Prestashop toughts

[supashot]

I have been playing with prestashop for few weeks for a small personal store (about 20 products). My ISP offered 1 click solutions for e-commerce. Other competitors like OS commerce and others was potentially a choice too.

 

After few minutes, the shop was on and running. I'm was quiet amazed by the quality and the options available in the back office. I was just disappointed by the default theme provided, instead of having something minimalist and generic I end up with a women cloths default template!

 

Next step was searching themes, like on CMS some are free some are not. I totally understand than developers need to make a living.

After 1 hour of fake blogs, and google search I end up by finding 2 free themes:

 

1. leohite version 1.0: which looked nice and simple on preview. One small detail, it doesn't support 1.6.* I contacted the developper who quickly respond and was nice and explained why the add to cart didn't work: incompatible. I said I don't mind paying for an updated version of it. But no plans. Everything was working except add to cart, very awkward.
2. prestashop_51230: The free template just doesn't install: either uploading in the backoffice or by FTP.

 

 

2 free templates both doesn't work, I just paid about 100$ for 1 year hosting and the next step was to find a template even a free one to see how the shop would look like out of women shop!

 

My major concern is the rip off behind the templates business and the security issues:

 

-Security: and one who develop a theme can put a backdoor in the shop. Since no signature are required when uploaded to the site. I'm also curious how the source codes are review when sold from the prestashop site.

 

-Theme pricing: since there a no basic basic/minimalist themes you are forced to buy a theme from 60 to 130$!

On top of that themes prices change from a site to another! Some are almost the double price! https://www.templatemonster.com being the most ripoff.

 

Prestashop is a great shopping cart solution with great options but the theme business approach a nightmare with way too hight prices, I'm not going to spend 130 for a theme, a to be honest some are not worth the value.

 

I don't see any other options than uninstall prestashop and choose another solution. Any other suggestions?

 

It's just a shame having such a great system but such a bad policy for the themes.

 

My 2 cents

 

​
 

[El Patron]

you would be amazed how good a quality paid theme can be....and to honest other free cms have even worse base themes.

 

for the most important part of your business, buying a quality theme is a very small investment.  

[tomerg3]

PrestaShop 1.7 has very few themes so far, free or paid (maybe non free, at least not responsive ones).

 

As El Patron said, unless you plan to do a lot of customizations to your theme, purchasing a theme is one of the best investments you could have.

 

As for backdoor, that it true, they can be added, though less likely for the addons store or paid themes, and more likely for a free theme.

[supashot]

you would be amazed how good a quality paid theme can be....and to honest other free cms have even worse base themes.

 

for the most important part of your business, buying a quality theme is a very small investment.  

I'm afraid that over 100$ for a small site trying ecommerce is a budget. I tested other solutions like woocommerce having a simple and minimalistic/neutral theme that allow the user to try and setup his shop and not like being FORCED to pay for a theme.

 

I'm sure there are themes worth the value, but out the box prestashop is not showing any generic theme to have hands on the system.

 

Once again the policy price is terrible, nothing rational.

[supashot]

PrestaShop 1.7 has very few themes so far, free or paid (maybe non free, at least not responsive ones).

 

As El Patron said, unless you plan to do a lot of customizations to your theme, purchasing a theme is one of the best investments you could have.

 

As for backdoor, that it true, they can be added, though less likely for the addons store or paid themes, and more likely for a free theme.

 

PrestaShop 1.7 and 1.6 have the same issue, almost no free ones. That's a major issue if between every dev versions of prestashop theme have to fully compatible.

Paying I don't mind paying for a theme, but I see the same theme from 60 to 120$ from another site it's a ripoff and indirectly damage the image of Prestashop.

 

Backdoor is also a major concern compared to code places like workplace.

 

Once again I enjoyed very much the prestashop functionality and design but the theme and modules overprice made me run to another system. I got woo commerce installed in 2 minute and a free theme to start: Storefront. With is a perfect example of minimalistic/simple/ theme out of the box. I purchased already some modules and plan to get a theme for the total cost of prestashop theme.

 

Prestashop have a great engine, but the body policy really have to understand the users concerns regarding the themes.

 

My 2 cents. 

[El Patron]

you should focus on building a catalog category/products/shipping/taxes....not logo or theme....that  is putting horse in front of cart.  You are not forced to use other theme,  many use the default theme.  But without a solid test catalog cart....it does not matter....

 

and not many themes are  100usd...there are plenty of good themes for less money.

 

PS is not woo commerce, and PS is not for everyone....and saying you are being forced, it not being fair or truthful.

 

Focus on building your catalog....forget design for now.

[El Patron]

The problem is and is being addressed in addon's 2017 so I am told.  Is module/theme prices based on country purchasing power.  That is one of the biggest issues now, a 100usd theme for US seems reasonable, but not so in Senegal.  Until we can have eco system like that....many people priced out of the addon's marketplace.  I'll follow up also with PS as they were kind enough to include me on some emails.

[supashot]

The problem is and is being addressed in addon's 2017 so I am told.  Is module/theme prices based on country purchasing power.  That is one of the biggest issues now, a 100usd theme for US seems reasonable, but not so in Senegal.  Until we can have eco system like that....many people priced out of the addon's marketplace.  I'll follow up also with PS as they were kind enough to include me on some emails.

I checked different sites including monster themeforest.net and templetmonster from Asia, and Europe.

US and Senegal is a bit extreme comparison that don't apply in that case. 

[El Patron]

I checked different sites including monster themeforest.net and templetmonster from Asia, and Europe.

US and Senegal is a bit extreme comparison that don't apply in that case. 

 

does not apply?  it's an example.....because you are not in Senegal does not make the argument moot.  Good luck