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Shopify’s announcement of the Product Reviews app no longer available has left many e-commerce merchants seeking alternatives. With the app discontinuing on May 6, 2024, and being delisted even sooner on September 5, 2023, Shopify store owners must quickly find reliable third-party product review solutions.
This shift requires Shopify store owners to both migrate existing reviews and learn how to set up customer reviews using new apps.
This article will guide you through the steps for exporting reviews from the discontinued app and selecting an alternative that ensures your Shopify product reviews are not only showing but thriving.
Reasons for discontinuation
Shopify’s move to sunset its built-in Product Reviews app may reflect a broader strategy to focus on its main e-commerce tools while relying on third-party developers for specialized functions like product reviews, despite causing inconvenience for some users.
Impact on Shopify store owners
The end of the Product Reviews app means changes for Shopify store owners:
– Access until May 6, 2024: Merchants can export their data until May 6, 2024.
– Switch to other product review apps: Shopify suggests that merchants move to a different product review app by May 6, 2024. This switch is important for collecting and showing product reviews. However, not all other apps might support CSV files, which could make it hard for some people to switch.
– What happens after the app ends: Reviews will not automatically disappear from stores; they will remain visible until May 6, 2024. After this date, reviews from the discontinued app will no longer show, making it essential for users to have completed their migration to ensure a continuous display of customer feedback.
During this time of change, store owners can take the chance to check out different third-party apps like Ali Reviews, Yotpo, and others and pick the one that fits their needs best. This way, they can keep showing product reviews without any interruptions.
Steps for export reviews from Shopify Product Reviews
Export reviews
- From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and Sales Channels
- From the Apps and Sales Channels page, click Product Reviews
- Click Open app
- Click Settings
- Click Export
– If you have 100 reviews or fewer: Your review data will download directly to your browser as a CSV file.
– If you have over 100 reviews: You’ll receive an email with a link to download a ZIP file. Once downloaded, unzip it to access your CSV file with your product reviews.
Product review CSV files
Your exported product reviews will be in a CSV file. Here’s a breakdown of the data you’ll find in each column:
| Header name | Product review information |
| product_handle | This is the tail end of your product’s URL.
For example, if your product is displayed on your online store at https://johns-apparel.com/products/blue-t-shirt, then the “product_handle” is blue-t-shirt. |
| state | The status of the review, such as approved or published. |
| rating | A score from 0-5, where 5 represents the most positive product review. |
| title | A short, bolded title summarizing the customer’s experience. For example, “Awesome!” |
| author | The first and last name connected to the customer account that submitted the review. |
| The customer’s email address. | |
| location | The customer’s address, such as their city and country. |
| body | A longer description of the customer’s experience. They can elaborate on what they liked or did not like about your product. |
| reply | An optional response to the review. |
| created_at | The date and time when the customer created the product review. |
| replied_at | The date and time when the reply was created. |
Consider these features to choose a suitable alternative
Choosing a suitable alternative for your Shopify store’s product reviews app involves considering several key features to ensure a smooth migration and continued success in collecting and displaying customer reviews. Here are some crucial aspects to keep in mind:
– Import reviews from CSV files: Easily migrate existing reviews from other apps to maintain your product ratings.
– Automate review requests: Automatically send review requests to customers at the optimal time after purchase.
– Photo and video reviews: Add visual authenticity to reviews by allowing customers to share photos and videos alongside their feedback.
– Review widgets: Showcase reviews stunningly on product pages or any pages on the store to provide social proof.
– AI-powered review importer: Quickly identify and suggest high-quality review sources to import in seconds.
Considering these factors will help you select a product reviews app that fits your current needs and supports your Shopify store’s growth and trustworthiness.
Migrating your reviews to Ali Reviews
Ali Reviews, one of the longest-running product review apps, is continually growing to provide merchants with features that build trust and drive conversions through customer reviews. Currently, over 60,000 merchants have installed our app. The best part? You can migrate your reviews from Shopify Product Reviews to Ali Reviews for FREE using CSV.
Step 1: Install the Ali Reviews app
> Go to the Shopify App Store and search for “Ali Reviews”
> Click “Install” to install Ali Reviews on your store
Ali Reviews Product Reviews app
Step 2: Begin the import process
> Open the Ali Reviews app within your Shopify admin dashboard
> Click the “Import Reviews” tab on the left-hand sidebar
> Then select “Import CSV file” in the top right corner
Step 3: Choose source and upload
> Locate “Product Reviews App” in the list of sources
> Click “Add file” and select your previously downloaded CSV file
> Agree to the terms of service by checking the box
> Click “Migrate Now” to start the import
Congratulations! Your Shopify Product Reviews have been successfully moved to Ali Reviews. You can now manage all your reviews by clicking the “Manage Reviews” button.
Conclusion
Don’t let Shopify discontinuing its review app hold you back. Embrace this as a chance to find a solution with better features, easier setup, and richer content options. Prioritize the factors that matter most to your store. Apps like Ali Reviews could be the perfect fit – try it for free and see for yourself.
