I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the current pricing structure of your plans, particularly as it affects small business owners like myself. I initially subscribed to the $5 plan, which suited my needs well. However, I encountered an issue when attempting to send customer order details to my fulfillment center—the integrated API tools would not process the information. After troubleshooting, I discovered that this was due to Personal Identifying Information (PII) restrictions on the $5 plan.
To resolve this, I upgraded my plan, only to find that the lowest-tier plan allowing PII transfers is $105 per month. This is an unreasonable price jump, particularly for businesses with low sales volumes. The structure forces me to spend significantly more on Shopify than I make in revenue—simply to transfer customer information to my fulfillment partner.
Additionally, I am now unable to revert to my previous $5 plan, which is equally frustrating. These policies feel completely disconnected from the realities of small business operations. Does Shopify genuinely consider the needs of small businesses when structuring its plans?
I would like to formally express my dissatisfaction and request clarification on how Shopify justifies this pricing model. Forcing businesses into an exorbitant plan just to access essential functionality is neither fair nor sustainable. I would appreciate any possible solutions or accommodations that Shopify can offer to better support small business owners.
setting up APis for a business that doesn’t make any money just doesn’t sound financially feasible for you. you are trying to do something that is often expensive. APIs and the mantanence of then can be costly.
didn’t know you can’t revert but the $5 plan is so limited. that didn’t even allow you to make sales until recently.
It is an API that permits me to send shop orders to my fulfillment partner. My fulfillment partner set it up and supports them. But I am unable to transfer the information without the $105 plan (which is just unsustainable).
The $5 plan was just what I needed, it allowed for a basic theme and a few products. It was perfect. It is very strange that I was able to upgrade from it but can’t go back.
No disrespect here at all, but if your business involves submitting orders to a 3rd party fulfillment center, then $105 should be a drop in the bucket. This structure is no where near considered a small business nor is this functionality considered essential, this is an advanced functionality.
Let alone $105 being more then you make in revenue.
The full pricing is and has always been posted here:
Yes, I received the lowest plan, which was serving my interests that I can no longer go back to.
My business does have a fulfilment center and $105 is not a drop in the bucket. Sending a customer order should not be “advanced functionality.” Up until the restrictions on PII this was permitted under other plans, and in fact I am advised other plans still have the functionality grandfathered in.
Obviously, Shopify is not trying to cater to the small business, only large business where this cost would be a “drop in the bucket to them.” That is not my business (hopefully one way it will be). This is why Amazon has pricing that reflects this, either $39 a month or $1 per order. I’d gladly pay $1 per order but I am not getting 105 orders per month.
Maybe that’s true, but it’s not the API that isn’t supported in the basic plan its simply transferring order data. I don’t see why that functionality needs to cost $105 - as this was previously available in the basic plan, and others who had existing plans are still able to use it (i.e. grandfathering).
the only way to transfer order data, or any data, is through an API.
but I am not defending Shopify. ever since they went public they are taking away more and more support and features for the lower end plans. I file complaints with them almost every week. they sort of put people in a situation where it is more effort to leave then deal with the issue
there could be an application that would connect the $29 plan to the vendor. not sure. there are so many apps out there. I really don’t use more than a couple
Thanks. I’m talking to the fulfillment partner about making a Shopify App through a partner account, but I don’t think it’s a priority for them, as most of their small business customers had a Shopify account and were grandfathered in.
If you are receiving a low volume of orders, have you considered just buying a few units from your FC yourself to have on hand and just shipping them yourself?
Regradless of either above, there is a 15% to 25% (at least) commission depending on category per sale on Amazon.
Trying to be gentle, but seems like you are not evaluating amazons or shopifys pricing structure adequately.
In no way shape or form is your scenario considered a small business or essential or remotely feasible (again trying to be gentle). There are so many processes and maintenance involved with api processes between a website, to your website, then to a 3rd party FC.
And now that I think about it, Amazon doesnt even give you access to PII (primarily customer email address or any financial information)
Then from a different response you have on thread, you asked your FC to create an app to handle your request? Any app of this scope would cost $10k alone to create.
Im politely saying, what you want and whats realistic is probably the farthest far fetched ive ever ran across.
Let alone, why would you want the hassle/responsiblity/maintenance to even entertain this idea for 1 or 2 orders a month?
SoftwareCWSoftwareCW: Shopify used to offer PII transfer for a basic plan. Nothing changed except Shopify decided to charge more money. It didn’t get harder and nothing about the process changed. Shopify is just trying to extract more profits. Why do I need to spend $65 more a month just to transfer a customer order that I can cut and paste myself? It makes no sense.
Amazon pricing structure actually incentivizes small businesses - $1 a unit or $39/mo. This means when you are selling less than 39 units a month it makes more sense to pay the $1 and then as you grow bigger you can do the $39 plan. It also allows you to grow the platform. I wish Shopify had a structure like this.
"Then from a different response you have on thread, you asked your FC to create an app to handle your request? Any app of this scope would cost $10k alone to create. "
I never asked my fulfillment partner to create a custom app to handle just my requests. They already had a custom API and then sent me instructions on how to implement it in my Shopify store. They service primarily small businesses many who use Shopify and have basic plans (that were grandfathered in and can still transfer PII). Shopify support then told me that the only solution was to have my FC make an official Shopify App through a partner account- but it would be the same as the API and would be available and service all of their customers not just me.
