Shopify is an established name in the eCommerce world. And one of the first you’ll consider when setting up your online store.
The brand has existed since 2006 and currently hosts over 4.1 million eCommerce sites, according to Buildwith.com.
Despite the numbers, questions like “Is Shopify legit?” still arise now and then. The simple answer is yes, it is legit.
As you read further, you’ll understand why Shopify is legit and how to protect yourself from online scammers.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows users to create, manage their digital stores, and sell products online.
Its features include store design, product management, payment processing, shipping, analytics, and customer service. They all help to ensure store owners get everything they need in one place.
In addition to saving time and money, Shopify makes it easy to build a website.
Its simple and intuitive user interface makes it the perfect choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to get their products in front of more customers.
Shopify also provides SEO optimization, marketing automation, and social media integration tools. This helps businesses grow and solidify their online presence.
Is Shopify a legit platform for sellers and buyers?
Yes, it is legit. Shopify is a leading SaaS (software as a service) in eCommerce.
The brand has stood the test of time and continues to be a household name in the industry. Here is a quick brief of how legit Shopify is for sellers and buyers:
Shopify for sellers
As an online merchant, you can log into Shopify and set up your online store with no knowledge of coding. The platform also has a vast library of free and paid apps and integrations.
These include Dsers-AliExpress Dropshipping, Printify, Discount kit, and Realtime view. You can use these tools to reach your target audience faster and more effectively as a merchant.
In addition, Shopify provides flexible and affordable pricing plans favorable to new and established businesses.
Still, on pricing, you can try Shopify for 3 days without adding your credit card. Their $1/month for three months offer lets you see if the platform is right for you.
This test period gives you ample time to scale your business without committing too much money.
Shopify for buyers
As a buyer on the platform, Shopify has integrations that protect your interests, irrespective of what country you’re from. Some include secure payment processing, fraud detection, and buyer protection policies.
Why is Shopify legit?
Qualities such as longevity, accessibility, adaptiveness, transparency, user protection, value addition, social proof, etc., determine whether a brand is legit.
Here we’ll see how Shopify stacks up against them:
Longevity
Shopify started as far back as 2016. And the brand has remained successful for over a decade, powering millions of e-commerce stores worldwide.
Founder and CEO, Tobi Lutke started Shopify for the sole purpose of addressing the pain points of merchants. To make it easier for them to set up thriving online stores.
The outcome is that currently, Shopify has merchants in over 175 countries and counting.
This quality of consistency in its message and branding initiative endorses Shopify on the list of legit brands.
Accessibility
Shopify offers a range of services to merchants. This support helps them start quickly, from creating an online store to accepting payments and shipping products.
The brand caters to different levels of business owners, so anyone can start using it regardless of their experience.
Merchants can customize their shop any way they want without coding or technical understanding.
This makes Shopify one of the most accessible e-commerce solutions for business owners and entrepreneurs.
Adaptiveness
Shopify is continuously evolving and adapting to changing trends in the marketplace. They keep releasing new features, updates, and integrations that help merchants stay ahead of the curve.
Shopify also has an App Store where merchants can find thousands of apps to help them grow their businesses. This makes Shopify a very adaptable and flexible platform for businesses.
Value-adding
Shopify is known for its value-adding services. This includes custom domains, SSL certificates, website hosting, secure checkout, marketing tools, and more.
Again, these features make it easy for merchants to run their businesses without worrying about the technical aspects of it.
Social proof
The popularity of Shopify is evident from the fact that more than 1 million businesses are now powered by it. This shows that Shopify is a trusted and reliable platform for all eCommerce businesses.
The brand also has a Shopify partner program, an active community of developers and entrepreneurs who are always ready to help fellow users with their queries.
Transparency
Shopify is known for its pricing, features, and customer service transparency. They have a very transparent pricing structure that helps merchants understand what they are paying for and how much.
The company has clear refund policies, user data protection, and privacy. This makes them one of the most trustworthy e-commerce solutions on the market.
User Protection
Shopify takes user security and privacy very seriously. They use industry-standard encryption technologies for payments and store sensitive data securely.
They also make sure all their services adhere to the highest industry standards. This makes Shopify a reliable platform where users can trust that their information is safe and secure.
If you’ve had questions about Shopify being a legitimate brand. Now you know they are trusted by millions of merchants who host their eCommerce business on the platform.
Is Shopify worth the price?
Yes, it is.
First, let me put it here: Shopify is not free. However, it offers a free 3-day trial with no credit card required. Furthermore, the package includes hundreds of free apps to build your store.
The site ultra-secures all your data and information. And it is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant.
On Shopify, you can do the following:
- Customizing your online store to suit your brand tone
- Managing products, inventory, shipping, and payments
- Expanding your storefront to the web, mobile, and social media
- Creating, launching marketing campaigns, and analyzing your store metrics for expansion.
Shopify offers more value across its paid platform, starting at $1 per month, and it is worth the price.
How to protect yourself from getting scammed on Shopify
The internet is tricky, and this has nothing to do with how legit Shopify is.
It is common knowledge that scammers on Shopify will always try to defraud you or prove their intelligence. But here’s how you can always stay one step ahead.
Seller protection
Password protection
You can prevent attacks on your Shopify store by using a strong password as an online merchant.
A strong password has a mix of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and symbols. Also, it should have no ties to your personal information.
To improve the security of your site, you can enable Shopify’s two-factor authentication. And ensure your staff all use strong passwords while accessing the site.
Data fraud
If you manage a large eCommerce site, you’re an instant target for hackers. They’ll want to access your database of customers to use their credit card details for ulterior motives.
Shopify’s built-in TLS and PCI compliance help to fight these threats, so you have nothing to worry about.
But being aware of this possibility of data theft helps you understand the value of protecting your business and customers.
Customer pretense
What happens when a customer incessantly denies receiving their package even though they got it? Some customers will also try to present fake payment information to you just to get your products for free.
It would be best to use Shopify’s fraud protection tools and your discretion to minimize such mistakes. Also, keep a close watch on bulk orders. And if you sense something unusual, reach out to Shopify’s customer service for help. Or wait until the payment reflects before dispatching the product.
Buyer protection
Website security
As a buyer, you can protect yourself while shopping online. One way to do that is by accessing only websites with SSL and TLS certificates.
Such Shopify websites will either have a lock in the URL of your browser or an HTTPS before their domain. An example is https://www.store.com.
Package theft
When making an online purchase, fill in an address in a secure location.
You risk losing your delivery if it’s sent to the wrong or unsecured address. Who knows? Someone might just pick up your package at your doorstep.
Times have changed. But you can avert package theft by installing video doorbells in your home or office to keep track of your order.
FAQs
Are Shopify apps and themes legit?
Yes, they are.
If you’re new to Shopify, the 100s of free themes and apps are enough to build a thriving store. However, if you still want to try out the premium apps and features, budget around $5 to 100$ per month.
Is Shopify dropshipping legit?
Yes, it is.
One of the things Shopify is famous for is its DSer dropshipping app. It allows you to import products from popular online suppliers like Aliexpress and connects your store to thousands of suppliers.
This is essential because dropshipping is a unique business model. It requires online merchants to source products from third parties like manufacturers or wholesalers.
These merchants then act as middlemen between the buyer and the manufacturer. So when a buyer requests the products, they contact their third-party ally to fulfill orders.
What transaction fees will you incur while using Shopify?
No fees at all.
But that only happens when you’re using Shopify Payments.
You can use other payment platforms to process orders. However, they will attract a fee of 2%, 1%, or 0.5% on Shopify’s basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans, respectively.
Conclusion
There’s no question about Shopify’s legitimacy. The brand has repeatedly proved that it can be trusted to deliver on its promise of making e-commerce easy. It is also accessible to merchants worldwide.
Shopify also integrates two-factor authentication and provides free SSL for all the sites built on it. And it has other advanced features that protect sellers and buyers from hackers and opportunists.
To top it all, the company runs 24/7 customer support that’s easily accessible and prompt to respond. Overall, Shopify ticks all the boxes of what a legit brand should be.
Thanks for reading.
Need more guides to build your eCommerce business? See more on WebsiteBuilder101.