How to track competitor prices on Shopify

What to watch on a product page

• The current price, and the original price shown crossed out during a sale.
• The option: sizes, colours and pack sizes are often priced differently, so the price only means something for a specific option.
• One-time versus subscription prices: many stores offer a lower "subscribe and save" price next to the one-time price.
• Badges such as "save 20%": they belong to the product they are printed with, not always to the one next to them.

Getting the right option on a Shopify store

On most Shopify stores, choosing a size or colour adds "?variant=" and a number to the address in your browser. Copy the link after choosing the option you want: that link opens the same option every time, so its price is the one tracked.

How EcomWatchdog does it

1. Add the competitor's store, then add the product links you want to follow.
2. EcomWatchdog records each product's price for the option in the link, and says which price it follows (for example "one-time" when a cheaper subscription price is also offered).
3. Every night it reads the page again. When the price changes, you get "was" and "now" side by side, by email and in your dashboard.

Not only Shopify

The same works for most online stores: any public product page whose price is shown to a visitor. Stores that block automated visits are the exception, and the app tells you when that happens.

What it can't see

• It reads public pages only: not prices behind a login, in a cart or at checkout, or offers sent only by email or text message.
• Some stores block automated visits. Their pages can't be read, and the app says so instead of reporting "no change".
• Prices are what a visitor in the US sees, for the product option in the link you add.
• Checks run once a day, so a change made and undone between two checks can be missed.
• History starts when you add a store; it can't show what changed before that.

Example update

Questions

How many products can I track?

On the free trial, up to 3 products for each of 5 competitors. Starter allows 5 per competitor (5 competitors) and Pro 10 per competitor (20 competitors).

Does it change my own prices?

No. It tells you what competitors changed; it is not a repricing tool.

Which price do I see if the store sells in several currencies?

What a visitor in the US sees. A price in another currency is shown with its currency code, so it is never mistaken for US dollars.