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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about Smart Collections Builder? We've got answers! Here are the most common questions we hear from merchants.


Getting Started​

How is Smart Collections Builder different from Shopify's built-in smart collections?​

Shopify's native smart collections are useful but limited. For example, with Tags and Metafields, Shopify only offers an "is equal to" condition. Smart Collections Builder gives you much more flexibility with conditions like contains, starts with, ends with, greater than, and less than.

The biggest difference? You can use AND/OR combination logic to create complex rules. Shopify only lets you use one logic type at a time (all conditions OR any condition). With our app, you can do both in the same collection!


Is Smart Collections Builder free?​

Smart Collections Builder offers a 3-day free trial for Starter, Pro, and Business plans. This gives you time to explore all the features before committing.

After the trial, pricing starts at $20/month for the Starter plan. For full pricing details, check out Why Use Smart Collections Builder?


How do I install Smart Collections Builder?​

Installation is quick and easy:

  1. Log in to your Shopify admin.
  2. Visit the Shopify App Store page for Smart Collections Builder.
  3. Click Install to add the app to your store.
  4. Choose a subscription plan.
  5. Start creating collections!

For more details, see our Installation Guide.


Does the app work with all Shopify themes?​

Yes! Smart Collections Builder works with all Shopify themes—including Online Store 2.0 themes, vintage themes, and even headless/Hydrogen setups. That's because our app is entirely admin-based and doesn't add any scripts or code to your storefront. It uses Shopify's native Smart Collections feature under the hood, so there's zero impact on your store's frontend performance.


Does Smart Collections Builder slow down my store?​

Not at all! Since our app works entirely in the Shopify admin and uses Shopify's native Smart Collections feature, there are no scripts added to your storefront and no page load implications. Your store's performance stays exactly the same.


Managing Collections​

Can I migrate my existing Shopify collections into Smart Collections Builder?​

Absolutely! Use the Migrate Collection option to import existing Shopify smart collections into the app. All the collection details—name, description, image, and rules—transfer over automatically. You can then edit them to make the most of our advanced features.

For step-by-step guidance, see Migrate Collections.


Will my collections stay automatically synced with Shopify?​

Yes! Smart Collections Builder uses Shopify webhooks to detect product changes in real-time. When you add new products or update existing ones, the app immediately updates your collections based on your rules.

The syncing is event-driven—meaning it happens as changes occur, not on a schedule. Shopify may take a moment to refresh collection pages on your storefront, which is why we call it "near real-time."

If you ever notice a delay or something seems off, head to Settings and use Sync All or Re-import Products to trigger a manual refresh. Learn more in Smart Collections Builder Settings.


What happens if I delete a collection from Smart Collections Builder?​

When you delete a collection in Smart Collections Builder, it's also deleted from your Shopify admin. This action is permanent and can't be undone, so make sure you really want to remove it before confirming.


Can I see which products belong to a collection?​

Yes! On the app dashboard, find the collection in the table and look at the Products column. Click the arrow icon next to the product count to open the collection directly in your Shopify admin, where you can view all the included products.


Can I edit a collection after creating it?​

Of course! Just find the collection in your dashboard table, click the Edit icon in the Actions column, and make your changes. When you save, the collection resyncs automatically.

See Edit Collections for a full walkthrough.


Can I preview which products will match before creating a collection?​

Currently, there's no preview feature before creating a collection. However, here's a workaround: create the collection as unpublished in Shopify. This lets you test your rules and see the results without making the collection visible on your storefront. Once you're happy with it, you can publish it.


Is there a limit to how many rules I can add?​

There's no hard limit on the number of rules per collection. However, we recommend keeping it to 15 rules or fewer per collection. This helps ensure your rules stay manageable and you can easily understand what you're building.


Product Data & Syncing​

How often do collections sync automatically?​

Syncing is event-driven and happens in real-time. We use Shopify webhooks to detect when products are added, updated, or removed, and collections update immediately.

The only slight delay comes from Shopify itself refreshing collection pages on the storefront—which is why we say "near real-time." For most changes, you'll see updates within seconds to a couple of minutes.


What happens during bulk product updates?​

If you're doing a large bulk update (like importing hundreds of products at once), the app processes up to 10 product events per second. So if you update 100 products at once, it would take about 10 seconds to process them all. For typical day-to-day usage, this is instant.


What if products don't show up in my collections?​

First, check that your rules are set up correctly—the product might not match the conditions you've defined. If the rules look right, try these steps:

  1. Go to Settings and click Re-import Products to refresh your product data.
  2. Then use Sync All to update all collections.
  3. Check the collection again.

If products still don't appear, reach out to our support team for help!


How does the app handle deleted or archived products?​

Shopify handles this natively! When a product is deleted or archived in Shopify, it's automatically removed from all collections—no action needed on your part.


Metafields​

Which metafield types are supported?​

Smart Collections Builder supports the most common metafield types, including text, numbers, booleans, and URLs. However, we currently don't support these metafield types:

  • Volume, Dimension, Weight
  • Rating, Money
  • JSON
  • File references, Page references, Collection references
  • Metaobject references, Mixed references
  • List versions of the above types

We're working on expanding metafield support—if a specific type is important for your use case, let us know!


Can I filter by variant metafields?​

Currently, we only support product-level metafields, not variant metafields. This means you can filter based on metafields attached to the product itself, but not those attached to specific variants. However, Shopify product collections do not support variants anyway, so this limitation aligns with how Shopify works. Contact us if you have specific needs around this.


Billing & Plans​

Can I change my subscription plan?​

Yes, you can change plans at any time from the app's Billing page. Upgrading takes effect immediately, while downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle.

For detailed instructions, see Switching Subscription Plans.


Which plan do I need?​

Choose based on your total product count in Shopify (not just the products you want in collections):

  • Starter ($20/mo): Supports up to 100 products.
  • Pro ($100/mo): Supports up to 1,000 products.
  • Business ($200/mo): Supports up to 10,000 products.
  • Enterprise ($1,000/mo): Supports up to 100,000 products.

The plan limit is based on your total store catalog because the app needs to sync all products to apply rules correctly.


What happens if my store grows beyond my plan's product limit?​

If your product count exceeds your current plan's limit, you'll receive a notice to upgrade. You have 4 weeks to upgrade to an appropriate plan. During this time, the app continues working normally. If you don't upgrade within that window, the app will stop functioning until you switch to a plan that covers your product count.


Compatibility, Integration & Safety​

Does Smart Collections Builder work with other Bevy apps?​

Yes! Our apps are designed to work together seamlessly.


Are there any conflicts with other collection or tagging apps?​

Smart Collections Builder uses Shopify's native Tags and Smart Collections feature. We tag products based on our rule engine and direct Shopify to sync them into collections.

Any app that modifies the same tags or smart collections could potentially conflict—but this is extremely rare in practice. If you notice any issues with another app, reach out to our support team and we'll look into it.


Does Smart Collections Builder affect my existing Shopify setup?​

No, the app works alongside your Shopify store without modifying any existing settings. Your current collections, products, and store configuration remain untouched unless you specifically migrate or create collections through the app.


What happens to my collections if I uninstall the app?​

If you uninstall Smart Collections Builder:

  • Collections stay intact: They remain in your Shopify admin as regular smart collections with the products that were in them at the time.
  • Product tags remain: The BSC-XXXXX tags used by the app aren't removed.
  • No more automatic updates: Collections won't update based on your advanced rules anymore.
  • Reinstall option: If you reinstall within 30 days, you can re-import your collections and pick up where you left off.

Is my data safe?​

Absolutely. Smart Collections Builder stores product and collection data from Shopify to power our rule engine. We don't store sensitive customer information or payment details. Our app follows Shopify's security guidelines and best practices.


Support​

What are the support hours?​

Our support team is available during EST business hours. We typically respond to inquiries within a few hours.


Is there onboarding assistance available?​

Yes! Enterprise plan subscribers receive dedicated onboarding assistance. For other plans, our support team is happy to help with setup questions—just reach out via live chat or email.


Still Have Questions?​

Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is always happy to help!

We're here during EST business hours and typically respond within a few hours. Don't hesitate to reach out!