Is Volusion Still a Reliable E-Commerce Platform? Full Review & Warnings

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Volusion

Rating
C
3/5
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Pros and Cons of Volusion

Pros

Reliable uptime
User-friendly interface
Secure transaction processing

Cons

Complex pricing structure
Additional fees may apply
Limited international support
Potential for account holds
Customer support concerns

Overview

In this review of Volusion, we examine the e-commerce platform’s integrated payment processing services and its ability to help businesses set up and manage online stores with support for multiple payment methods, fraud prevention tools, and a customizable checkout experience. We highlight its features, such as third-party app integration and customer support, while also addressing challenges like complex pricing, customer service issues, and the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 and recovery in 2021. Our analysis covers Volusion’s legal history, including its involvement in a major data breach and class-action lawsuit, along with customer reviews that point to hidden fees and misleading marketing. By weighing both the pros and cons, this review provides a balanced assessment of Volusion’s performance, reputation, and place in today’s e-commerce industry.

About Volusion

Screen Capture of Volusion Homepage
Volusion Homepage

Volusion is a merchant account provider offering online stores and e-commerce solutions for internet-based businesses. The company utilizes Global Payments as its debit and credit card processing network but also offers e-commerce features of its own. Volusion can be integrated with multiple third-party payment gateways, including Authorize.netStripe, SagePay, WorldPay, TransFirst, and PayPal.

In 2020, Volusion filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged in 2021.

Products & Merchant Services

E-Commerce Platform with Integrated Payment Processing

Volusion offers an e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage online stores with ease. A significant feature of this platform is its integrated payment processing, allowing merchants to accept credit card payments securely and efficiently within their online stores.

Easy Setup and Management

Volusion simplifies the setup of payment processing. Businesses can quickly enable payment gateways, configure tax settings, and manage shipping options through a user-friendly dashboard.

Wide Range of Supported Payment Methods

Volusion supports various payment methods, including major credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. Offering multiple payment options helps businesses cater to a broader audience.

Fraud Prevention and Security

Security is a priority for Volusion, which employs advanced fraud prevention measures to protect businesses and their customers. The platform complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and uses encryption technologies to secure sensitive customer data during transactions.

Responsive Customer Support

Volusion provides responsive customer support for its payment processing services. Merchants can access assistance through various channels, including phone, email, and live chat.

Integration with Popular Third-Party Apps

Volusion integrates with popular third-party apps and services, such as accounting software, email marketing tools, and inventory management systems.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

High Complaint Volume

Our investigation has uncovered over 100 negative reviews of Volusion, with some clients characterizing the company as a scam or ripoff. Common grievances include undisclosed rates and fees, fund-holds, challenges in cancelling services, inadequate customer support, and software issues. Clients frequently highlight the company’s misleading rate quotes on its website as a significant problem, with concerns raised about the effectiveness of the “Priority” support despite its higher cost. It is important for businesses to ensure the proper termination of both their merchant account and internet hosting service, as there have been instances where clients mistakenly cancelled only one service, leading to continued billing for the other. If you have your own experience with Volusion to share, please feel free to do so in the comments below.

Volusion Customer Support Options

Volusion provides online support for its “Personal” plan clients, phone support for its “Professional” plan clients, and priority support for its “Business” and “Prime” plan clients. Currently, Volusion’s support offerings do not align with those of top-rated credit card processors for customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop1
BBB Reports1
Trustpilot1.1
Average Rating1.05

PaymentPop Rating for Volusion

Negative Feedback

have been charged for 4 years post cancelling, my husband just noticed going to his bank via autopay

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Volusion on the PaymentPop website.

Volusion BBB Rating

Volusion’s Better Business Bureau profile currently has an “A+” rating and accreditation since 2001 despite 10 complaints filed within the last 36 months. Volusion has a 1 out of 5 star rating based on 9 user reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

What Merchants Say

In addition to the 10 complaints filed on its BBB profile, Volusion has also received 10 informal reviews. All of those reviews are negative in tone. The most recent review describes being charged without permission and poor customer support:

TOTAL SCAM…BEWARE!! There was a $1 charge to my bank account as a “test” from Volusion and Grow with ************ did NOT authorize. I don’t know how or when my personal information was given to this company. I did not have any dealings with these companies and when I attempted to contact them, I got the automated operator run-around. Was not able to speak with anyone!!

Outside of the BBB, we have found over 100 complaints against Volusion. Many of those complaints detail deceptive marketing practices that include being given misleading rate quotes. Clients who experience similar issues should familiarize themselves with how to cancel their services without paying a fee, especially in the event the rates they are charged are not in line with those they negotiated.

A “C” Performance Overall

Given Volusion’s growing complaint totals, the company’s low resolution ratio, and informal reviews making assertions of deceptive marketing tactics, we have adjusted the BBB‘s score to a “C.”

Trustpilot Rating for Volusion

Volusion has a 1.1 out of 5 star rating based on 383 user reviews on Trustpilot.

Positive Feedback

Excellent service. Received all the needed help to get my site appearance and functionality to way I wanted it. Great job guys and gals!!!

Negative Feedback

Please do yourself a favor and go to a different platform for your website. We are stuck with Volusion for processing orders, but wish we never would have started. They have the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced and I’ve worked with 10+ different site providers. Do not get started with Volusion Payments, orders have an 80% chance of successfully being captured. The ones that fail they blame on the customer having their card too secure.

Processing Rates & Fees

Volusion Pricing

The expenses associated with using Volusion for online payment acceptance can be divided into two main categories: credit card processing fees and web hosting fees. Volusion’s standard credit card processing agreement entails a three-year commitment through Global Payments, featuring a $99 early termination fee, a monthly minimum fee of $25, a $17.99 monthly gateway fee, a $10 statement fee, and a $3.41 monthly PCI Compliance fee.

The rate structure is as follows: 2.15% plus $0.34 for Qualified transactions, 3.56% plus $0.34 for Mid-Qualified Transactions, and 3.96% plus $0.34 for Non-Qualified transactions. For utilizing Volusion Payments for online credit card processing, the estimated minimum monthly cost stands at $61.77, with potential variations based on the accumulation of transaction fees exceeding $25 monthly.

Web Hosting Plans

Volusion presents its payment processing as an additional month-to-month service alongside its web hosting solutions. The monthly expenses for its web hosting packages are $29 (“Personal”), $79 (“Professional”), $179 (“Startup”), and $299 (“Business”). These service tiers feature enhancements in bandwidth, customer support, integration, marketing tools, and other attributes aligned with each tier’s pricing. Some business critiques portray these supplementary services as occasionally experiencing downtime, costly, and inadequately designed, with limited positive feedback publicly available about Volusion’s web hosting offerings.

An Average Choice

Overall, the minimum monthly expenditure for hosting a basic online store and maintaining a Volusion merchant account is approximately $100 currently. Considering several better-reviewed alternatives available at a lower cost, we rate the company’s performance in this category as “C.”

Lawsuits & Legal History

Volusion was embroiled in a significant data breach that resulted in a $4.3 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit.

Clients dissatisfied with Volusion and seeking non-litigious solutions are advised to consider reporting their concerns to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Volusion Sales Approach

Volusion appears to primarily market itself online, through its website, and through its partnership with Global Payments. There is no indication at this time that the company employs independently contracted sales agents to sell its services, and there are no Volusion reviews online alleging misrepresentation by specific individuals affiliated with the company.

Misleading Rate Quote

There are, however, multiple Volusion complaints regarding nondisclosure of rates and fees within the company’s official advertising materials, most notably with respect to the 2.15% transaction fee advertised on the Volusion website. This rate is only the company’s “Qualified” rate, and the website makes no mention of Volusion’s “Mid-Qualified” rate of 3.56% or its “Non-Qualified” rate of 3.96% that clients will pay to process rewards cards or international card payments.

Nondisclosure Issues

Additionally, some clients complain of nondisclosure of the company’s three-year service length and $99 cancellation fee, neither of which is listed prominently on the company’s site. Volusion doesn’t help its case by advertising “no added fees” on its pricing page. This claim is technically true, but only because Volusion does not charge additional transaction fees on top of a third-party gateway’s fees. If you suspect that Volusion is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.

Volusion Competitors

Compare Volusion to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Volusion is an average performer in the credit card processing arena. The company currently faces a moderate-to-high level of customer complaints, particularly focusing on issues like non-transparent rate quoting and restrictive contract terms. In addition to these concerns, Volusion’s pricing structure is found to be less competitive when compared to other players in the market, which could deter potential clients seeking cost-effective solutions. The company’s customer service efforts are often critiqued for failing to meet customer expectations. Given these shortcomings, there is considerable room for improvement across multiple facets of Volusion’s service delivery.

For Volusion to elevate its standing and become a more appealing option for e-commerce store creators, a comprehensive strategy to overhaul its service areas is necessary. This could include making pricing more transparent and competitive, revising contract terms to be more customer-friendly, and significantly enhancing the quality of customer support. Such improvements could potentially transform Volusion into a robust choice for e-commerce platforms seeking integrated credit card processing solutions.

Read Actual User Reviews

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Volusion

Contact & Customer Support
FounderKevin Sproles
CEO/presidentTroy Pike
COOBardia Dejban
Headquarters1825B Kramer Ln Ste 100, Austin, Texas 78758
Prime and Business Plan support(800) 646-3517
Websitevolusion.com