Merchants often ask us why their Shopify stores have been suspended and how to get them reinstated. As a Shopify Plus agency in Hong Kong with 7 years of professional website building experience, InsCoder is here to unravel the challenges of Shopify store suspensions.

 

Consequences of Shopify Store Suspension

Once a Shopify store is suspended, there is usually little chance of it being reinstated. The store's data, SKUs, domain, and other assets will be lost. Even if the merchant re-registers a Shopify store, the original domain cannot be used, and they must start from scratch.

 

Reasons for Shopify Store Suspension

1. Modifying the credit card information linked to the Shopify store backend.
   
   
2. Setting the store location in the Shopify backend to the US or Canada, while the IP address is registered in mainland China, which can be detected and lead to store suspension.
   
   
3. Frequent IP address changes, which Shopify may consider a security risk, potentially leading to store suspension. This can be resolved by emailing Shopify.
   
   
4. Selling grey-area products, such as counterfeit goods, adult products, or infringing products.
   
   
5. Engaging in improper means of order fraud, violating platform rules.
   
   
6. Failure to deliver goods on time or provide satisfactory after-sales service, leading to increased customer complaints and negative reviews.
   
   
7. Non-compliance with local tax regulations or involvement in legal disputes.
   
   
8. Excessive or abusive use of Shopify platform resources, such as sending large volumes of unsolicited emails, which can also result in store suspension.

 

Preventive Measures

1. Use Gmail or corporate email accounts instead of 163 or QQ email (for mainland China merchants).

2. Disable certain tools during registration to avoid specific registration environments.

3. Ensure the personal information in the backend, such as country, address, and phone number, is accurate and truthful.

4. Avoid registering multiple Shopify stores on the same computer.

5. Maintain a consistent login IP address, avoiding frequent changes.

6. Do not use multiple email accounts to register multiple Shopify stores, as this can lead to frequent login switching.

7. Avoid selling counterfeit products, as complaints can lead to immediate store suspension, and in severe cases, payment methods may be frozen.

8. If the store is set up for the US, it's best not to use the main account, but instead add staff accounts with full permissions.

9. Regularly back up your store data, including backend product SKUs and theme templates.

 

Solutions

1. Comply with platform policies: Carefully read and adhere to Shopify's policies and terms. Ensure all products and activities comply with the rules and avoid any illegal or unethical practices.

2. Maintain good payment relationships: Communicate effectively with payment processors, ensuring all transactions are transparent and legitimate. Resolve any payment issues promptly to prevent payment processors from taking action.

3. Enhance technical security: Regularly check and update your website's technology, ensuring server stability and preventing security vulnerabilities and malware. Utilize Shopify's security tools and plugins to enhance your website's security.

4. Improve customer satisfaction: Actively respond to customer feedback, address their concerns and problems. Provide high-quality products and services, reduce customer complaints, and maintain good customer relationships.

5. Use platform resources reasonably: Avoid abusing Shopify platform resources, such as sending large volumes of unsolicited emails. Use the platform's marketing tools reasonably and follow best practices for email marketing.

 

Friendly Reminder

If the store suspension is due to an agency-related issue, Shopify customer service may not proactively inform you of the reason. You'll need to actively explain that you were using an agency. If you're unsure why your store was suspended, it's recommended to contact customer service for assistance.

 

Conclusion

By implementing the measures outlined above, you can reduce the risk of your Shopify store being suspended and ensure its stable and continuous operation. As a Shopify Plus agency with close ties to the platform, InsCoder is here to help our merchants solve problems. For more consultations on Shopify store operations, please stay tuned for updates on our website.