shop closed

[Karmen50]

What a disappointment,
I opened my store last week, I paid $1 then shopify closed my store 8 days ago and refunded me $1. This makes no sense. The support is totally useless, they don't know anything, they are just robots that copy and paste sentences. It's pathetic, how can we have such poor support, no one solves the problems.
I had been working on this store for 4 days but I think I'm going to restart with Wordpress and woocommerce because shopify doesn't give me a choice......

[DaisyVo]

Hi @Karmen50 

I hear your frustration, and I totally get why this situation is upsetting. You put in time and effort to set up your Shopify store, only to have it shut down unexpectedly, with no clear reason or resolution from support. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get your business off the ground.

Why Did Shopify Close Your Store?

From what you shared, it sounds like Shopify closed your store and refunded your payment, which usually happens when their system flags something as a potential violation of their Terms of Service (TOS) or Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This could be due to:

• Verification Issues – Shopify might require extra verification for new stores (ID, business details, etc.), and if something didn’t check out, they could have closed it.
• Prohibited Content or Business Type – If your store sells something Shopify doesn’t allow (even unintentionally), that could trigger a shutdown.
• Automated Fraud Detection – Sometimes, their system flags accounts incorrectly, especially if they suspect high-risk activity (like sudden changes in payment details, VPN usage, or unusual account behavior).
• Chargeback History or Payment Issues – If your payment method raised any red flags, this could also be a reason.

What Can You Do Now?

1. Check Your Email – Shopify usually sends an email explaining why your store was closed. If you didn’t get one, check spam/junk folders.
2. Contact Shopify Support Again – Instead of live chat (which can be generic), try emailing them at support@shopify.com or appeals@shopify.com (if it’s a policy-related issue). Ask specifically why your store was shut down and if there’s any way to restore it.
3. Appeal the Decision – If you believe the closure was a mistake, reply to Shopify’s email (or open a support ticket) and ask for a manual review. Provide any requested documents or details.
4. Consider Starting Fresh – If Shopify won’t reinstate your store, you could open a new one, but be careful—repeated violations might lead to a permanent ban. Ensure everything aligns with Shopify’s policies.

Is WooCommerce a Better Alternative?

If you’re frustrated with Shopify’s policies, WooCommerce gives you full control since it’s self-hosted. But keep in mind:

• You’ll handle hosting, security, and maintenance yourself. Unlike Shopify, where they manage all that for you.
• Payment processing and fraud protection are on you. Shopify has built-in fraud detection; with WooCommerce, you’ll need to set that up yourself.
• Support is more community-driven. Shopify has 24/7 support (even if it’s not perfect), while WooCommerce relies on forums and third-party services.

If you’re looking for a hands-off solution, Shopify is still solid, but if you prefer full control and don’t mind the extra work, WooCommerce could be an option.

Final Thoughts

I get why this experience made you consider switching platforms, but before making a final decision, it’s worth reaching out to Shopify support one last time to clarify the exact reason for the closure. If it’s fixable, you might be able to get your store back up. Otherwise, exploring alternatives like WooCommerce could be a good move.

If you need extra help, just let me know asap. Thanks
Daisy