Miva Merchant has long been considered a leader in the eCommerce software solution segment for small to mid-size companies. It has been around for years, and is recognized by web designers and developers as an established eCommerce solution that has been used by tens of thousands of online merchants.
Miva Merchant is based on its own proprietary software and offers its own scripting language. It is very powerful and extremely flexible, especially when it comes to custom design integration, which is why Miva is one of our preferred eCommerce solutions.
The Power Of Modules
Miva's power and flexibility is also apparent in how it meets the specific requirements of online merchants, both retail and B2B alike. Miva's extensibility, or how it meets feature requirements, is uniquely based on modules. These modules are developed by a number of 3rd party companies devoted to Miva, and extend the basic features and functionality of Miva Merchant. So, instead of Miva Merchant trying to make its core eCommerce software be everything to everybody, it depends on their 3rd party developers to create modules to greatly expand its functionality.
Today, there is a huge number of modules available for Miva Merchant. There are modules that allow further customization of your site's layout, such as category and product pages. There are modules that will further extend Miva's handling of taxes, payment methods, and shipping methods. There are modules that will enable anything from a one-page checkout to tax exemption for B2B companies, from customer contact management to a "continue shopping" feature.
The Business Of Modules
There's no doubt that Miva's modules can greatly customize your online store to meet your special needs & requirements without the need for custom programming. But it will cost you, as each module has a price tag attached. And we can tell you now, without a doubt, that you will need modules for your Miva site. In fact, it's not unusual to pay hundreds of dollars more in modules. And it's this business of modules that has become a bone of contention among web designers and merchants alike.
The argument is not against modules entirely, or even against paying for modules. Many modules are superb, affording added functionality and added value that deserves to be paid for. The true argument lies in the fact that there are features now available as standard in less-expensive eCommerce solutions, but still have to be purchased as a module for Miva Merchant. Many supporters believe that Miva has slacked off by not incorporating these features in its core program, maybe to protect their 3rd party developers, at the cost of their users.
One example of this is a contact form, which is a basic necessity but does not come by default with Miva. Many less-expensive competitors include a contact form. Another example is the "continue shopping" feature, which allows the customer to go back to the last page they were on, after adding an item to the shopping cart. Again, you must purchase a module for Miva Merchant, whereas other less-expensive shopping carts include this feature. Another example is data feed generation. And, lastly, where some of the newer shopping carts now offer a one-page checkout (a very desirable feature), you'll have to dish out $300+ for a Miva module to do the same.
To give them credit, Miva has been listening. In the most recent update, Miva Merchant now includes the ability for customers to view their order history. Prior to this, you had to purchase a module, and, again, this is a standard feature in many competing eCommerce shopping carts.
Power At A Price
There's no doubt that Miva Merchant is a powerful eCommerce solution and, in our book, one of the best when it comes to design flexibility. But, all this power does come at a price. First of all, the price for a Miva license will run you $995 dollars. Add to that the cost of the modules you WILL need, and it adds up. You can, however, find a Miva partner hosting company that will offer Miva as part of their hosting. A typical plan may run you around $30/month ... a good way to get started with Miva Merchant and then maybe buy the license down the road.
Something new that Miva Merchant has recently incorporated is a hosted solution through Miva itself. (If you haven't yet, read our article on Hosted Solutions) At this time, Miva offers 3 tiers at $59.95/month, $89.95/month, and $129.95/month. These prices do not include modules, which you will need to purchase separately.
Another "price to pay" for going with Miva is its steep learning curve. On the design end, web designers new to Miva Merchant will find it challenging when it comes to integrating custom web designs. For merchants and end users, the Miva back-end, or admin console, is far from "user-friendly" and leaves much to be desired, especially when comparing with the admin consoles of Miva's less-expensive competitors. For this reason, some clients who go with Miva Merchant will hire us to manage and maintain their Miva site. Otherwise, we do offer training to get you up and running in managing Miva's system.
A Viable And Strong Solution
Despite these misgivings, Miva Merchant still remains a very strong and viable solution for your eCommerce website and online business, and one that we still recommend, depending on your needs. We have a lot of experience in designing for and using Miva Merchant, so contact us to see if it's the right solution for you.
