Unlocking Checkout Conversions: Why Grow Plan Stores Need Payment Reordering
Hey everyone! As a Shopify migration expert, I spend a lot of time sifting through community discussions, and every now and then, a thread pops up that really highlights a critical pain point for store owners. Recently, a conversation titled “Allow Grow plan stores to use Shopify Checkout Blocks app” caught my eye, and it’s sparked some really valuable insights we all need to consider, especially if you’re on a non-Plus plan.
The “MobilePay” Dilemma: A Real-World Conversion Blocker
The original post came from MissL, a small Danish online store owner running on the Shopify Grow plan. Her core frustration? The inability to simply reorder payment methods at checkout. In Denmark, MobilePay is huge – MissL shared that on her other, non-Shopify store, about 80% of her customers pay using it. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s what customers expect. But on her Shopify store, MobilePay gets buried beneath “Card Information,” forcing customers to scroll past a less preferred option. This isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a significant conversion killer for her.
What really surprised MissL, and frankly, many of us, is that this seemingly basic functionality – the ability to customize the order of payment options – isn’t a standard feature on the Grow plan. Other e-commerce platforms often have this built right into their backend, making its absence on Shopify’s Grow plan a real head-scratcher.
Why This Isn't Just a “Danish” Problem
While MissL’s specific example is about MobilePay in Denmark, the underlying issue resonates globally. Think about it: every market has its preferred local payment methods. Whether it’s iDEAL in the Netherlands, Klarna in Sweden, or various digital wallets across different regions, customers gravitate towards what’s familiar and easy. If their preferred option isn't prominently displayed, or worse, requires extra clicks or scrolling, you’re introducing friction. And friction at checkout is the enemy of conversion.
Vineet from Identixweb, a Shopify Development Agency, jumped into the thread, completely validating MissL’s point. He highlighted how crucial payment method order is for conversion, especially when “customers strongly prefer MobilePay over card payments.” He confirmed that “payment method reordering through Checkout Blocks is only available on Shopify Plus.” For a small store, upgrading to Shopify Plus just to move MobilePay to the top is, as he rightly put it, “obviously not realistic.”
What Are the Workarounds (and Their Limits)?
So, if upgrading to Plus isn't an option, what can you do? Vineet suggested a workaround: making your preferred payment method very visible before checkout. This means strategically placing MobilePay logos or mentions on your product pages, within your cart drawer or cart page, in the footer, and alongside other payment icons. This is a solid piece of advice for any store owner:
- Product Page: Add an icon or text indicating “Pay with MobilePay” near the Add to Cart button.
- Cart Page/Drawer: Reiterate payment options here, perhaps with a “Checkout with MobilePay” button if your payment gateway allows direct checkout links.
- Footer: Ensure all accepted payment methods, especially local favorites, are clearly displayed.
- Payment Icons: Include the MobilePay logo prominently with other payment icons across your site.
However, as Vineet and MissL both acknowledged, these workarounds don’t truly “solve the actual checkout ordering issue.” The core problem remains: once a customer hits checkout, the payment methods are still ordered in a way that might deter them.
A Powerful Plea to Shopify
MissL didn't just lament the situation; she turned it into a direct and articulate piece of feedback for Shopify, which she also sent via their support. Her message was clear: this limitation “negatively impacts growth for smaller stores.” She loves the simplicity of Shopify Payments, which consolidates all solutions in one place – a huge improvement over juggling three different providers on her other platform. But this one missing feature is holding her back.
She made a compelling argument for Shopify’s own interest, pointing out that Shopify profits from fees through Shopify Payments. If smaller stores can’t optimize their checkout for local preferences, they might “have to find another payment solution” or even another platform entirely, causing Shopify to “lose revenue on the smaller store accounts.” She even revealed that this issue is currently preventing her from moving her *larger* online store to Shopify, which is a significant signal.
Her request is simple and direct: “Please allow Grow plan stores to use Shopify Checkout Blocks app, to reorder payment methods at checkout.”
What You Can Do: Advocate for Change
This discussion isn't just about MissL's store; it's about a feature that could significantly impact conversion rates and growth for countless small and medium-sized businesses on Shopify. If you find yourself in a similar boat, here’s what you can do:
- Implement Workarounds: Make sure your preferred local payment methods are highly visible *before* checkout, as suggested earlier.
- Provide Feedback to Shopify: Like MissL, share your experiences directly with Shopify support and on the community forums. The more voices they hear, the more likely they are to prioritize this change. Explain how it affects your conversions and why it’s critical for your market.
- Consider Your Platform Choice: While Shopify offers incredible tools for growth and simplifies many aspects of running an online business, like its consolidated payment solutions, it’s vital to weigh these specific limitations against your market’s needs. If you're looking to start a new store or migrate, Shopify is an excellent platform, but make sure you factor in these nuances for your specific market.
It’s clear that the ability to customize checkout payment order isn't a “nice-to-have” for many stores; it’s a “must-have” for maximizing conversions and catering to local customer preferences. Let’s hope Shopify takes this crucial feedback seriously and makes this functionality accessible to more merchants, helping us all grow faster and more efficiently. After all, a thriving merchant community benefits everyone!