Hi everyone and happy 2023.
I just have a question that is holding me back from activating some products on my website as an affiliate.
I would like to know…
As an affiliate promoting other people/store products for commission on my store (example: clickbank products) in addition to my dropship products,
Is it possible and OK to promote physical pharmaceutical products like vitamins & supplement, weight loss products, fitness, etc. on my shopify store?
I see over 900 stores built on shopify platform selling pharmaceutical products but on the other hand I see Shopify Terms of Service says no to this here: https://www.shopify.com/ca/legal/terms-payments-us?prev_msid=c4a7c658-5E64-42D0-B90E-BE766043D560
“…regulated or illegal products and services.”
“Cannabis dispensaries and related businesses; sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and e-liquid; online pharmacies; prescription-only products including card-not-present pharmaceuticals; peptides and research chemicals; fake references or ID-providing services; age restricted goods or services; weapons and munitions; gunpowder and other explosives; fireworks and related goods; toxic, flammable, and radioactive materials; products and services with varying legal status on a state-by-state basis; goods or services, the sale of which is illegal under applicable law in the jurisdictions to which your business is targeted or directed”
Am I missing something. Please can someone help in explaining better.
Any feedback or help will do.
Thanks.
Thank you for reaching out and posting this question!
You can absolutely sell or promote pharmaceutical products, such as vitamins or supplements, using the Shopify platform. However, it’s important to make a distinction that it’s our payment gateway, Shopify Payments, that isn’t able to support pharmaceuticals and this is indicated on our Shopify Payments Terms of Service. While Shopify Payments may not be an option for promoting or selling pharmaceuticals, you can promote or sell these products using a third-party payment gateway. If you’d like to learn more about the policy for our platform, then please take a moment to review the Shopify Terms of Service.
That being said, since you’re also dropshipping, then you may be better off using a third-party payment gateway as there are usually a number of unsupported products found in most dropshipping catalogs. On that note, if you’d like to learn more about dropshipping, then I’d also recommend taking a look our guide here: The Ultimate Guide to Dropshipping.
I’d love to hear more about your business! What kinds of products are you dropshipping? Which payment gateway(s) are you using at the moment?
Thanks so much for your gentle and very useful explanation about this issue. I have been so disturbed lately about this it with google merchant center suspending my product ads and google ads very strict also. So I was wandering also I was violating shopify policy. So I started deleting most of my products. Now am a bit relieved thanks to you, shopify and your awesome explanation.
I will surely keep it in mind and note, as you said that…
“…make a distinction that it’s our payment gateway, Shopify Payments, that isn’t able to support pharmaceuticals and this is indicated on our Shopify Payments Terms of Service.”
For now am only promoting vitamins & supplements as an affiliate for partner stores. So checkout is on partner site. When I will be taking my store to the next higher level, then I will be using a third-party payment gateway as paypal.
As for my dropshipping products I am using shop pay, paypal, apple pay and other credit cards. Hope this does it.
Once again thank you so much for taking your time in helping me out. I really appreciate it.