How to collect product reviews on BigCartel

Collecting product reviews using BigCartel is not difficult–it’s simply a matter of having the right strategy.

As BigCartel doesn’t offer review functionality out of the box, you will need a third-party solution to retrieve customer feedback and display it on product pages.

The most appropriate approach is to send post-purchase review emails, collect reviews via a clear form, and display them with well-designed widgets. This makes shoppers believe your products before they buy.

This guide shows clear ways to collect reviews on Big Cartel, what works best for small stores, and how to avoid slow or manual setups that waste time.

Does BigCartel support product reviews natively?

No, BigCartel does not natively support product reviews. 

The platform is designed with a minimalist focus and excludes built-in review functionality to keep its interface simple. 

To collect and display reviews on your store, you must use a third-party app integration from the BigCartel App Center.

Key Requirements: 

Paid plan: Most third-party review card features require a BigCartel plan at the Platinum or Diamond level to access the app’s functionality. 

Third-party cost: Some applications offer free services, but as your store increases, you’ll likely end up with a paid app subscription for the review app.

Ways to collect product reviews on BigCartel

BigCartel store owners collect reviews in two main ways: manually, through direct outreach, or automatically, using dedicated review tools. 

Collecting reviews manually

Manual collection is ideal for new stores with low order volumes to avoid monthly app fees.

Direct Outreach: Send personalized post-purchase emails 7–10 days after delivery to solicit honest feedback.

Physical Prompts: Include printed “Thank You” cards or flyers in your packaging with a QR code leading to a feedback form or your social media pages.

Manual Display: Since there is no “Review” box, you must manually add these testimonials to your shop. Common methods include:

• Adding quotes directly into Product Descriptions.
• Creating a dedicated “Testimonials” page in your BigCartel dashboard.
• Using a curated widget like WiserReview, where you manually input specific reviews rather than having a live submission box. 

Using WiserReview

WiserReview automates the entire review collection process for BigCartel stores. It automatically sends review requests after purchase, organizes all feedback in a single dashboard, and displays reviews on your product pages with customizable widgets.

Here’s how “WiserReview” collects reviews for BigCartel stores;

• Automation: It can automatically send review requests via email, WhatsApp, or shareable links after a purchase is completed.
• Visual Displays: You can use its “Wall of Love” or “Trust Badges” to display aggregated reviews in a professional grid or carousel on your store.
• Multi-Platform Sync: WiserReview lets you pull in reviews from external sources such as Google, Facebook, and Etsy and display them on your BigCartel site.
• Moderation: It includes filters to auto-approve positive feedback while allowing you to manually address negative comments before they go live. 

WiserReview outperforms manual collection for stores processing more than 20 orders per month, or for anyone looking to scale review collection without hiring extra help.

How to ask customers for reviews the right way

Getting reviews isn’t just about sending requests; it’s about timing, tone, and making the process effortless. Customers want to help, but only if you make it easy.

Email review requests

Email remains the most effective channel for collecting product reviews because customers already check their inboxes daily.

• The “Sweet Spot” Timing: Send your request 7-14 days after physical goods delivery is confirmed. For items such as skincare or supplements that require longer-term use, wait 3–4 weeks.
• Keep It Simple and clear: Emails with a single, clear Call-to-Action (CTA) button (e.g., “Write a Review”) significantly outperform those with multiple links.
• Personalization: Include the customer’s name and a photo of the specific product they purchased. This triggers emotional recall and makes the request feel less like a bot.
• Subject Line Tips: Use clear, non-pushy lines like “How did we do, [Name]?” or “Help others by sharing your feedback. 

Example template:

“Hi [Name], are you enjoying your [product]? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Click here to leave a quick review; it takes just 60 seconds. Your feedback helps other [artists/makers/customers] decide on products they’ll love.

Tools like WiserReview automate this entire process with ready to use template, sending perfectly timed emails without manual work.

Social media and post-purchase pages

Don’t limit review collection to email alone. Social media and your thank-you pages create additional touchpoints.

• Post-Purchase (Thank You) Pages: While too early for a product review, use these pages to ask for feedback on the shopping experience. Example: “How easy was your checkout? 
• Instagram Stories & Polls: Use interactive elements like emoji sliders or polls to gauge sentiment. Direct high-scoring followers to your review page via a direct link.
• UGC Campaigns: Encourage customers to tag your brand and use a specific hashtag (e.g., #YourBrandHaul). Reposting their content on your official page builds a community that naturally encourages others to leave reviews.

WhatsApp and SMS

Text-based review requests have higher open rates compared to email, with about 98% versus 20-30%. Customers check texts immediately, thus being good in time-sensitive requests.

• Speed is Key: Unlike email, SMS, and WhatsApp, requests should be sent sooner, ideally 24-48 hours after delivery, while the excitement is fresh.
• Branded Links: Use shortened, branded URLs (avoid generic, spam-looking links like bit.ly/x7g3k) that direct users to your review form.
• WhatsApp Strategy: Treat WhatsApp as a conversation, not a broadcast. Use “Quick Replies” (interactive buttons) that let customers select a star rating in the chat before redirecting them to a full form.

SMS review request example:

“Hey [Name]! Thanks for your order from [Store Name]. Mind sharing a quick review? [Link] Takes 30 seconds. Really appreciate it!”

All your reviews in one place

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3 Common mistakes to avoid when collecting reviews

Even with the right tools, certain mistakes kill your review collection efforts. Here are the three biggest problems BigCartel store owners face.

1. Publishing fake or misleading reviews

Never write fake reviews or pay people to leave positive feedback. With the rise of AI-generated content, consumers and search engines are better at spotting “perfect” or repetitive feedback.

Posting reviews written by you, employees, or AI bots can result in permanent bans from ad platforms like Google Shopping and may violate consumer protection laws. 

The Fix: Use verified purchase apps like WiserReview that add “Verified Buyer” badges. This badge indicates that the feedback is associated with a real purchase.

2. Hiding negative feedback

Some store owners delete negative reviews or only display five-star feedback. Many sellers fear a 1-star review will kill sales, but a shop with a “perfect 5.0” rating across hundreds of reviews often looks suspicious to modern shoppers.

Deleting negative reviews suggests you have something to hide. Shoppers often look specifically at negative reviews to see the “worst-case scenario” and how the brand handles it.

The Fix: Publicly respond to negative reviews with a solution. A thoughtful, professional response to a 2-star review can actually increase conversion.

3. Overloading product pages with too many reviews

More than 50+ reviews on a single product page overwhelm visitors and slow down your site. Most customers read the first 5-7 reviews before making a decision.

On Big Cartel’s minimal themes, heavy review widgets can cause “Choice Paralysis” or slow page load times, leading to much higher bounce rates, particularly on mobile devices.

The Fix: Add a “Summary Widget” at the top that displays the average rating, followed by a paginated list below. Show only the latest 5–10 reviews, adding a “Load More” button to show the rest.

All your reviews in one place

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Conclusion

Gathering review results for products sold through BigCartel can be done manually or via a software tool such as WiserReview. When done manually, it is ideal for small businesses, but it gets pretty cumbersome as the business grows.

WiserReview does all the work for you, whether it is requesting reviews, collecting them, or displaying them, all without complicating your process or your store’s look.

Pick the method you want to implement, create email templates with direct action statements, and ensure that leaving an honest review is as seamless as possible for the consumer.

Customer reviews aren’t an afterthought; they’re a key factor that turns viewers into buyers. So why not start right away, with the promise of increased conversion rates to follow? 

Article by

Krunal

Krunal Vaghasia is the founder of WiserReview and an eCommerce expert in review management and social proof. He helps brands build trust through fair, flexible, and customer-driven review systems. Read more.