Class action lawsuit for suspension of stores / loss of data without notice

[nextclean]

On Friday my store was suspended without notice. It took 3 days of chats, emails and calls until the risk team emailed me today, telling me my store was suspended but unable to tell me why.

We sell an EPA registered hypochlorous acid disinfectant by the gallon. The cheapest price online in Google shopping for a comparable product is $60, we sell it for $45. This was the price before covid-19, we didn't raise our prices. We did create new Shopify store a few months ago to sell it online (because we typically sell b2b locally). We spent a lot of money and time making the site and now I cannot access anything to take a back up or move it anywhere else.

Turns out that I'm not alone. I've read in this forums that there are many of you that woke up to their site suddenly suspended as well, some of you even spending/losing a lot more than we did.

Not being able to download client records or all the content and design isn't right.

This has caused financial harm to my business and to many of yours.

Claims I see as a paying customer:
- Shopify suspended sites without notice or clear reason, causing direct financial harm to businesses affected
- Shopify is holding hostage valuable business data including; client records, images, website and blog content without warning or clear reason causing direct financial harm
- Shopify markets a complete and secure platform without making it clear that you should backup all data since your site access can be suspended at anytime

The reason for this post is to get a feeling of how many were affected.

I'm going to be reaching out to my network to first see if a case can be made and if so, if it's worth it.

The more people that respond, the stronger the case will look.

So just reply saying your site was shutoff too, what you sold, how old your site was and how much you invested in it.

Mine was nextcleaner.com, 3.5 months old, sold EPA registered disinfectant cheaper than anywhere else, we invested about $12k in time and money setting everything up.

[HeatherMay]

Did you ever try to get anything going with this? My website was shut down for no reason as well. It shouldn't be allowed to happened. They need to do a better job of giving the reason for the shutdown. I can't access any of my data from that time last year. Now that I am doing taxes, it's causing even more headaches. 

[Bidandbuy]

How many people do you have so far? My store was shut down for 5 days with threats of complete data loss, after I had been in business for over 2 years! No apologies, no compensation for losses or disruptions... They also have not paid me for over three years- the only payouts I receive are my sales on eBay. Shopify has over $3500 of mine... Oh- and I have invested well over $150,000 into my website/online store. Which can be verified through payroll hours.

[HeatherMay]

I don't have one. I think you need to apply to the person above me. I would love to get more information about one though. I might just go through arbitration.

[silversalve]

Same here. Their still doing it today.

[brandwise--owl]

Does anyone have updates on this? I realize there are many issues with stores being shut down with no communication or resolution. I have also been seeing an influx of store owners having checkout issues, GA4 migration issues, etc causing a loss of sales, organic search and Google ads being suspended until the issues are resolved (yet no resolutions provided by Google or Shopify). 

We did not take on the huge undertaking of starting a business just to have it threatened by platforms that promise the opposite. Being a business owner is already extremely stressful and the lack of control over what happens makes it unmanageable. Time to be more aggressive and put an end to Shopify's carelessness.

I have been battling these issues since mid-April. My business is perfectly healthy (and was enjoyable) but platforms like Shopify have turned it into a complete headache, pushing me to the point of quitting. I refuse to give up on my business because of poorly managed platforms like Shopify, unfortunately, it's one of the better ones.

Any updates would be appreciated!

[silversalve]

We are moving all stores away from shopify and Shopify Payments. after one week we received notice we can still use shopify store but must use our own merchant services. Dont bother with woo commerce. they use stripe merchant services .  The new shopify will shut you down with any cliche in their system like an unfulfilled order by fault of the post office not scanning in. or large volume sales. Shopify cost us big time. We are going to a wordpress platform for now and using the prodigy plugin (alternative to woo commerce and stripe) possibly with highriskpay/com for the merchant services. Its important to get your site moved as quick as possible. Remember this! Stripe, woo commerce, paypal, and Shopify Payments are all in bed together with the same auotobot script. So make sure you check out who the actual merchant is on any platform you move to before you buy and make sure your products and your customers meet their criteria. Check reviews like I wish I had before spending money and time with shopify. Get on your own hosting as fast as you can. Pay a developer at Fi verr to help you set it up if needed. It will cost you half as much in the end as compared to shopify.

[brandwise--owl]

I'm sorry to hear how much of a negative impact this has had for you, being a business owner is hard enough. I started a discussion about this and I will be moving to another platform. I'm not letting Shopify get away with this.

https://community.shopify.com/c/shopify-discussions/sessions-up-sales-down-shopify-not-taking-accoun...

[farahra]

The same thing happened to me it’s like extortion 

[peterbeachin]

Hi Yes that happened to our store as well. My IT guys have an alternative platform which we will most likely go to. I had just spent nearly 6k on seo and were getting some reasonable results the complete shutdown. We also have operated our physical store and that was pos platform was shutdown this morning and we had to create a copy. My it guys have put 15-20 hours into this and we hoping for a return to normal over the next few days. We are a surf shop in July school holidays in tough times. How can we get some blood out of these guys. I will sue them in a heartbeat as soon as I get back up and running. Count Beachin Surf in on any class action

[Cebrisul]

My page was closed without my knowledge, thousands of pictures, thousands of descriptions, thousands of blogs, thousands of GTIN numbers, thousands of customs numbers, 10,000 dollars of my money, 1000 USD of balance money and a few hundred customer information are gone. I am thinking of filing a lawsuit.You received a result, how did you apply, please give information. 

[email protected]

[bobbybobw]

Our store YesStore.Club has a $3 million cash investment and about 25,000 hours of sweat equity in creating its unique retail design and marketing. It is now all at risk. There was no advanced notice of our termination by Shopify and the reason given was vague with a link to Shopify's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). After our legal department reviewed Shopify's AUP, they found no appropriate reason allowing Shopify to terminate our store. I am 70 years old and battling cancer. Our store is 100% staffed by diligent senior citizens who rely on the income and expense reimbursements to make ends meet in their personal lives. If anyone knows who the law firm is representing this described class action, could they please provide it. My email is: [email protected];ub and my phone number is 850.999.2386.

[RozM]

My website is hairsamillion.com. I had it for one year but had been talking to another web provider for months before the new term since the templates on shopify are very minimal and not able to be customized besides charging a rediculous amt for everything you use besides the annual fee the shopify percentage and all the apps.   I requested to cancel the day that the new cycle started and this was 6 weeks ago.   They are still attempting to charge my card for an entire year.   In my state automatically renewed contracts are not legal or valid and they market that you can cancel any time..... right!!!   So even though I've been told that I could get help releasing my customer data and reversing the charges on my acct for the year I never had service that began on December 15....  this NEVER happened and I've requested it more times than I can even remember.  I sent screen shots of the chats where I was promised it would be resolved yet I'm still here wondering when this will happen.  I would LOVE to join a lawsuit against shopify as I have lost money and valuable data and valuable time dealing with the incompitence.   Who's gonna find an attorney?  Have them call me 801-648-7715. I'm also talking to a few lawyers in my home town.   There is no way they aren't violation dozens of laws. 

[shipifyIsscam]

Any updates on class action I am being harassed and threatened. I am scared for my life and my well being I am suffering so much from being harrassed by customers I was locked out from helping I don’t know what to do please help

 

[Weightplusser]

Does Anyone received the money??? Shopify is holding €8000 now and the answer I still receive is I need To be patience, i am waiting 2 months now. 

[Bidandbuy]

I have been waiting since July. I wish there was a law firm that would take these criminals down. I don’t want Shopify to go away it serves and helps many store owners. I just want the crooked people who run it to be let go and have decent leadership step in.

And for certain whoever runs the legal department to be held accountable for their illegal activities.

[UKPreppingShop]

We were shut down last night on the whim of the criminal that runs it and is facing a huge class action suit for stealing severance pay from the 1/3 off the work force they fired then robbed them off the pay off....Google shopify class action a huge Canadian law firm are onto them!!! They are now holding £10,000 of my money and ignore my emails!!!

[Karatellis]

My site wasn't even open to public and they shut me down citing AUP reasoning but providing none. 

I filed two appeals and am still waiting. 

I'm going to be talking to a lawyer soon.  My website was Karatellis.com, and now I no longer have access to the domain name I purchased and they are setting my growth down exponentially by blocking me for no reason.

I gave them a list of their own AUPs, proved that nothing was against AUPs AND THEN they said I needed to prove I was the store owner, so I did that and never heard anything back from them.  This is absolutely absurd.

Now I'm stuck as a starting business owner without access to the domain name I bought and planned to use.  I was probably 2% done developing my site and hadn't even linked to printful and printify.  

[Binginwarry]

I completely agree.... an absolute disgrace, no support no nothing no phone number. They just closed my account and will keep my payout for 120 days. I had my store for 3 years. No bad payments, no return... I will report them to the police tomorrow.....A criminal act, a fraud ... a SCAM

I would like to be part of a ''Class Action Lawsuit For Suspension Of Stores / Loss Of Data Without Notice''

Just want to say that I understand you all....it is an abuse of power. ....no need to keep the money for 120 days !  I NOW HAVE A SERIOUS DOUBT THEY WILL PAY ME BACK !

[shipifyIsscam]

I am constantly receiving threats from the customers who all shopped in my store, I am being harassed because now my customers think I scammed them when I had ALL the intentions in complying and was doing so. My store’s reputation and mine are in complete bad standing I dont know what to do, I am scared someone might actually come and try to harm me physically if they find where I am. I have sent multiple emails to Shopify with all of these concerns including thoughts of suicide I have encountered due to the distress I am going through. I am HELPLESS, I have no access to refund anyone or even reach out explaining the situation. I am fearful for my Life and Shopify has IGNORED ALL OF THIS ENTIRELY AND HAS BEEN THIS IS WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE  AND TBEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS UNTIL SOMETHING ENDS IN TRAGEDY. This is UNACCEPTABLE. Please HELP!

[Jwolfe21]

Happened to me also my store isn’t even 60 days old.  I just started making sales drop shipping smartphone accessories.  jwbestphoneaccessories.com

It was with no warning no emails just shut it down saying it’s being reviewed.  I had many order I fulfilled without any payment received because shopify is holding it.  Other than a few phone accessories sourced from aliexpress I have some phone cases I designed on printful.  I have had multiple chats with them and no one can tell me why or when my funds will be released.  I will be moving to a new platform very soon I’m tired of this I have many many hours building the store and a few thousand invested and they shut everything down with no reason or evidence of anything wrong.

[shipifyIsscam]

Is there anyone working on this case who I can also get in touch with my business is suffering greatly due to the way Shopify has handled my store please let me know how to be a part of this I also have multiple emails and records 

[Autographs4sale]

I was notified a few days ago that my store supposedly violated Shopify policies. It unquestionably does not and I sent ample evidence explaining why. I also offered to remove Shopify Payments and they said that wasn’t sufficient. If Shopify takes action against my store I will pursue litigation to recover every penny and second I spent migrating my website TO and FROM Shopify plus punitive damages. I will also look into class action litigation since so many other merchants have reported the same illegal practices.

[Sheinagray]

Please contact [email protected]
He is gathering people for a class action on this exact issue!

[Sustainable5]

I had this happen to me as well. 6 years wirh shopify and they locked me out of my store. Froze my payments and I lost data for over 12,000 

customers. I had over 100 pending orders as they are custom made to order and 2-4 weeks turnaround time. It’s impossible to het a hold of anyone to help. I have 5 domains now with no access. I had to rebuild my entire platform and had NO WAY TO CONTACT MY CUSTOMERS! Its ruined our reputation. Ruined our SEO. My life has been wrecked because of this company. 

[Gabbb]

I was kicked today without notice. I’ve been in business for 2 months, just finalizing SEO , google search and YouTube free advertising. I just finished last night , I checked my google search and found that my SEO put me on page one on google and knowing that, I had a feeling that someone complained about it. And reported me for infringement rights. I only used drop shipping store approved by Shopify, so where’s the infringement??? Loss in inventory $98million, $25,000 in IT work, hours spent working PRICELESS $$$, Lawsuits awaiting to see one class action suit.

[magdamolina]

I've been with Shopify as a paying customer for 11 years, and they used to be great. You could always reach support on the phone and everyone was super kind and helpful. Then they got too big and stopped caring about their customers (as often happens in the business world)...

Going through an incredibly frustrating situation right now and no one is helping, even though I've contacted their "Support" several times. I've been locked out of my account and my store was taken offline (for 2 weeks now), even though I PAID FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR (and have 5 months left).

I've already filed a complaint with the BBB, and I am completely willing to take legal action if I have to. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I hope people read these forums before deciding to do business with them...

My store is Magda Molina Designs and I sell jewelry. Invested countless hours of work and have so much content on that site. I NEED to regain access to it.

[drewwenning]

@magdamolina  Did you ever get a resolution? I am going through the same thing right now with ZERO communication. 

It doesn't seem like legal action moves the needle with Shopify, I have been in contact with a columist from the Wall Street Journal. Please see the thread I created below:

https://community.shopify.com/c/shopify-discussions/share-your-experience-with-the-wsj-shopify-malic...

[magdamolina]

Sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. Unfortunately, I think there are MANY of us in the same position...

Still no resolution, and I am 28 DAYS in. I contact them every day or every other day, and I either get no answer or the same bull**bleep** answer "we are working on it". I was able to regain access to my admin and I'm in the process of copying all my content (about 350 items) in case this happens again. But my store is still OFFLINE even though it's FULLY PAID FOR. This is absolutely unacceptable.

[ToyMaster]

They shut down my site with 1 notification that they were going to do it. 

They wiped my great home page and 15 blogs I spent the last year working on.

They broke my dreams and heart!