7 Things To Know When Using Shopify

Shopify is a service that offers templates and infrastructure for your business. As a business, you pay a monthly subscription and they provide you with website templates, payment services and other handy resources for running a business. 

It can certainly make setting up a business much easier. However, as with any deal there are key responsibilities that you take on when you use their product that you must be aware of. 

We’ll run you through 7 things you need to know when you agree to use Shopify’s services.

1. Payments 

Shopify is not a payment platform. They are instead the supplier of a service which involves giving you access to their ‘payments processor.’ The payment processor is the one who arranges for all administration of credit cards, debit cards and other types of payments when you sell your product using Shopifies service. 

What Does This Mean For You? 

The reason Shopify specifies that they do not provide the payment processing directly is to emphasise that they do not have responsibility for any mistakes, errors or mishaps involved in processing the payment. 

Any dispute over the processing of a payment will be between yourself and the ‘payment processor’ – e.g. PayPal. That said, Shopify will use ‘commercially reasonable efforts’ to help you resolve any disputes over a payment service that may arise with a customer. 

Using Shopify’s payment processing service incurs some legal obligations you must agree to.

When using the product you cannot: 

• Allow third parties to use the payment service 
• In anyway try to copy or profit from the payment service provided
• Use the payments service with the intention of creating a competing product 

2. Shopify’s Privacy And Data Security Policy

Running an e-commerce business involves collecting people’s data and personal information. There are heaps of strict privacy and data protection laws in place globally which impose stringent obligations on the merchant if collecting personal data. However, Shopify also specifies their obligations and promises regarding data security and privacy. 

Shopify does not guarantee that your data will never be accessed by a third party. However, they do note that any information regarding yourself or your customers stored on their servers will be protective to a reasonable extent. However, Shopify does not offer any protections for information stored on your own website – they specify this is your responsibility. 

Privacy-wise Shopify guarantees that any privacy laws applicable are being complied with. They state that they take it very seriously and outline how and when they will collect and use your information that they collect in their privacy policy. 

Further, Shopify outlines that this is only time your privacy information is collected. They do not take on obligations to inform your customers of your own privacy policy or protect your customers privacy. Beyond obtaining a declaration that you are complying with the relevant privacy laws, Shopify takes no further responsibility for your adherence to the law. 

3. What Can’t You Sell?

Shopify specifies certain products and services that cannot be sold using its payment services. They specify that the below list does not cover every possible prohibited business and they reserve the right to determine a prohibited business. 

Prohibited business include:

• Investment, credit, money or legal services. 
• Virtual currency service i.e. ethereum or bitcoin
• 18+ service or products i.e. pornography 
• Unauthorised rip-off products 
• Gambling services 
• Any product or service that infringes on copyright or intellectual property law
• Illegal products i.e. drugs
• Anything sanctioned by a government or to a government that has been sanctioned. 
• Money laundering services 
• Drug paraphernalia 
• Pyramid schemes 
• High risk businesses, examples provided by Shopify include bankruptcy lawyers, computer technical support, psychic services, travel reservation services etc (full list available here)
• Pharmaceuticals 
• Sale of social media related services i.e. buying followers 

4. Liabilities

Shopify specifies the user’s specific liabilities which they agree to when they use the product. Shopify states that if any of the below happens and someone brings a legal action against Shopify because of it, you agree to defend and compensate Shopify for any loss resulting from the action.

These actions include: 

• Breach of the terms and conditions 
• Any fees or fines that result from you incorrectly using the payment processing service. 
• Any negligent or willful misconduct of anyone you are responsible for. 
• Breach of contractual relationships between you and your customers.  
• Any obligations to reimburse a third part that Shopify incurs as a result of your own acts or omissions. 

Shopfy also specifies what they are not responsible for when you are using their product. 

This includes: 

• Any damage incurred when you use their payment service 
• Any advice they give is not binding and cannot be used against them 
• The accuracy of the information they provide 
• The timing of the payments, that the payment service will meet the requirements of your business or that the payment service will not at some time disconnect or not work. 
• Loss of profit
• Loss of data
• Any damage incurred when using their payments services
• Personal injury or property damage 
• Unauthorised server access 
• Viruses your computer contracts while using their service 

5. Responsibility For Third-Party Links 

As an e-commerce business you will be likely to use third-party links on your website. These links can be used to provide more information or context or link another business of yours. 

Shopify specifies that it is your responsibility to comply with the terms and conditions of these sites. 

6. Changes To Your Business When Using The Shopify Service

If you are using Shopify and thinking about changing your product or services, business name, or how you accept payments you must notify Shopify and give them 30 days notice. If there are any changes to your financial situation which are negative i.e. you are going bankrupt, you must give Shopify three days notice. 

7. eCommerce Law

Shopify specifies that it operates out of Singapore and any disputes with Shopify will be held there. However, you need to comply with the laws in the country you are operating in. So, make sure you’re aware of the key legal rules for your e-commerce business.

Consumer Guarantees

The law protects both business and customers from unfair, negligent or malicious business practices. It outlines your base obligations as a business. In this section we will run you through consumer guarantees and unfair business practices to avoid. 

Guarantees apply automatically if you are offering a product or service to anyone. When selling a product or service you promise it will work, appear or function in a certain way. If your product does not live up to these promises you owe your consumers a refund, replacement or repair. Be aware of this when advertising your product or if a customer makes a complaint!

Other unfair business practices include: 

• Referral selling – when you promise added benefits if your customer gets their friends to buy your product. 
• Offering unfair contract terms – when you use your power over the customer to force or trick them into signing an unfair contract in which you benefit far more. 
• Unconscionable conduct – if you make a deal in unfair circumstances. For example, making a deal in English with someone who cannot speak English. 
• Not supplying the product once paid for – once a customer pays for your product you must supply the product promised or supply a refund. 

Privacy Law

Privacy laws are very strict. Not complying with these laws will mean significant penalties including fines.

Generally, your key obligations are:

• Obtain the consent of your customers to obtain their information
• Disclose, in your privacy policy, in what circumstances you obtain their information 
• Disclose, in your privacy policy, how you protect their information and how it will be used. 
• You cannot use this information to ‘spam’ your customers or provide the information to third parties without consent. 

Need Help Navigating Your eCommerce Store? 

The above article covers a lot of ground. If you need help with a privacy policy, terms & conditions for your website, or want to know if your ecommerce business is legally compliant, the lawyers at Sprintlaw are perfectly placed to help you out. You can reach out to us at [email protected] or contact us on +44(0)2034321860 for an obligation-free chat.

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