Europe , UK Vat registered company is not meant to charge VAT to European customers. Will ISC or BluePark handle this by automatically deducting from total price?

Customer from Europe is meant to pay £17.02

Thanks
Flying Hippy

Bluepark is absolutely nothing like EKM or ISC (I've used all three). Bluepark has fabulous features included in to the price - there are three package levels and obviously you get more features with the more expensive plan BUT that is it, there are no other ongoing charges - and once you knock off things like paying for newsletters to a third party and paying for live help, Bluepark really is good value. EKM is fine but very very basic in comparison to Bluepark. It is like comparing a mini and a ferrari - yes both are cars but they are a world apart in terms of performance.


I don't understand what you mean about can Bluepark and ISC handle these options?

 

[ICEY]

Hi ICEY,

Sorry what I was meant to ask was Can BluePark or ISC hand VAT deductions from europe.

i.e
Customer buys from UK goods for £20 VAT is included in the price.

Customer buys goods from UK website but lives in Europe , UK Vat registered company is not meant to charge VAT to European customers. Will ISC or BluePark handle this by automatically deducting from total price?

Customer from Europe is meant to pay £17.02

Thanks
Flying Hippy

I think so but I'm not sure if I'm honest - why don't you pop over to the bluepark forum and ask there? They have an incredibly supportive and helpful community over there and someone is bound to know the answer. As far as I know it is 100% VAT compliant but I have a b2c site.

I could be wrong but I thought that VAT is charged to European customers but not to those outside of Europe? However if a customer is a business has their own VAT number (in Europe) they don't have to pay the UK VAT they can "opt" to pay their own countries VAT instead.