Iain, my experience with those platforms is limited but here are a few things I hear from other devs:
The way the data is stored is often just free text fields, leaving normalised data that can't be used for faceted search etc.
The number of data fields is often limited by the platform, you can only fill in what's there.
The way your data is synchronised to a POS system is controlled by the platform. Or any other system for that matter.
Once you out grow the platform by having business requirements that can't be met, such as complex shipping or pricing rules, you have to throw all the money and effort you've invested away.
I see these platforms as great for prototyping ideas and getting a business off the ground until you can afford a custom build. This all just my opinion, i'm sure Shopify developers may have a different outlook :)
Iain, my experience with those platforms is limited but here are a few things I hear from other devs:
I see these platforms as great for prototyping ideas and getting a business off the ground until you can afford a custom build. This all just my opinion, i'm sure Shopify developers may have a different outlook :)