How can I resolve a sudden AUP violation issue with my online store?

I’m hoping to find guidance and perhaps resolution to a recent challenge I’ve faced with my Shopify store. In November of 2023, I launched my store, and since then, we’ve seen a consistent upscale in business. I’ve prioritized customer experience, offering low chargeback rates, and ensuring prompt delivery with a 2-5 day shipping window. Our support system included email, phone, and chatbots for comprehensive customer service.

Unfortunately, my store was terminated for violating the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Despite thoroughly reviewing the AUP several times, I couldn’t pinpoint any violations from our end. This termination has not only halted our sales but also impacted our brand trust, as customers can no longer access the site for order tracking or support, leading to an increase in chargebacks.

I’ve reached out to Shopify support multiple times without a definitive resolution or timeframe. The latest communication involved a request for business documentation, which I promptly provided: business registration, proof of address, invoices for merchandise, LLC and EIN numbers, and even a photo of the products with vendor invoices.

The silence on their end leaves me in limbo, unsure of the exact issue or what needs rectification. The initial notification was a generic AUP violation without specifics, making it challenging to address unknown concerns.

I’m seeking advice on the following: Has anyone experienced something similar, and how did you resolve it? Is there a direct contact or a way to speak with someone at Shopify who can provide detailed guidance on rectifying the situation? Any tips on how to expedite the review process and get my store back online?

As a first-time store owner, I acknowledge there’s a lot to learn, and I’m fully committed to complying with Shopify’s policies. I just need clarity on what went wrong and how to correct it. Any guidance, advice, or shared experiences from this community would be greatly appreciated.

This literally just happened to me today. Support is terrible and I received the same useless generic email. All of my products were from a drop shipping store that’s affiliated with Shopify. I just started.

I’ve been in touch with the legal team through several emails, and they’ve informed me that their decision is definitive. When I inquired about the held balance and the 15% reserve, the amount they provided was incorrect, and they’ve stated they can’t respond to my emails anymore. I’ve continued to contact Shopify support, and they’ve reassured me that my case has been re-escalated to the appropriate department. I’ll keep this thread updated with any new developments as soon as I receive further information.

I’ve just experienced a similar situation - store termination based on Section 7 of the AUP. But I do not see myself breaching any of the rules listed in this section.

Submitted an appeal form, but nobody replied yet.

Replied to the legal@shopify.com but got useless autogenerated response pointing me to the Support Help Center.

At the moment, 4 orders and the 2500+ EUR payout pending without me being able to access the store and see the order details.

Also, link to the store shared through social media is pointing to an error page now (This store is unavailable) that will probably even further ruin the reputation with the prospective buyers

As an IT Engineer, very, very disappointed in the way they are handling this.

This just happened to me today. Shopify closed my account without warning nor giving me a reason why my account was closed. An email sent stating that I violated AUP. I am not sure what to do at this point. I don’t want to be seen as a Scam Store.

How did it go?

Just happen to me. Store termination with no explanation. Just violation of AUP. I read it again and again and I don’t kwon what’s going on. In the request form they just asked for my ID, proof of business and products stock ( it’s drop shipping and print on demand), Social medias links. And now I’m waiting…no answer from them…

I’m working on this store for 6 months now, planning to be ready for December… I just open it a couple of days ago and started advertising on Facebook and Instagram receiving 15k+ clicks… I sold nothing to no one. Suddenly my store is terminated. Is this Shopify?