It’s a disgrace that theyre making us pay $5 for a feature which should be a basic bog standard function. This segmented product and feature culture where were screwed for unforeseen costs is akin to mis selling or worse, similar to flying with Ryanair. I’d rather pay a higher all in price for a web site because the savings i will make in time would be worth it to me. i feel as if im being robbed of my life. Oh and by the way,I wont fly with Ryanair regardless of the low priced deals, its just far too stressful and shopify is becoming the stressful online store platform.
Topic summary
Store owners are seeking a straightforward vacation mode feature that allows them to temporarily disable checkout while keeping their store visible to customers. Currently, Shopify lacks a built-in vacation mode toggle.
Available workarounds include:
- Password protection (customizable via Theme Editor > Password page)
- Pause and Build plan ($9/month, disables checkout but keeps store browsable)
- Announcement banners to communicate delays
- Third-party apps like Magical Vacation Mode ($5/year)
Key concerns raised:
- Password protection makes stores appear closed and may impact SEO
- Pause and Build is unavailable for yearly payment plans
- Banners alone don’t prevent orders from being placed
- Lack of this basic feature compared to competitors (Etsy, Amazon Handmade)
Current status: No official vacation mode exists despite years of merchant requests. Shopify staff acknowledge the feedback but provide no implementation timeline. Many users express frustration that this standard e-commerce feature requires paid workarounds or complex solutions, with some questioning their platform choice after a decade of use.