How To Get Started With Web3 Shopping: Shopify and SHOPX
With the first SHOPX products right around the corner, it’s a good time to remind the community of just how easy web3 shopping can be with the right tools. Many new users will be new to crypto. But that doesn’t mean that they will need to understand crypto to take advantage of what we have to offer.
To summarize what’s below very quickly, all a new user needs is to download a Metamask wallet, grab an NFT from their favorite brand, and then shop online as they normally would. The only difference is, that their shopping experience is enhanced+protected with the power of Web3.
First You Need a Metamask Wallet
I know. You’re new and getting a cryptocurrency wallet sounds daunting. But Metamask is just a browser extension. It’s actually quite simple! Just download it and follow the short instructions. Make sure to write down your recovery phrase and keep it somewhere safe.
After you download Metamask, it sits in the background, waiting to be prompted. You don’t need to do anything! It will let you know when you need to do something, and it will always be something small.
How Do I Buy From A Web3 Store?
From here, using SHOPX is hardly any different from shopping online as you have always done. That’s because SHOPX integrates seamlessly into existing shopping platforms like Shopify, with Woocommerce and Bigcommerce coming soon.
Take a look at the example below. Easy, right?
Just choose your item and add it to the cart.
But wait! There’s just one small step you need to take when using a Web3-powered platform like the SHOPX Shopify app. You need to connect your wallet.
Why Do I need A Wallet?
When using a Web3 platform like SHOPX, the products you buy will often be tied to NFTs or cryptocurrency in some way. For example, two of SHOPX’s core products are ReserveX and MintX.
MintX is used when a brand wants to tokenize its products as NFTs. That way, when you buy one of their products, you will also receive an NFT to go along with it. This NFT can be used to track the item’s sales history and also works like a certificate of authenticity. So, if you wanted to resell the item, the new buyer would be confident that they were getting the real deal.
Today, let’s talk about ReserveX.
Brands are often the target of Automated Checkout Bots. When they release a new product, computer programs buy all of the items so that they can be resold for a higher price.
ReserveX prevents this with NFTs. If you hold a ReserveX NFT, you will have the option to purchase a new product when it hits the shelves. No need to rush: the NFT “reserves” your spot in line!
Take a look at the example below. This Louis Vuitton sweater is only available to ReserveX NFT holders. It’s a good thing that you have a ReserveX NFT! Connect your wallet and add it to cart. If you don’t connect your wallet, you can’t add it to cart.
But Wait, I Don’t Have A ReserveX NFT!
It’s okay! Getting a ReserveX NFT from a brand is very easy. If your favorite brand is passing out ReserveX NFTs, you should be able to find them on their website. If you can’t, then they need help with their marketing efforts.
If you can find where their NFTs are being offered, it might look something like this:
Click to view the pass drop. Here, you will see how many ReserveX NFTs are available and how much they cost. In this example, they are free. Many brands might choose to give away their NFTs for free. Some brands might charge a small amount. It depends on what the brand is offering behind the NFT and what kind of value it brings to its customers.
Whether or not a brand charges customers to buy the NFT, the customers will still need to qualify for eligibility. This will typically come in the form of a raffle. Raffle winners will have the option to collect or buy the ReserveX NFT that they signed up for on the brand website.
That’s it! There was a lot of writing in this article, but that’s just to explain some of the rationale and potential behind these new Web3 shopping tools.
At the end of the day, there isn’t much of a difference. As long as you have your Metamask wallet, navigating Web3 shopping is going to be a lot easier than you think. Everything SHOPX does will be integrated into an experience you are familiar with.
There might be a few extra clicks here and there. But you can do it. You are presented with new options and layouts all the time, and it’s never a problem for you. At least this time, there’s rhyme and a reason for the small changes.
Our goal is to enhance the e-commerce shopping experience for everyone; both brands and customers. We will cut costs across the board and improve the benefits of brand loyalty. We will reduce fraud. We will maximize efficiency by creating a universal e-commerce infrastructure. This is the future of shopping.
So thank you Web2 for bringing us this far. Web3 will take it from here.
