Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. How Does B2B Essential Locks Work?
3. How Does Products Unavailable Work?
4. How Much Does B2B Essential Locks Cost?
5. How Much Does Products Unavailable Cost?
6. Cost Analysis: B2B Essential Locks vs. Products Unavailable
7. User Reviews & Customer Support Insights
8. Integration and Compatibility Comparison
9. Conclusion

Introduction

Product display is a vital aspect of e-commerce, significantly influencing customer decision-making and enhancing the shopping experience. An impressive 93% of online shoppers prioritize visual appearance over textual description when making purchases, underlining the importance of how products are presented. This is where Product display apps come into play, providing various features that improve product visibility, foster engagement, and ultimately drive sales.

In this blog post, we will explore two Shopify apps: B2B Essential Locks and Products Unavailable. Each app brings unique capabilities to the table concerning product display, ease of integration, and their effects on user experience. By evaluating their strengths and functionalities, we can determine which app stands out as the more effective solution.

How Does B2B Essential Locks Work?

B2B Essential Locks is designed to give merchants control over their store's visibility features, particularly for B2B (business-to-business) transactions. This app effectively manages how products and prices are displayed based on customer login status, ensuring that only designated users see specific product details.

Main Features of B2B Essential Locks:

1. Visibility Control: Merchants can hide prices and "Add to Cart" buttons for non-logged visitors while providing access to selected customers based on their tags. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that want to restrict pricing visibility to registered clients only.

2. Page Restrictions: Similar to product settings, users can restrict certain pages to specific customer groups, enhancing privacy and selective access.

3. Customizable Notifications: The app allows for tailored messages to be displayed for restricted products or pages, keeping non-logged visitors informed without overwhelming them.

4. Redirection Features: Merchants can determine which pages visitors will be redirected to if they attempt to access restricted content, offering a seamless browsing experience.

These features are not just beneficial for large enterprises; they also cater effectively to startups and small businesses. For instance, a small B2B company might prioritize price control to safeguard against competitors, while a growing business could utilize customizable notifications to enhance customer relations without diving into complex coding.

Hypothetical Scenario: Imagine a specialized wholesale business using B2B Essential Locks to hide sensitive pricing from the general public while allowing trusted clients to access exclusive offers. This functionality amplifies trust and loyalty among customers, driving increased sales.

How Does Products Unavailable Work?

Products Unavailable takes a different approach to product visibility by disabling purchasing options during specific hours. While it aims to enhance the control Shopify store owners have over their product offerings, it does so by limiting accessibility, which can create challenges.

Main Features of Products Unavailable:

1. Time-Limited Availability: Store owners can define working hours for particular products or collections, effectively disabling the "Add to Cart" and checkout buttons during set times. This is useful for managing promotions or seasonal items.

2. Custom Scheduling: Users have the flexibility to adjust availabilities on a daily basis, catering to various needs or schedules without complicated setups.

3. Consistency Across Products: The app ensures that products are still visible but unavailable for purchase during designated times, giving users awareness of stock without allowing them to complete transactions.

Though these features can assist businesses in managing limited-time offerings, they hold more relevance for startups and special promotions rather than for established enterprises that require consistent access to their entire product inventory.

Hypothetical Scenario: A bakery using Products Unavailable may want to disable online orders during the night when production ceases. However, they risk losing potential customers who may want to browse their offerings after hours.

How Much Does B2B Essential Locks Cost?

Understanding the financial aspect of product display solutions is crucial for any business. B2B Essential Locks offers two pricing tiers that make it both accessible and affordable for various business sizes.

1. Development Plan:

   • Price: Free
   • Features: All features are available for stores on a development plan.
   • Limitations: None specified.
   • Target Audience: Ideal for startups in the testing phase or those who have yet to transition to a fully operational store.
   • Additional Costs: No additional fees associated.

2. Standard Plan:

   • Price: $6.99 / month
   • Features: Access to all features, including visibility control, page restrictions, and notifications.
   • Limitations: None specified.
   • Target Audience: Best suited for growing businesses that need comprehensive control over who sees their product and price information.
   • Additional Costs: No additional fees associated.

“It is important to note that you can always reach out to our team and we can create a custom pricing plan to suit your needs and your budget. Schedule a call via this link and we’ll come up with the best solution for you and your business.”

How Much Does Products Unavailable Cost?

Cost considerations for Products Unavailable reveal potential challenges for businesses.

1. Free Plan:

   • Price: Free
   • Features: Allows up to 25 monthly orders.
   • Limitations: Very restricted order frequency.
   • Target Audience: Suitable for newly established businesses testing product visibility but may limit growth.
   • Additional Costs: None specified.

2. $2.99 Plan:

   • Price: $2.99 / month
   • Features: Accommodates up to 300 monthly orders.
   • Limitations: Still a restrictive order count for growing businesses.
   • Target Audience: Typically small businesses that have low order volumes.
   • Additional Costs: None specified.

3. $3.99 Plan:

   • Price: $3.99 / month
   • Features: Unlimited orders.
   • Limitations: None specified.
   • Target Audience: This tier is best for small to medium enterprises starting to scale operations.
   • Additional Costs: None specified.

While the cost structure of Products Unavailable may seem appealing initially, the restrictions can hinder scalability and flexibility for rapidly growing businesses.

Cost Analysis: B2B Essential Locks vs. Products Unavailable

Comparing the pricing of both apps reveals a promising value proposition for B2B Essential Locks, especially considering the unique features provided at a nominal fee. B2B Essential Locks offers a free plan that provides full access to its features for development stores, while its Standard Plan remains competitive at $6.99 per month, catering to a wider range of users.

In contrast, Products Unavailable begins to present limitations with its free tier based on order restrictions. Although its pricing at $3.99 for unlimited orders seems affordable, it may not deliver equivalent functionalities compared to B2B Essential Locks, which prioritizes customer engagement effectively.

User Reviews & Customer Support Insights

Is B2B Essential Locks good?

B2B Essential Locks has garnered an impressive rating of 5 stars from 64 reviews. Users highly appreciate its intuitive interface and effectiveness in managing product visibility that caters specifically to B2B needs. Launched more recently in March 2023, its positive reviews indicate a well-rounded, reliable solution for Shopify users looking to maintain a professional and customer-focused storefront.

Is Products Unavailable good?

In contrast, Products Unavailable has an alarming average rating of 1.8 stars from only two reviews. This suggests potential dissatisfaction regarding its usability or effectiveness. Many users may have found the restrictive nature of the app inconvenient, especially with only limited purchasing options.

Customer support is often a critical factor in user satisfaction; the lack of strong reviews may also indicate a gap in this area for Products Unavailable. Good customer support can significantly influence ratings and user experiences.

User Preference: B2B Essential Locks or Products Unavailable?

With a notable difference in ratings—B2B Essential Locks at 5 stars and Products Unavailable at 1.8 stars—it is clear that users overwhelmingly favor B2B Essential Locks. The app’s robust features and easy usability likely contribute to its high customer satisfaction levels.

However, Products Unavailable struggles, possibly due to its limited functionality and negative user experiences. Non-logged visitors may find the inability to place orders frustrating, resulting in lost sales opportunities.

Integration and Compatibility Comparison

B2B Essential Locks Integrations

B2B Essential Locks currently does not specify integrations but is likely compatible with various Shopify features and extensions designed to enhance e-commerce functionality, allowing users to maximize its capabilities further.

Products Unavailable Integrations:

Similar to B2B Essential Locks, Products Unavailable does not list specific integrations. This comparison highlights a potential gap for both apps in providing seamless collaboration with additional platforms, which limits the overall user experience.

Conclusion

Both B2B Essential Locks and Products Unavailable offer viable solutions tailored to the needs of Shopify users. However, B2B Essential Locks stands out due to its user-friendly design, comprehensive feature set, and exceptionally responsive pricing. With a perfect rating of 5 stars and its considerable potential for boosting customer engagement, this app emerges as a more effective solution for businesses focusing on B2B transactions and product visibility.

In summary, while Products Unavailable attempts to provide specific functionalities, its limitations and low user ratings overshadow its capabilities. Ultimately, B2B Essential Locks positions itself as a superior choice for merchants seeking flexibility, control, and excellent user experience in their Shopify stores.