Templatic offers a unique ecommerce solution for WordPress. Templatic is actually a themes vendor. But they have several ecommerce themes that have shopping cart functionality embedded. This review will cover the functionality of the shopping cart and briefly talk about the different flavors of each theme.
While the frontend of Templatic Ecommerce themes may look appealing, the backend functionality of the shopping cart feels a little messy. I would recommend that you buy Templatic Ecommerce only if you really like one of their themes because if, instead, you were willing to invest in creating a custom theme for your online store, you’re better off with a real shopping cart plugin.
Installation
Installing Templatic Ecommerce themes is easy. Just upload and activate. Templatic also offers plenty of documentation on setting up and configuring your selected ecommerce theme.
Technical Support & Documentation
The technical support for Templatic Ecommerce themes is provided through multiple channels. The most reliable channel is the Help Desk. You can also try the community forum.
While all of Templatic Ecommerce themes have the same functionality and only differ in appearance, each theme has its own documentation. The documentation is similar for every ecommerce theme, though.
How It Integrates with WordPress
Templatic Ecommerce uses WordPress posts to store your products and it uses the built-in categories to organize them.
Templatic Ecommerce themes don’t utilize custom post types or custom taxonomies, which is not the proper way to do things.
Themes and Styles
Templatic offers several ecommerce themes. Currently, this is what they offer: Store Front, Emporium, e-Commerce, WP Store, Kids Store, eShop, and Store.
Each one of these has several color schemes that you can choose from.
Product Variation Management
While Templatic Ecommerce does allow you to specify product variations, the way it handles them is not as robust as some of the other plugins. The only two types of variations you can create are “size” and “color”, and only the price and stock count are adjustable. You cannot set a price and stock count for combinations, like a certain size with a certain color.
Shipping and Tax Management
You can offer four types of shipping with Templatic Ecommerce: flat rate, free, price-based, and weight-based. You cannot determine shipping based on customer location and there is no live integration with any shipping carrier.
As for taxes, there is only one option: a storewide tax rate.
Screenshot: price-based shipping management in Templatic Ecommerce
Screenshot: Templatic Ecommerce general settings screen shows tax settings
Accepted Payment Methods
Templatic Ecommerce has the following methods of payment: PayPal Standard, Google Checkout, Authorize.Net, WorldPay, 2Checkout, bank transfer, and cash on delivery.
Selling Digital Downloads
It is possible to sell digital goods with Templatic Ecommerce, but you have to choose whether you only want to sell digital goods or physical goods. You cannot sell both from the same Templatic Ecommerce store.
Once you’ve turned on the ability to sell digital goods, you can go to the add product screen to publish your digital product. You will have to provide a path to the downloadable file or upload it from add product screen. Unfortunately, the software doesn’t protect the files from direct access.
Offering Discount Coupon Codes
Templatic Ecommerce offers basic coupon code management. You can only specify the coupon name, whether it’s a percentage or a fixed amount, and the discount.
Affiliates Management
Templatic Ecommerce has built-in ability to manage affiliates.
Multi-Language Support
It is possible to translate any Templatic theme to your preferred language.
Who’s Using It
There are plenty of interesting stores using Templatic Ecommerce themes. Here are some examples using: Store Front, Emporium, eCommerce, WP Store, Kidz Store, eShop, and Store.
Money Matters
The standard license for a single Templatic Ecommerce theme costs $65. It includes technical support for one domain for one year and it does not include the PSD files of the themes.
The developer license costs $99 and it includes one year support for multiple domains as well as the PSD files.
There are no refunds.
Beware templatic ecommerce themes!
I know this is a page designed to do affiliate sales, but I am just so sorry about that. People need to be warned, not sold. If you have an online store that processes using authorizenet, you are out of luck. TEMPLATIC ECOMMERCE THEMES DO NOT WORK.
I have just wasted weeks with their customer service trying to get a product that should be out-of-the-box functional to work. Their customer service is a joke, and I am several thousand dollars in time and expense in the hole thanks to them.
Honest feedback is always appreciated, John. Thanks!
You are welcome! And thanks for allowing my post.
I have a really long fuse with people, but after a point, it became apparent that nothing is going to change.
Have a great day!
i am experiencing some issues with the ecommerce 1.3 theme
while products show in the store page, they don’t show in the category
Make sure you post the issue to their support team http://templatic.com/support. I’ve also posted my issues to their Facebook page. Http://Facebook.com/templatic.
Just a head’s up. The Authorize.net form of payment does NOT work in the Emporium theme and looking at their support forum it looks like its not working on other platforms as well. If you only use PayPal you should be fine. Technical support has been working on the issue for weeks now with no progress.