Removal of POS features

[ArtofAqua]

We operate a brick and mortar store with our online store. Our shops is based in South Africa and as with many other regions we are always promised features available in other countries or have even had features just removed. The response is always the same we will let the developing team know and changes will be on the changelog. In the last three years not even one of our issues have been resolved.

The latest is that orders that were placed online and the customer selected In-store collection can now be marked as picked up but payments can not be collected, The feature was available in the past but Shopify has now changed the conditions that third party credit/debit card machines can not be used and only Shopify card readers with Shopify Payments. It gets even better we are forced to make use of Shopify Payments buit its not even available in our region. 

A complete and utter joke and just watch as the Shopify response to this will yet again be "We have noted this and understand your frustration. We have sent the details to our developing team. Please keep an eye out on the Shopify Changelog." Stop your service in regions you do not wish to service, you are happy to take our money but we do not get the same service as some of the other regions.

[rajimulislamjoy]

@ArtofAqua  

I understand your frustration with the limitations you're facing, especially with features being restricted or removed in your region. Unfortunately, Shopify Payments isn't available everywhere, and it can be frustrating when certain features depend on it. While it's difficult to influence the availability of these features, I recommend regularly checking the Shopify Changelog and forums for updates. If you're not getting the support you need, you might want to consider using third-party solutions or looking into other eCommerce platforms that better meet your regional needs.

[DaisyVo]

Hi @ArtofAqua 

I hear your frustration loud and clear, and I completely understand why this situation feels unfair. You’ve been running both a physical and online store in South Africa, relying on Shopify’s features to manage in-store pickup and payments. Now, Shopify has not only restricted third-party card machines for in-store pickup orders but also made Shopify Payments mandatory—while not even offering it in your region. That essentially leaves you without a viable way to collect payments at pickup, which is a serious problem for your operations.

Unfortunately, Shopify’s regional feature rollout has been a recurring issue for many merchants outside core markets like the US, UK, or Canada. Features are often introduced in certain regions first, and in some cases, they are removed or altered without a proper alternative for businesses operating elsewhere. Your concern about being forced into Shopify Payments when it’s not even available in South Africa is completely valid.

Possible Workarounds:

1. Manually Process Payments at Pickup: Since Shopify doesn’t allow marking an order as picked up while collecting payment via a third-party terminal, you could consider manually adjusting the order status later. Example workflow:

   • Mark the order as "Pending" or "Payment Due" instead of "Picked Up."
   • Collect payment via your existing card machine or another method.
   • Create a manual payment entry in Shopify (e.g., cash on delivery) to keep records aligned.
   • Mark the order as "Picked Up" after processing.

2. Use Draft Orders Instead: Instead of relying on the standard in-store pickup flow, you can create a Draft Order, process payment manually, and then mark it as fulfilled. This avoids Shopify’s restrictions on third-party payment collection.

3. Consider Third-Party Apps: Some POS and order management apps (like Zapiet - Store Pickup + Delivery) may allow better control over in-store collection workflows, though they come with additional costs.

4. Switching POS Systems for In-Store Transactions: If in-store operations are critical, using an alternative POS system that integrates with Shopify but allows independent payment collection (like Square or Lightspeed) might be worth considering.

Final Thoughts:

I completely agree that Shopify should provide equal service across regions, especially when merchants are paying the same subscription fees as those with full feature access. The lack of Shopify Payments in South Africa yet enforcing its usage for POS transactions is a serious gap that needs addressing.

I’d recommend pushing this issue through Shopify’s Merchant Advocacy channels and connecting with other South African store owners in Shopify forums or Reddit groups. A collective push might get more visibility on this.

If you need any other assistance, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to support you.
Best regards,
Daisy.