1&1 eShop, 1&1 Webshop, The Review
Posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago at 2:09 pm. 0 comments
Well, we all might have heard of 1&1’s eShop, it’s the thing they’ve been spamming us all emails about how fantastic it is. So I decided to take a look. Nowhere could I find any “Live Stores” or “Demo”. So what does it look like? Well for the top package being GBP 44.99 a month +VAT you’d expect some serious looks and quality.
So, here’s a few websites I found
http://www.ktbeejewellery.co.uk/shop/start
http://glamourgirleliseshop.co.uk
http://johnsonandsons-shop.co.uk/shop/page/?shop_param=
So, initial impressions? Well without being rude, but I just threw up in my mouth. It’s quite mad that 1&1 have released such a foul piece of software, it is in my opinion the Reason why there is no DEMO on their website. After all if someone rants and raves about just how FAB it is, but not let you see it first… you will buy it, at some point no?
Well, for the cost of their “Top” level package after a year that would total: GBP 634.359, For that you could get 2 years hosting on our top hosting package, and a domain name for 2 years, a CubeCart v4 License, And a Bespoke site design from us.
The only thing they offer extra is SSL and eBay, now all our hosting packages comes with a free unbranded SSL server aka “Secure-Secure”, so the only thing we can’t offer is the eBay thing.
So, I have decided it looks foul and is completely useless and overpriced, I move to the SEO, for this I will use the best looking website which is the only “viewable” eShop from 1&1 I could look at for a prolonged amount of time, “Johnson & Sons”.
So, a URL to one of their products: http://johnsonandsons-shop.co.uk/shop/article_P%252078401/4%22-PLAQUE-AWARDS.html?shop_param=cid%3D59%26aid%3DP%252078401%26
Wow… I’m confused, nevermind a Search Engine,
A CubeCart v3 / v4 Product URL:
And well again you can see the difference in features and looks!
So I now move to metatags, now I am unsure if the 1&1 eShop automatically does this or not, but the CubeCart v3 and v4 does not!
Well it does, but it doesn’t include the description, or anything else. I honestly thing a propperly setup CC4 store would rank 100x Better than 1&1’s eShop, and at the end of the day, If your store’s not found, your not going to sell!
If this was a FREE option, then I wouldn’t be so rude towards it, but the truth is its NOT, and some cheap hosting and the FREE CubeCart v3 would out perform this in every aspect other than the whole eBay thing.
My advice to any customer paying for the 1&1 eShop is to cut your losses and take it seriously, you could have a very nice, unique website for a fraction of the price of their top level package.
http://www.bodyglitzonline.com was built on a Budget of GBP 300, that’s half the cost of the 1&1 eShop’s top package, and that included a years free domain name and hosting, and their doing so very very well!.
For more information on 1&1’s eShop, visit their website
On their website they state “A simple way to earn money on the internet”, Should be “A simple way to loose money on the internet”.